Amber and Hailey Spray with their 4-H projects on Triple S Cattle Co. at Hazel Dell, Sask.
Page 18 • Summer 2022 • Gelbvieh guide
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riple S Cattle was first registered to represent Brett Spray, his father and brother’s operation. But the name now works just as well for Brett and Krystal’s three daughters, who are living and loving the farm life in eastcentral Saskatchewan. “This is what I wanted — to raise my family on a farm,” said Krystal, who grew up on an acreage near Wakaw, Sask. The Sprays moved to their farm just outside the tiny community of Hazel Dell in 2008, about eight kilometres from Brett’s parents. They have a purebred Gelbvieh herd of about 70 cows and another 130 commercial cows. In mid-April, seven Speckle Parks, a “retirement” project for Brett’s dad Brian, arrived. Amber, 13, Hailey, 10, and Rebecca, eight, all have 4-H animals on the go. It’s calving season and seeding isn’t far off. “It’s just busy all the time,” Krystal said. They wouldn’t have it any other way. Brett and Krystal didn’t participate in 4-H when they were growing up, so now they are learning about clipping, showing and judging along with their daughters. They intend to participate in Canadian Western Agribition this fall for the first time for the experience and to get exposure for the Triple S name. They are proud of the knowledge their girls are gaining through the Kelvington 4-H Beef club. “Amber picked out both our new bulls,” said Brett. “I know the genetics and she has a really good eye for cattle.” She also recently won the intermediate category in the 4-H provincial public speaking competition. The Sprays have had commercial Gelbvieh since 1993 when they bought the first bull to complement Brian Spray’s Charolais cows. For years, Brett worked off the farm on natural gas pipelines and a chance stop one day in 2003 at an Alberta farm led him to buy four open Gelbvieh heifers to start a purebred herd. Three years later, he bought a dispersal of 17 and in 2008
