The Leguee family received the twenty-first Golden Sheaf Award at the Farmer Appreciation Night hosted by the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce on November 4. The event, which was sold out this year, was well planned out and an evening enjoyed by all. Sponsorship was provided by Parrish and Heimbecker as well as several other companies including South Country providing complimentary wine, Cenovus Energy providing the meal, E Bourassa and Sons donating a Bernie Brown print for a raffle, Young's Equipment providing take home centerpieces and Southern Printers donating the programs containing the itinerary for the evening. Jeff Richards, former general manager of the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce, acted as Master of Ceremonies for the program. Richards kicked off the night reading a congratulatory letter from Ed Komarnicki, MP of Souris Moose Mountain, who was unable to attend the evening. Dustin Duncan, the Saskatchewan Health Minister and MLA for Big Muddy and Weyburn's Mayor Debra Button, RM Reeve Carmen Sterling and Chad Johnstone from the Weyburn Agricultural Society, all shared words before guest speaker, John Gormley took his turn.
Gormley, who is most often recognized from his radio show, also shared wisdom from his second book, "The Gormley Papers, I'm Right and You Know It".
John feels that Saskatchewan is turning a corner and has the potential to be a leading province in this country with all of its business, agriculture and industry.
The night concluded with the highlight of the evening, the Leguee family receiving the Golden Sheaf from Chamber president Rodney Gill.
The Leguee family farm began in 1978 with a 640 acre mixed farm operation. Over the years the farm has grown to a 12,400 grain, pulse and oil seed operation that includes and utilizes each family members' contribution and talents. The younger generation have become part of incorporating technology to aid in the growth of the operation. The Leguee family was one of the first operators to purchase an air seeder. In addition to being a major contributing factor to the growth of the agriculture industry, the Leguees have contributed to their local community while keeping the main focus on importance on family, which Russ Leguee attributes to much of their success. Russ accepted the award on behalf of the family. Leguee was both humbled and honoured to receive the award.
"You look around the crowd and there are so many people who deserve such an award," said Leguee. "It's a real honour to get it. I don't know what else to say about it. I just feel really honoured by it."
Russ did include his well wishes to all the cattle farmers who have struggled with BSE over the years and are finally receiving the profits so long overdue. Before handing the microphone over to his son, Jake, Leguee made mention of the importance of honouring our war veterans, with the upcoming Remembrance Day service.
Jake took to the stage next providing some insight on what the younger generation has contributed to the farm, including his development of a blog http://southsaskfarmer.com/. Here you can follow the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the Leguee family farm and what has led them to be the well deserving recipients of the 2014 Golden Sheaf Award.
