AGRIMART EXPRESS

There is far more to a cow pie than meets the eye.

Dr. Kevin Floate, an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientist with the Lethbridge Research and Dewith insects associated with livestock.” His recent work Cow Patty Critters, which helps understand the “fecal friends” dwelling in dung pats and highlights their ben-

In his guide, Dr. Floate talks about pasture ecosysinto animal health. His work provides a solid foundation and veterinary medicine. Intended to be a one-stop-shop guide, the work is comprehensive and is written in layquestions, and the second part focuses on how to identify insects.

In Canada alone, it is estimated that around 110 million dung pats are deposited by cows every day. The combined weight is equivalent to just over 13,000 combines, and yet relatively little is known about the organisms that dwell within them.

Understanding the insect communities that inhabit these millions of dung pats is a crucial piece of the puzzle to understand a healthy pasture ecosystem.

“And you know,” he said, “with over 300 species of insects that breed in cattle dung in Canada, probably only four are considered to be pests. The rest are bene-

When he started his work around 30 years ago, Dr.dance of life within a simple dung pat, and second, that there was no existing comprehensive guide covering this.

Given this insight and inspired by a large number of questions directed toward him, Dr. Floate painstakingly assembled the guide which includes over 200 high quality images.

To maintain a healthy pasture ecosystem, knowledge of these insects and their comings and goings is crucial. Dr. Floate’s guide helps achieve this, and farmers can rely on the guide to maximize soil and livestock health.

The guide expounds on the service helpful insects play, which ranges from aeration of the soil to spreading manure naturally, thereby removing potential breeding

The guide also demonstrates how intricately connected the food chain is.

Feedback from crop and livestock producers who use the guide is welcomed by Dr. Floate and his intention is to write a follow-up edition to address any ques-

Dr. Floate wishes to inspire further research by

For producers facing tough economic hardship, the Farm Stress Line is available around the clock and can be reached toll-free at 1-800-667-4442. Calls to the Farm Stress Line are answered by Mobile Crisis Services Refeatures no call display. - sources through the AgTalk platform, which is provided by the Do More Agriculture Foundation and can be accessed at DoMore.ag/AgTalk.

Crop producers who face low yields this year can benby: Facebook/Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation - SCIC farmers, ranchers, and students, and by offering the guide freely, he hopes to reach the widest audience posecosystem, but in other areas where North American insects originated (such as throughout North America and Europe), the guide holds relevance.

For undergrad students, his guide contains over 500 references that can be used in their research.

“The critters found in cow patties provide valuable ecosystem services and are an unexpected ally to ranchers and farmers. This is the guide I wish I had when I started my career as a researcher,” said Dr. Floate. “If I have done my job right, readers from all backgrounds

Dr. Floate received his Ph. D. in Zoology at the Northern Arizona University in 1992 and has received several awards in recognition of his work. His latest recognition is the ESC Service Award, Editor-in-Chief (2014-2017), in The Canadian Entomologist publication.

He founded the Dung Organism Toxicity Testing (DOTTS – SETAC) organization in 2002, worked at the University of Queensland (2004 - 2005), and was (EMA) in 2018.

His interests include community insect ecology, participating in various entomological societies, identifying ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), and training students.

Dr. Floate welcomes feedback from anyone who has used the guide and will use these questions in a possible follow-up edition. He can be reached at kevin.

To access the free comprehensive guide, you can download a .PDF copy on the Government of Canada website at https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.913866/ publication.html.

New Catholic consultant to guide Holy Trinity’s faith activities when school returns in autumn

Jason

When school resumes in the fall for Holy Trinity Catholic School Division, a new religion consultant will be offering guidance on how to better incorporate the faith into lessons and activities.

Jodie Bzdel served as the division’s third religion consultant from 2018 to 2023 and provided advice about how best to provide a Catholic faith-based education to students rooted in the Gospel message of Jesus Christ while forming strong faith in students and staff so they can serve their schools and communities.

Bzdel will return to the classroom in the fall to teach at St. Margaret School. Her replacement will be Lisa Busta, a senior English teacher in Moose Jaw.

year, Bzdel reviewed all the faith-based activities that had occurred since September.

Some activities included school retreats, a staff faith day to start the school year, faith formation meetings with new teachers, creating connections with community parishes, working on a plan for enhanced faith permeation in schools and helping create the new faith theme and choosing the appropriate Bible verse.

Next year’s theme is “God holds all creation in His hands,” while the related Bible verse comes from Job 12:7-10.

Before giving her presentation, Bzdel expressed her appreciation for the support she had received with her work.

“… I wanted to take this opportunity to thank (executive) council and the board for their support with faith permeation in Holy Trinity Catholic School Division over

Bzdel then reviewed some activities she helped lead

Some activities included taking division faith leaders to an international religious education conference in Los Angeles; incorporating commissioning masses, Peace Day masses, and outdoor family activities; bringing in advisors to support faith leaders; creating a professional growth plan for teachers to help them permeate lessons with Catholic teachings; bringing in speakers to kick off each school year; and supporting staff with professional development activities.

Other activities have included working with the Archdiocese of Regina to facilitate student retreats; receiving school support from priests, deacons and seminarians; teaching students about the Church sacrament of reconciliation; and helping schools lead masses and liturgies.

“We’ve created an inclusive Catholic school environment, opening our doors to all families that want a Catholic, faith-based education for their child,” Bzdel said. “Our Catholic face is the base of our school division and I can’t thank you enough for supporting me and making all these amazing things happen.

“We are strong together and with all things (everything is) possible through God. These things are possible with your support and understanding that we are all children of God and we are walking together in the light of Christ.”

Added Bzdel, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It has been just a fantastic experience being the religion consultant for the school division … .”

Education director Ward Strueby presented Bzdel with a gift, saying she did a wonderful job in the division “to bring the light of Christ to each of our staff members and students.”

Happy 100th Birthday, Marie Victoria Gibbs!

Local resident Marie Gibbs shares her story and her secret to longevity on her 100th birthday

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

Marie Victoria Gibbs, a Moose Jaw resident with quite a story to tell, recently turned 100 years of age.

“I was born in Pennant, Sask., where my father had been a farmer.. I was only there for a year and we moved to Swift Current, which I really consider my hometown. I grew up, did all my schooling, and graduated from the St. Joan of Arc Academy,” she recalled.

During World War II, Gibbs says she worked for the my husband got out of the navy and we moved to Moose Jaw.”

Her husband was working for the CPR (Canadian Paof absence, he served overseas until the end of the war. When he returned home, he continued his work at CPR.

Gibbs says the reason she moved to Moose Jaw was “to get his (her husband’s) training to be an engineer on the CPR,” as Moose Jaw was the rail hub for the area.

After the war, Gibbs said she was not able to return experience. “After the war they were only hiring men, if you please!” she exclaimed.

Her second job was selling clothing at Mickey’s Ladies Apparel, which she recalled being very successful at. “You can do anything if you set your mind to it,” she says.

Gibbs shares her secret to making it to 100 years of age. “First of all, it’s a sense of humour; secondly, I ‘splice the mainbrace’, she said. “That’s an old navy tradition, (from) my husband serving in the navy during the war… it stems back to the days of Lord Nelson. He (Nelson) used to reward the boys who used to lose heir braces when the wind used to get the sails.

“You never say to anyone, ‘let’s go and have a drink’ — you just don’t say it. You say, ‘let’s splice the mainbrace’,” Gibbs explained, referring to a glass of rum.

When her husband stopped for a month’s leave after

VE-Day, Gibbs said he was able to purchase a wedding dress from an American dealer. When he arrived, he gave her the perfect wedding.

“It (the wedding dress) had a 20-foot train veil, the crown, and it was all silk and satin,” she said. During wartime, silks were rationed in Canada and nobody could buy silk or satin at the store, but the United States did not have these restrictions, she told the Moose Jaw Express/

MooseJawToday.com. “So, there’s the story of what my sailor boy did for me,” she said.

Gibbs lives independently in her own home, which she and her husband built with their own hands. and hit a nail like nobody’s business,” she said. “He drew up the plans, and what we wanted for a house.”

Gibbs told the Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday. com that they had lots of help, including a hired foreman and plenty of additional labour from his friends and coworkers on the railroad to assist with the build.

For a while, Gibbs played in the Heather Highlander’s Pipe Band, when Moose Jaw was known as the Band the grade 3 piping trophy. It was the Marie V. Gibbs trophy.” Now Gibbs travels to Regina to hand out the award.

“I belong to Clan Wallace; that’s my clan tartan, and I learned the pipes and got my picture taken to prove that.” Her clan can trace its roots back to William Wallace, and when she met Queen Elizabeth II, the queen recognized her kilt and shook her hand.

Gibbs said she was instrumental in helping Lorne Calvert approached her and asked her to run his campaign. When she later met Prince Charles during a campaign, Calvert told the prince: “This is the little lady who put me where I am!”

Prince Charles asked her how she did it, and she replied, “When you’ve got good metal to work with, you mould gold.”

Over her lifetime, Gibbs said the one societal change that stood out to her is giving women an education and a place in working society. “If they have the ability, (women) can be hired on at the CPR right now.

“They (women) have brains, but at one time they weren’t allowed to use them. That’s the change I’m very pleased to see. The doors have been opened completely for women.”

Happy 100th birthday Marie Gibbs!