45 - Duncan Lees with Blair-Athol Polled Herefords

We have made it to the promised land. We have our first promo code of the podcast thanks to Ashely and her PF Tallow- Perepelkin Farms business! Go to https://perepelkinfarms.square.site/ and on check out use the code Lifestock10! I met Ashely at a Beef Industry conference in Saskatoon. We visited about cows and kids and the fun of the business. I found her story fascinating and knew it would make a great episode. Not raised in the beef business, wanting to get in, buy cattle. The journey was not a straight path. Lots of bumps and turns in the road. Ashley built her own network of people that wanted to help her and kept growing from there. Not just growing the cow herd but her family, experience and entrepreneurial spirit. Now as a purebred Simmental breeder her brand has expanded even further with a farm to fork beef business and her tallow business. Integrating online shopping and tradeshows along the way Ashely has let her business footprint grow slowly and sustainably. Another detour on her journey is incoming with a Major Back surgery and herd reduction. She was so open and honest about this, it gives great insight and appreciation to being flexible in our planning and confident in our mentality. Remember Lifestock Pod Fam, hit that promo code Lifestock10. Buy yourself some Whipped Tallow Lotion, chap stick, citronella tallow balm and so much more. Great for gifts too when your getting 10% off! Thank you to Season 5 sponsors:Klassen Industries Bovigen Reproductive ServicesRK Animal SupplyAngus WorldF’d Up Farming PodcastThank y'all for listening. Please leave us a 5 star rating and review on your favorite app. Kurtis ReidContact us:[email protected] @LifestockPodInstagram @LifestockPodTwitter @LifestockPodYouTube: Lifestock Podcast

This is an episode with a good friend of mine Greg Gillis. Greg and his family operate 7th Valley Ranch raising purebred Angus and commercial cattle. His wife also has a farm to fork beef business called Rose Valley Beef. Plus along with raising their family, increasing their grain farming acres the Gillis’ are going to partner up with good friends to host their first annual bull sale March 21st, 2026 in Swift Current SK. Greg and I met a while back just via the cattle world. We hit it off and have remained good friends. We always joke that we don’t raise the same breed but we had similar roadblocks along the way to navigate in developing our herds and reputations. Greg used to work off the farm, traveling in the pick up going to see customers. We would visit between stops about family and cattle. Continually bouncing ideas back and forth, knowing that we didn't have the same breed specific knowledge but we each wanted to find success on our own terms. This is very unscripted and a little peek into what a conversation or two between Greg and I are like when we find ourselves with a little wind shield time or looking to a friend to spitball a few ideas. I hope you as listeners might think it would be good to bounce a few ideas with a friend more often. It's a great way to vocalize an idea, check yourself a bit and build lasting friendships. Thank you to Season 5 sponsors:Klassen Industries Bovigen Reproductive ServicesRK Animal SupplyAngus WorldF’d Up Farming PodcastThank y'all for listening. Please leave us a 5 star rating and review on your favorite app. Kurtis ReidContact us:[email protected] @LifestockPodInstagram @LifestockPodTwitter @LifestockPodYouTube: Lifestock Podcast

It is amazing how networking and visiting with people about cows works. It led me down a path of learning more about the product FerAppease. At the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in 2024 I was approached by some people wearing green shirts with a yellow cattle head outline, nothing like I had seen before. They asked if I would be interested in trying the product and giving them some feedback and maybe posting on my social media accounts. They struck my inner Ukrainian chord with a demo product. As I researched FerAppease I was very intrigued, after using it, I am a big time supporter. Having Rodrigo Bicalho, Founder/CEO of FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals, the man that initiated the research, trial data and growth of his business on the podcast talking about his product FerAppease was special. An inside look, and yall know me. I asked a few questions and made a couple statements. Highly versed in the science but understanding that it is word of mouth and results that market products, Rodrigo and his team have partnered with Kane Vet Supplies to distribute the product in Canada. There is a spot where even I make myself a little speechless as we talked about the usage and practical application throughout the calendar year with FerAppease, not just at weaning. Lots of info, easy to talk science and confidence in a new management tool available to Canadian producers 24hr/365 days. Thank you to Season 5 sponsors:Klassen Industries Bovigen Reproductive ServicesRK Animal SupplyAngus WorldF’d Up Farming PodcastThank y'all for listening. Please leave us a 5 star rating and review on your favorite app. Kurtis ReidContact us:[email protected] @LifestockPodInstagram @LifestockPodTwitter @LifestockPodYouTube: Lifestock Podcast

Happy Canadian Western Agribition travel day everyone! I hope the wind is still and the roads are dry making it a fast trip with the trusty truck and trailer headed into Regina.  Hereford content inbound! It was a treat to visit with Duncan Lees. A man of great standing in his community, his beloved Hereford Breed and for that matter across the Canadian Beef business. Duncan has been dedicated to his family, their generational legacy within ranching, improving the Hereford breed and volunteering in the Hereford Breed and local community.  Duncan and Val Lees raised their 4 children outside of Arcola SK. Blair Athol Farms have been in the Hereford breed for over 100 years. The 6 generations of their family have been dedicated to always improving their breeding stock and the land they utilized. Herefords are in Duncan’s blood, his kids blood and now his grandkids blood! The Cattle industry afforded the Lee’s family numerous opportunities with travel, trade missions, quality stock and most importantly life long friendships.  Duncan’s dedication to building up youth and leading 4H or Junior Hereford projects has left a lasting impression on a generation of cattle men and women. When you ask others about Duncan you will hear it over and over that he is revered as one of the good ones, honest to the core and hard working.  Thank you to Season 4 sponsors: BoviGen Reproductive Services Klassen Industries  Angus World Thank y'all for listening. Please leave us a rating and review on your favorite pod catcher.  Please help to get us on the Sullivan’s Best of the Barns list this year!  Kurtis Reid Contact us: [email protected] Facebook @LifestockPod Instagram @LifestockPod Twitter @LifestockPod https://thecliffsfarm.com/

My dad is the best! If you have met him, I know you understand what I mean and why my family will all stand behind that. An amazing father figure growing up, dedicated to his family and always had a love for Hereford Cattle and people David set great examples for us. Plus, since turning 23 and getting married, he has become the smartest person I know, my siblings around those same time frames in their lives echo that comment. I am fortunate to work with him developing our cow herd, learning business, my family history and most importantly how to treat people the right way. His patience is unmatched. He is genuine and heartfelt. He is my dad, my best friend and my hero.  Thank you to Season 3 sponsors: BoviGen Reproductive Services Klassen Industries  Angus World Thank y'all for listening. Please leave us a rating and review on your favorite pod catcher. Kurtis Reid Contact us: [email protected] Facebook @LifestockPod Instagram @LifestockPod Twitter @LifestockPod https://thecliffsfarm.com/

I've always associated Bruce Holmquist with just being everywhere! It seems like no matter the event or gathering, he is sure to be there. It was great to hear from him about the World Simmental Fleckvieh Conference and how he will be a part of two of these events in Canada. A wonderful accomplishment for the Simmental breed as a whole on the world stage highlighting Canadian Seed Stock.  Bruce’s list of organizational affiliation and board activity is very long and impressive. I sure appreciate him talking to us about those positions and how some opportunities came around. I also think him highlighting some of the sacrifices along the way is important too.   It is clear that the Simmental breed and Agribition hold a special place in Bruce’s heart. He has dedicated most of his adult life to being a part of the industry and working to leave it better for the next members or exhibitors to come.  Thank you to Season 3 sponsors: BoviGen Reproductive Services Klassen Industries  Angus World Thank y'all for listening. Please leave us a rating and review on your favorite pod catcher. Kurtis Reid Contact us: [email protected] Facebook @LifestockPod Instagram @LifestockPod Twitter @LifestockPod https://thecliffsfarm.com/

Season 4 is here!   Thank y’all so much for your continued support. We are excited to put together another season of interviews and discussions with industry leaders.  Our season kicks off with Tyson Buyer from BoviGen. A great story about having a passion, building a plan and making a vision a reality. It’s always great when a plan comes together, even though there can be a few bumps along the road.  Thank you to Season 3 sponsors: BoviGen Reproductive Services Klassen Industries  Angus World Thank y'all for listening. Please leave us a rating and review on your favorite pod catcher. Kurtis Reid Contact us: [email protected] Facebook @LifestockPod Instagram @LifestockPod Twitter @LifestockPod https://thecliffsfarm.com/

Carlin Rajotte joins me to talk a little bit about D&N Livestock and lead us into their upcoming 3rd annual bull sale, February 28th, 2024.  Contact the Rajotte’s with any questions and make sure to stop by outside of Peebles Saskatchewan to tour the bulls.  Dave 306-736-8698 Ben 306-495-7727 Carlin 306-495-7292

This episode is all about celebrating the accomplishment of Canadians having success with breeding cattle in the show ring in Canada and the United States! Each of the three parts were fun to record as the stories of winners and their contributions to programs I truly find hard to resist. From finding or breeding one to following it though to achieve the biggest dreams, its what we all chase. Wilbar Cattle Bryan and Tracey take us through their time with Conley Southpoint 8362. Their decision to purchase through showing and then now seeing the rewards of their efforts. I will always cheer for cattle to not only win in the show ring but to work in the real world where livelihoods are made on breeding decisions and quality cattle.   INC Cattle Co A sweep of the first ever American National Speckle Park Show with Champion Female and Champion Bull. Born and raised, that feeling of knowing they are special, seeing your dreams playout and knowing your efforts and work even in the crappiest of moments all built up to this!  Cay’s Cattle/Serhineko Cattle Co SVY Mayfield 30H. Registration number 1 million in the AICA. Multiple times Grand Champion in 2022 in Edmonton and at Agribition. The Supreme Champion bull at Agribition. Denver National Champion. His first American semen offering selling in its entirety to one breeder for $140,000USD. It is interesting hearing both side. Finding the right one, breeding that one. Working on him, the team effort it takes. Putting an animal of that caliber in the right place at the right time with the max effort to look the right way.  Congratulations to all of my guests on this episode on their achievements. Make sure to look me up at Agribition to get your Lifestock Podcast hat!  Thank you to Season 3 sponsors: Bow Valley Genetics Angus World Thank y'all for listening. Please leave us a rating and review on your favorite pod catcher. Kurtis Reid Contact us: [email protected] Facebook @LifestockPod Instagram @LifestockPod Twitter @LifestockPod https://thecliffsfarm.com/

When I had the idea to have Robert Ballantyne on the podcast I reached out to several mutual acquaintances and received back a pile of information and questions to ask. Every person I talked to was excited about what would come from this interview, I felt the pressure to make it happen. Good thing Robert is such a great guy to visit with and really knocked it out of the park.  I wanted to keep this interview to release at Agribition as it is such a special event and place for Robert. He built a career and lifestyle, memories and a brand at Canadian Western Agribition. Robert’s selfless contributions to CWA helped to build its international report and widen its audience.  Diamond B was at the most elite level of Galloway Cattle across the globe and the Ballentyne’s goal was to just keep getting better every chance they could. I will listen back on this interview a lot driving down the road or doing chores. The knowledge and genuine nature of Robert is captivating. His advice is second to none and his love for the Canadian Cattle Industry is alive as ever.  A closing remark from a close friend of mine after telling him Mr Ballantyne was going to be my Agribition release, “He is a damn good human. They don't make them better than Robert.” It is a fact that the Lifestock Podcast audience will enjoy this one.  Thank you to Season 3 sponsors: Bow Valley Genetics Angus World Thank y'all for listening. Please leave us a rating and review on your favorite pod catcher. Find me at Agribition to get your FREE LIFESTOCK PODCAST HAT! Kurtis Reid Contact us: [email protected] Facebook @LifestockPod Instagram @LifestockPod Twitter @LifestockPod https://thecliffsfarm.com/