Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/730581
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 6 S W A N R I V E R D iversification is a practice Swan River's Tibble family takes seriously, working as they do as feed producers, ranchers and cow embryo sellers as well as holding off-farm jobs in auctioneering, real estate and the legal system. In what little spare time he has, Scott Tibble is involved with the Manitoba Round Table for Sustainable Development (MRTSD), a provincial government organization that promotes ideas on how to increase economic viability. "Legislation to allow farmers to sell their fresh vegetables directly to the public at small farmers' markets is an example of a MRTSD initiative which has put more money back into producers' pockets by removing the cost of selling through a middleman," he says. Scott and his wife Cindy used a similar strat- egy to remain viable in the cattle industry during the devastating BSE crisis of the 1990s. "We searched out our own customers and sold cattle directly from our farm to city mar- kets, including a restaurant in which we owned a stake," says Scott. Their business plan eliminated the wholesaler, increasing their profit on the beef they sold. Today, the Tibble family's Swan Hill Ranch comprises over 1,500 acres, where Black Angus cattle are pastured and feed is grown for the purebred herd of about 75 animals. The cattle operation provides employment for two or three people as well as agricultural learn- ing opportunities for the Tibble's three children, Martina, Robyn and Parker. Parker, the youngest at 10, is learning how to be a cattleman from his sisters. In July, older daughter Martina's Black Angus steer placed fifth in the Carcass Class at the Calgary Stampede Quality Beef Competition, a world-class event that drew more than 60 competitors. As well, Martina and Robyn both participated in the annual Summer Synergy Breeder Exhib- ition, a scholarship program organized by the Olds Regional Exhibition (ORE) in collaboration with the Calgary Stampede. Robyn won a scholarship for a Top 10 fin- ish in her category, which included about 70 participants,. Since 2010, the competition has given "youth in agriculture every opportunity available to become their own best" by awarding about $400,000 in scholarships. Winners receive their awards on the main stage of the Calgary Stam- pede, says ORE representative Tracy Gardner. The impressive finishes by his daughters in their respective competitions was in part a result of Scott's ongoing fascination with and commitment to breeding Angus cattle. Working with local veterinarian Dr. Keith Im- merkar, a certified practitioner of the Canadian Embryo Transfer Association, Scott has rapidly increased and improved his purebred herd through the practice of embryology. "The advantage of implanting the best embryos from a valuable cow into surrogate mothers is that the elite mother can produce many more offspring during her lifetime com- pared to natural fertilization," says Immerkar, who offers his services in Manitoba, Saskatch- ewan and Russia. Genetically superior cows with breeding problems can also produce offspring by embryo transfer, rapidly increasing seed-stock quality as well as the size of a herd, according to one of America's largest seed-stock producers, Express Ranches of Oklahoma. Scott sells his cattle's embryos to markets in Russia, France, England and China. In late November, the Tibble family attends the country's biggest livestock show, Canadian Western Agribition, in Regina, where they sell yearling bulls and semen to Canadian and U.S. buyers as well as South American countries. Another marketing outlet is the annual early spring Blue Collar Bull sale, at which the Tibbles show and sell a selection of quality bulls. As well, Scott has a brother who works for Semex, an international company that develops and markets high-quality genetic technologies, products and services for livestock producers around the world. "My brother is in tune with global cattle markets and was very helpful in negotiat- ing a contract to sell about 2,500 Canadian Angus embryos to Russia, including my own," Scott says. Even though their Swan Hill Ranch is Scott and Cindy's true love, economic reality makes it necessary for them to work at off-farm jobs. Scott is a partner at Royal LePage Realty in Brandon, where he offers conventional home sale services and, as a certified appraiser and auctioneer, specializes in selling farmland and machinery by auction. "I'm a believer in auctions because selling prices often exceed sellers' expectations. In one case, a retiring farmer was about to accept an offer of just over $300,000 for his property. He asked me if I thought it could be auctioned for more, I said yes, and, sure enough, it sold for over $400,000 at the auction," he says. Cindy is a justice of the peace. Though she recently attempted to cut back from full-time to part-time employment, she still works four-day weeks during busy spells at the provincial court in Swan River. On the ranch or off, being busy is a way of life. "We have to get away just to relax," she says. "Otherwise, we will work at some aspect of our businesses." Diversification does have a downside in long workdays. But the upside is that it keeps the rural economy hoofing. Photos courtesy of Swan Hill Ranch BY DAVID SQUARE Martina and Robyn both participated in the annual Summer Synergy Breeder Exhibition, a scholarship program organized by the Olds Regional Exhibition (ORE) in collaboration with the Calgary Stampede. 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