Our History
On April 22, 1971, a group of enthusiastic Saskatchewan Simmental Breeders met in Regina to create their first Provincial Association. The Association started off with a membership of 77. By-laws were approved and directors elected. The first President was Edgar Mapletoft of Frenchman Butte, the Vice-President was Cyril Ross of Estevan and the Secretary-Treasurer was Leroy Berry of Carievale. Membership increased rapidly to 320 members.
The Saskatchewan Simmental Association (SSA) immediately became involved in live displays at summer fairs and sponsored the first sale at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina. Three years later, history was made when 116 lots sold for just under 1.25 million dollars at the Agribition sale.
The First Simmental show at Agribition was
sponsored in 1976. The show continued to grow and over 400 head of
Simmental cattle were displayed every year for several years. In
2017, the Canadian Simmental Assocition will celebrate their 50th
Anniversary and the National Show will be held at Canadian Western
Agribition. The 50th Anniversary of the first Agribition Simmental
Sale will take place in 2020 as Canadian Western Agribition also
celebrates the 50th Anniversary milestone.
The People’s Choice Bull Show was added in 1994
to promote Simmental Bulls and to keep Simmental and the SSA at
the forefront of the beef industry. Calendar year bull calves were
nominated and then judged by gold and silver membership holders.
Twenty eight bulls competed for the right to be the “People’s
Choice” and compete for a jackpot of over $10,000! Seventy-five
judges appraised the three classes of bulls, all scoring cards
were tabulated and a championship class was determined. Before the
championship class was announced, a name was drawn from all Gold
and Sliver level memberships. EDN Simmentals, of Maple Creek, SK.
was the winner of a half interest and full possession of a bull of
their choice from all twenty-eight bulls in the show. They
selected a bull exhibited by Sunny Valley Simmental, Wayne &
Linda Libke, Hanley, SK. Wayne and Linda received a $12, 530.00
jackpot. The People’s Choice Grand Champion also went to the
Libke’s. The grand champion bull received $1000.00 and the Reserve
Champion, exhibited by EDN Simmental, and received $500.00.
A Scholarship Fund was started in 1999 and is available to SSA member’s children. The scholarships are available to students entered in post-secondary education; his/her parents must be current SSA members and have been so for more than one year. Applications for scholarships are due October 1st of each year and are available from the SSA office. Since its inception, the SSA has awarded over 100 scholarships!
The Scholarship Fund is funded by the Scholarship Donation Heifer. A current year heifer calf is donated to the SSA and is auctioned off by Dutch auction at Agribition.
2023 Scholarship Heifer donated by Maxstone Simmentals, Lorne Kwasnicki, Scout Lake, SK
News
Landon Braithwaite of Fort Qu’appelle, SK was selected from a buyer’s draw of over 1200 bulls from Saskatchewan Simmental Association members. He purchased his bull from Pheasantdale Cattle Company, the Stilborn family, of Balcarres, SK. Landon will receive a $2,000 sale credit to be used towards the purchase of a bull or female from public auction or private treaty sale from a current SSA Member!
SSA 54th Annual General Meeting was held in Weyburn, SK on July
20, 2024 in conjunction with the SCYSA Tiger Lily Classic. A
great crowd was on hand to discuss the SSA Business and support
the junior members with their Annual Show.
The SSA Board wishes to thank Lee Stilborn and Lane Scherger for
the their time and commitment to the SSA Board of Directors as
they retire from the board. Welcome to new members Jaret Girodat
and Travis Rathgeber as they join the SSA Board for a 3 year
term and returning director Kyron Manske.
Convention and National YCSA Show will be held in Weyburn July
24-27, 2025 – hope you can join us!
Box 591