DIDSBURY - A local ranch recently pulled in the top sale at the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina.
Harvie Ranching, which is located between Olds and Didsbury, did very well winning the premier exhibitor prize, five division champions and 10 banners, as well as setting the top sales mark for the show.
"We've taken cattle there for as long as I can remember," said Jill Harvie. "It's the biggest cow show in Canada. It's very prestigious. We usually have one or two in the sale. We were very successful this year. This year was a very, very good year."
Harvie Ranching is owned and operated by Ian, Marlene, Cole and Jill Harvie and has been in business for over 40 years. The farm has 250 purebred polled Herefords and Charolais.
"This year we took 10 head of cattle (to the Canadian Western Agribition) and returned with 10 banners," said Jill Harvie. "This particular bull ( Harvie OVHF Empower ET 5F) was named champion bull in the President's Classic and was named senior bull calf champion at the National Hereford show.
"The evening before that the national Hereford sale took place and he sold for $37,000 to Torchview Cattle Company from Saskatchewan and the Empower Syndicate."
At $37,000, Empower was the highest selling animal at the Agribition this year.
Harvie said the reason the prize bull was so successful was due to his strong genetic stock.
"He has very good genetics," she said. "He had a high potential to win and he did. He has a very strong phenotype (the way he looks). Other Hereford breeders from across the country and U.S. wanted to be in on it. They want to have his genetics in their herd. He has nice power; wide over the top. Lots of extra muscling.
"His full sister (Harvie OVHF Reisling ET 3F), another Hereford calf, was named national reserve champion female. She sold privately."
Both Empower and Reisling will be going to the National Western Stock Show in January in Denver, Colo. to compete, said Harvie.
