A Broadview-area couple Dale and Tracy Richter were awarded the 2012 Farmer Recognition Award at this year's Grain Millers Harvest Showdown.
Dale Richter said they were told about a month ago they were being nominated, but they did not realize they were the recipients until arriving at the grain, forage and seed show awards reception last Thursday.
"We were really honoured and surprised," he said of learning of the award.
Dale said he grew up in farming with his father, but struck out on his own 1992.
Tracy said for a time her husband farmed with brothers, but that evolved into a grain farm of their own.
Dale said the decision to farm was one he and his family knew he'd one day make.
"When I was four or five, I was playing with farm equipment (toys)," he said. " I love the farm, the lifestyle."
Today the couple farm 7,000 acres, with the help of some hired staff, and their four children.
"The whole family helps," said Dale.
The eldest daughter, Chelsea, is currently enrolled in college taking agriculture, but regularly drives truck, combine, sprayer and other equipment.
"She loves working on the farm," said Dale.
As do others in the family.
Tracy said all of the children; Braden, Evan and Shaelynn, enjoy helping in whatever way they can.
Dale was quick to credit his wife's contribution too. While not out in the field driving equipment, she does the book work, pays the bills and keeps everyone fed, he noted.
The farm, while strictly grain, is still a diverse one. They grow winter and hard red spring wheat, barley, oats, canola, flax and peas, said Dale, adding the actual cropping mix "depends on the year."
"This year winter wheat did very well, spring wheat was average," he added, whereas "canola was below average," as a result of a wet spring and heat at the wrong time later in the growing season.
Dale said over time a key to farming success comes down to "growing good average yields," since those will at least help defray most of the costs of growing a crop most years.
Another key to success has been the steady adoption of new technologies.
"Becoming more efficient is a key to being able to survive," he said.
Technological advancements have ranged from the implementation of zero tillage which was taking place at the time they started farming on their own.
"Zero till was a big change when we first started," said Dale.
Today the biggest change is using global positioning to facilitate variable fertilizer and sprayer rates within a field.
Tracy said they are just beginning to implement precision farming technology.
"We're trying that this year," he said.
The move to precision farming is a natural, noted Dale.
"Every piece of farm equipment has global positioning systems," he said.
While the Richters admitted to being early implementers in terms of new technology, they have tried to stay fiscally responsible too.
"We don't want to over extend ourselves," he said, adding on a farm there are too many variables in terms of potential income to carry too much debt.
As an example in 2011 they were unable to crop about 80 per cent of the farm because of wet spring conditions, and this year it was still wet, leaving about 50 per cent of their land idle.
While there have been challenges with farming, Dale said he can't imagine doing anything else.
"I've always loved it. It's always been my passion to farm and be successful," he said, adding "it's a great place to raise a family."
