4 minute read
Bringing a Producer's Eye to Olds Fall Classic
WORDS BY JEFF GAYE
Craig and his wife Tricia operate Wilgenbusch Charolais along with Craig’s mother Brenda (and their two-year-old daughter Harper). Their farm is near Halbrite, Saskatchewan, southeast of Weyburn.
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Craig Wilgenbusch will be judging at the Olds Fall Classic, October 5 – 7. While he describes himself as “young” in the judge role, his dedication to quality beef production means that for him, cattle showing is much more than just a contest.
Craig & Tricia Wilgenbusch of Wilgenbusch Charolais
“We're huge on structure and functionality,” Craig said. “They’ve got to have a look to them. Being on the production side, that's our bread and butter here. At the end of the day they're all going to end up in the feedlot, so we're looking for cattle that'll still yield and produce a superior carcass.”
Craig’s father started with 15 cows in the early 1990s. They now have upwards of 450 head, running an annual bull sale in April and a biennial female sale every other December. “We have numbers but we're also producing quality,” Craig said.
“Having the younger females outproducing our older females is definitely a goal down the road, maintaining that our young females are producing and working well.” And as seed stock producers, “our bulls have to work and they have to have some longevity in them.
“Structure, and feet and leg is our biggest push, especially when we're selling bulls.”
Craig says their program stays on top of the newer Charolais genetics, and selects what will pair well with an intended dam. “Some people wonder why we use so many different sires. It’s because each cow is different,” he said. Since they are constantly striving to improve their cow herd, they have to keep the maternal side in mind when selecting bulls.
The operation can boast its share of major accomplishments.
Tricia says the success of their first female sale three years ago was the culmination of a long effort. “Our first female sale in 2015 was definitely a long-term goal that we had from the last 15 years,” she said. “We were able to get it together and to continue to grow with that sale, and that’s ranked really high on our accomplishments list.”
They have had the second highest-selling bull in Canada, JWX Downtown 7C, and the national champion female in 2014, JWX Abby 706A.
Beyond their breeding success, the family takes pride in welcoming the Charolais community to visit their operation.
“I think the highlight for Wilgenbusch Charolais is welcoming international breeders from around the world to tour our farm,” Tricia said. “We've hosted quite a variety of different events over the years,including a Norwegian and Swedish tour at last year’s Agribition.”
Craig visiting with two breeders from Sweden when they hosted a tour of the operation for the World Charolais Technical Conference in 2015.
Charolais Banner
A customer looks over the very consistent offering at theWilgenbusch's 2018 bull sale.
Karen Bleasdale Photography
They also hosted members of the World Charolais Congress in 2015.
Their approach to breeding is reflected in Craig’s judging preferences. Each breed of animal offers its own strengths in different traits, and producers should be able to depend on the genetics to deliver the desired qualities, he said.
“Definitely you have to appreciate each breed for what they bring the table, or else we'd only have one breed, right? So I don't think you can be a one-sided judge. You have to judge each breed according to its own merits.”
The Wilgenbusch farm on their annual "North of the 49th" Bull Sale day in 2018.
Karen Bleasdale Photography
Shows matter, Craig said, because they’re an important marketing tool for breeders and they allow comparisons of genetics and breeding programs. The Wilgenbuschs usually show at Brandon and at Agribition every year. This year they plan to be at Farm Fair as well.
Shows are also important for getting young people involved.
“I think it's huge for our youth in the industry. It cultivates so many kids into showing cattle and being involved in cattle in the future. I think it is instrumental
"I think it's huge for our youth in the industry. It cultivates so many kids into showing cattle and being involved in cattle in the future. I think it is instrumental to show cattle and have young people involved in this."
“The homework and effort that these kids put in at home nowadays is tremendous and really puts some good roots in them.”
Craig shows one of their heifer calves in the highly competitive 2017 Agribition Charolais show.
Show Champions
It’s a lesson he learned from his father. “Customer service and the work ethic, and never stop working to produce a better product. And don’t settle for average.”
In fact, he says, the beef industry has no greater strength than the quality of its people. As he puts it, it’s a people business first; the cattle come second.
Craig follows a bull into the ring for their 2018 sale, which averaged $7,238 on 83 1/4 bulls.
Karen Bleasdale Photography
That idea comes through in his advice for exhibitors. “Be proud of what you’re doing and the product you’re raising,” Craig said.“And never stop promoting your breed or your cattle.”
As Tricia says, “be a spokesperson for your breed. You’re representing your breed,and your farm, and your family.”
Acknowledgements: Special thanks to the Charolais Banner (Helge & Candace By) and Karen Bleasdale Photography for generously supplying the photos for this article.
