ESTEVAN - The efforts and achievements of southeast agriculture producers were saluted March 28 in Estevan.
The Lafrentz family, which owns and operates Wheatland Cattle Co., located southeast of Bienfait in the Souris River Valley, was presented with the prestigious Farm Family of the Year Award during a banquet at the Beefeater Plaza. Hundreds of people were present and applauded when the family was recognized.
The family includes Vernon, his wife Denise, and their two sons: Riley and his wife Maddy, and
Cody-Ray and his wife Shayne.
In his acceptance speech, Vernon thanked everyone who put the event on.
"It is certainly an honour to receive this award, and [be] among so many people who have the same interest that we do," Vernon Lafrentz said in his acceptance speech. "I guess the day-to-day things on the farm are what keep us all going. Some days it's a challenge."
Riley and Maddy are on the ranch full-time and are involved in all the day-to-day operations. Maddy also runs Compass Creative, which is her own graphic design business.
"Most of the spring bull sale catalogues that you see are designed by Maddy. Riley also does a little auctioneering," a bio for the family stated.
Cody-Ray and Shayne make their home in Prague, Okla., where they own and operate Lafrentz Cattle. Even though there is some distance between Bienfait and Prague, they are able to work together in their breeding and marketing decisions.
Denise said it is "so rewarding" to have their children involved with the operation and keeping the family farming tradition alive.
"We work at it. The kids work at it, and now their spouses are working at it," said Denise.
"They have that same passion," added Vernon.
Agriculture has been in the family for generations. Vernon and Denise's respective families, dating back to their great grandparents, were both involved with farming, typically in mixed operations, but the focus now is livestock.
"It was a common goal that we had to do that, and raise the best cattle that we could raise," said Vernon. Wheatland Cattle Co. was incorporated by Vernon and Denise.
They are involved as a seedstock producer. According to the family's bio, breeding, raising and marketing purebred Simmental and Angus cattle is what they are best-known for. An annual bull sale is held the third Thursday in March on the ranch.
"Our family works relentlessly to build the best possible cowherd we can. Throughout this industry, we are truly blessed with the friendships that we have made."
The past year was a "super-exciting" and "memorable" year showing cattle, they said. Their bio states Wheatland Lady 211H and Wheatland Bull 4177M were crowned grand champion Simmental female at Agribition and then went on to be declared supreme champion female across all breeds, which they said is definitely a moment they will cherish and remember.
The national champion Angus bull at Farmfair International was also a bull they bred and raised, Mich Wheatland Coalfields 2177K, which was a past sale highlight.
Denise and Riley were judges at the Calgary Stampede steer show together last summer, while Riley and Cody-Ray did the prestigious Iowa Beef Expo.
"Agriculture runs deep in our roots and we are truly grateful and thankful to God in living where we live and doing what we love to do as a family," the bio stated.
Agriculture has its challenges. When people ask him how things are going, he says he has to contend with the weather and the government.
"A lot of times, I'll take my chances on the weather," said Vernon to laughter from the crowd.
It's great to do what they do, they love their work and it's not a job at all. For this, they are truly grateful, and Denise said they enjoy everything.
"When the cows calve and the little baby first gets up and it looks at you, for us it is so rewarding. You can get lost in it. Where we live, we live in the valley, and we really don't do anything else. It's all we do is farm," said Denise.
Still, they've been involved with 4-H over the years, spreading their love of agriculture to future generations.
