ESTEVAN — The Prairie Prime Junior Stock Club had a memorable start for its first-ever sale June 28 at the Estevan Exhibition Association's grounds.
The first animal sold was a charity steer that raised $71,000 for the Creighton Lodge kitchen expansion. The red steer named Kirk was donated by DK Land and Cattle – owned by Dustin and Kirsten Fornwald in the Lampman area.
Kirk sold for $40,000 to a consortium that included Ray and Doris Frehlick, Ken Wallewein, Ron Carson, Turnbull Excavating, Bent Shed Oil, Senchuk Ford and Certified Energy.
Frehlick pointed out the lodge is people's home.
"It'll be there for many years with the additional renovations they're going to do that are going to be done by October. We thank you all for supporting it, and … hopefully you'll all support Creighton Lodge," said Frehlick.
The steer was sold again, this time for $30,000 to a group that included Estevan Motors, Murray GM, Prairie Animal Health Clinic, Kingston Midstream, E&G Auto Parts and Service, Red Hawk Well Servicing, Ambrose and Sheryl Hengen, Scotsburn Dental/Grimes Sales and Service, Chamney Crushing, Daniel and Sarah Betnar, Prairie View Acres and Smart Power Systems.
The cut and wrap of the steer was donated by Pick Farms Ltd. (Kory and Afton Pick), and the beef from the steer will be donated to the lodge.
Later in the night, Wil-Tech Construction donated $1,000 to the lodge after the business purchased a steer.
Creighton Lodge manager Shelly Veroba noted the assisted living facility was purchased, or "saved", by a group of RMs in 2010. The health-care system owned the facility and was going to sell it, and the RMs exercised their first right of refusal and said "not on my watch".
"There was … maybe 28 people when we took it over in 2010. We now have 52. We have 260 people on the waiting list, and that is why we're doing the kitchen expansion. We can't renovate the kitchen with 52 people living in the building without shutting the kitchen down," said Veroba.
Fundraising on the kitchen started a few years ago and construction started earlier this year. The kitchen expansion has a projected cost of $1.5 million, and the lodge has received excellent support for the project.
"You're going to help the seniors that reside in Creighton Lodge today but also in the future, and some of those people are straight off the farm," said Veroba. "They come right into Creighton Lodge and they're unsure when they get there, but they quickly realize what a family atmosphere they are having to live in now, and we just appreciate the support so much, and we couldn't do it without each and every one of you."
Jason LeBlanc with Steffes Auctioneers said the Prairie Prime club really supports the kids and lets the youths make their decisions.
"They're raising them properly and they're giving them a lot of opportunities," said LeBlanc, who added he had no hesitations about conducting the sale when he was asked.
LeBlanc said the charity steer was a "terrific" idea.
Another 22 animals were sold that night. The sale was part of two days of activities for the club that will wrap up June 28.
SaskToday will have further coverage of the weekend activities.
