Saskatchewan
Angus 2003 Breeder of the Year
Sandy Bar Ranch – Aneroid, SK by Kathy Rieder
Whether
you phone to set up an interview or just stop in for a visit, you
are always made welcome and treated to real hospitality at the Sandy
Bar Ranch. Sandy Bar Ranch, home of Bob and Gail Switzer and family
were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the Angus industry
by being named the 2003 Saskatchewan Angus Breeder of the Year.
Bob bought
his first purebred cow in 1966 from the Soggie Dispersal Sale in
Elbow, Saskatchewan. After purchasing his cow he needed a herd name
and said it felt like he sent in at least one hundred names to the
office like: Black Bar, Trails End, Jack Creek, but finally came
up with Sandy Bar. Now Sandy Bar is renown for high quality black
cows and bulls.
While
talking with Bob it is quite evident how important his family is.
Bob said he would have never gotten started without the help from
his parents, Earl & Megan Switzer, under the herd name Southern
Lane Angus. Angus cattle go back even further though, in the Switzer
family. Bob’s grandma, who lived to be 103, raised commercial
Angus cattle for most of her life. The Switzer’s have been
registering Angus cattle for almost 60 years. When first getting
started, Bob used his Dad’s bulls. He remembers they used bulls
from Larry Gross, Walt Larson, and one bull that worked well for
their program was Bardolene Lad 177, that was bought from Lloyd Resch.
While
listening to Bob talk about the help his dad gave to him, it is no
wonder that Sandy Bar Ranch is a family run operation and now Bob
is helping his sons get a start in the cattle industry. Beau, Bob’s
oldest son operates Valley Blossom Ranch at Lac Pelletier. (The apple
did not fall far from the tree here. It is like there is a younger
Bob walking around!) Kyle is in his last year of Agriculture Business
at Dickinson State University. He went to school on a rodeo scholarship
and is an accomplished Saddle Bronc Rider. Jane is living in Saskatoon
and is attending the University of Saskatchewan. Jane is in her second
year of Commerce and there has been talk of her becoming a lawyer.
Bailee is in grade 11 at Kincaid School. She is quite the track athlete
and on week-ends you will find her Barrel Racing in Rodeo Arenas
around the province. The future looks bright for all the Switzer
children.
Between
Sandy Bar and Valley Blossom Ranch they run approximately 450 “all
black” registered cattle. Bob wanted the “all black” put
in and he also said, “It only costs 10% more to go first class
with black!” I asked Bob why black cattle and his answer was, “Lazy
man’s cattle ... simple. Less maintenance ... more money!” Now,
isn’t that a Bob answer! Bob and Gail also have cows on shares
around the province with a number of different people, Walt & Lisa
Lockie of Balgonie; Leon & Sharon White of Fiske; Robert & Sharon
Ballantyne of Livelong; and Gerald & Alynne Church of Hazenmore.
Sandy
Bar started selling bulls privately off the ranch, then at the the
Swift Current, Val Marie, and Regina Bull Sales. Then Larry Gross
had an idea, and what an idea it was. There was going to be a sale
and this sale was going to follow 3 simple guidelines. 1. Only top
end bulls will sell. 2. The sale would be held the third Saturday
in April. 3. There will be no reserve bids. Bob is proud to say that
these 3 rules are still followed today at the “Short Grass
Sale”. The sale was held at Rush Lake for the first 3 years,
at the Double J Ranch at Consul for the next 16 years, and for the
last 6 years at the Sandy Bar Ranch. Last April, the Switzer family
held a huge party at their sale to celebrate the 25th Anniversary
of the Short Grass Sale and Bob’s 50th birthday at the same
time. I am sure Bob will never forget his “birthday bumps” and
neither will the men that threw him into the air!
Bob has
very fond memories of his showing days. He showed for 40 years all
across the country, from the P&E to the Toronto Royal. He is
also an accomplished judge and one highlight of his judging career
was when he judged a National Angus Show in Ireland. Bob has judged
a lot of different breed shows across Canada and there are not many
Angus Shows he has not judged. But, his judging experience does not
stop with beef cattle. Bob told us stories of assisting my Grandpa,
George Harlton when they judged the National Goat Show in Regina.
He said they did not know a lot about goats, so they gave all the
goats red ribbons, all the exhibitors were happy and thought they
were very knowledgeable goat judges!
Bob is
a Past President of the Saskatchewan Angus Association and served
on the board for a number of years. Bob feels that the two most important
accomplishments made to promote the breed while he was on the board
were: 1. Laying the ground work for the Saskatchewan Junior Angus
Association and other junior incentives, such as acknowledging juniors
for showing Angus influenced cattle at 4-H. 2. The start up of the
Angus and Angus X feeder calf sale in Moose Jaw. Bob said the first
year was a tremendous success, selling 2700 head of Angus calves.
Sandy
Bar Ranch is a very deserving recipient of this award. I have had
the honor of knowing the Switzer family for most of my life and they
are true ambassadors for the Angus Breed. Once again from everyone
involved with the Saskatchewan Angus Association, we congratulate
the Switzer family of Sandy Bar Ranch. A job well done!
2003
Saskatchewan Angus Commercial Producer of the Year
Mike Smith, Mankota, Saskatchewan by Corinne Gibson
Every
so often you get lucky enough to meet someone who can make you smile
simply by being the kind of person that they are. Mike Smith is one
of those people. Mike is famous for his quick witted sayings and
his genuine concern for other people. (Not to mention his talent
for coming up with nicknames). It was with great pleasure that I
traveled to the Box X Ranch southwest of Mankota, Saskatchewan to
visit with the 2003 Commercial Breeder of the Year — Mike Smith.
Born Charles
William Smith The Third, he later added “Mike” to his
formal name which was a nickname given to him by his aunt. Perhaps
this is where Mike got his talent for nicknames. Mike was born and
raised on the ranch that he still calls home. The ranch was established
in 1929 when Mike’s Grand father Charlie J. and his three brothers
moved from the Weyburn area to homestead southwest of Mankota. Mike
was the baby of the family with two older sisters. His parents ranched
alongside Mike until their passing - his father Charlie in 1983 and
his mother Metta in 1991. He grew up raising Hereford cattle and
was an avid 4-H member showing from the ages of 8 to 21. Mike still
supports the 4-H program and is the yearly sponsor of the Senior
Showmanship trophy at the Mankota Achievement Day. “This is
my favorite class - cause I could always win that one when I was
a kid.” In 1963 Mike married Barbara Dixon from the neighboring
Diamond T Ranch. Unfortunately, Barbie (as Mike affectionately calls
her) suffered from Multiple Sclerosis all of her life, and passed
away in 1995 after a courageous battle with the disease. When visiting
with Mike you realize that people are very important to him. He sincerely
takes an interest in everyone he meets. You also realize that Mike
is very proud of his operation and his cowherd and he has every right
to be.
The
Box X Ranch consists of about 20 sections of land. The cowherd numbers
around 325 mother cows with Mike’s hired man (Dave Harbour)
also running 30 head of his own. Mike also sows about 500 acres of
oats each year. “I don’t grow anything that has to go
through the Wheat Board, Wheat Pool or Railroad. “Most of this
is fed to the cows as oat bales, however some is cleaned and sold
for seed. Mike currently has about 10,000 bushels of seed oats stored
right now as he thinks there will be good demand for it this spring.
Historically
the ranch ran strictly Hereford cattle. They did try Angus earlier
but continued on with Herefords. “The first Angus Bull we used
was a black bull that neighboring rancher Walt Larson trailed up
to us in about 1947.” This was a Bellhorn bred Bull that Mike
and his dad used for a year or two, then sold to Earl Switzer. This
Bull was one of the first to start the Switzer’s Purebred Black
Angus herd that is today better known as Sandy Bar. Mike and Charlie
continued breeding Hereford cattle, but were interested in finding
another cross to use on their heifers. Then in the spring of 1975
they purchased 3 Red Angus Yearling Bulls from the first Annual Six
Mile Red Angus Bull Sale to use on their first calf heifers. “Buying
those Red Angus Bulls was like buying John Deere tractors, things
just started going the right way.” 
The
Angus cross calves were born easily and up and sucking in no time.
Mike planned to use the Red Angus Bulls as heifer Bulls only, however
shortly after weaning he noticed that the Angus cross heifers off
of his first calf heifers were bigger than the ones off of his cows
and he changed his mind. They ended up keeping some of those Angus
cross heifers in the herd and things just grew from there. Mike has
bought bulls from many Red Angus Breeders such as Six Mile, Flying
K, T-S, Dudragnes, South View, Todds and L-4. Mike’s current
goal is to turn his herd straight Red. If he does go back to another
breed for extra hybrid vigor it will be Hereford. “I never
hated a cow enough to use a ****** bull on her.” Mike is a
staunch supporter of the Angus breed and is not afraid to let you
know.
When
I asked about the switch to Angus, Mike said it was the logical choice.
His Angus and Angus cross calves outsell and outweigh his other calves
every time. “20 to 30 cents a pound discount is quite a kick
in the pants.” He says the Angus cows are quite a bit more
aggressive at calving time than his Herefords, but it just takes
some getting used to. “You can’t blame them cause that’s
what they get paid for - raising that calf.” Mike turns Bulls
out around mid June and starts calving about March 20th. A traditional
Ranch branding takes place in early June when a crew gathers to ride,
rope and brand the calves. All of the calves are weaned on the second
Friday of October. The steer calves are all sold at the Mankota Stockmen’s
Weigh Company and Mike winters the heifers at home. In the spring
Mike sorts off his replacements and sells the rest of the heifer
calves. Last spring he got $1.49/lb. for his 625 lb. red and red
baldie heifer calves. He predicts that open heifer calves should
be worth quite a bit again this spring. Mike says he’s glad
that he gets to see what his heifer calves are doing as he keeps
many in his herd. However, he wishes he could see what his steers
do in the end. “JGL has been buying my steers for the last
30 years so I guess they must be working out all right.”
Last
year the ranch ran 14 Red Angus Bulls and is proud to say that only
one went down during breeding season. Mike prefers to buy long yearling
or two year old bulls, with yearling bulls used only on his heifers.
When buying bulls his main concern is birth weight and calving ease
with good growth after. “I want my calves to grow on the ground
not in the cow. Lighter calves are up and aggressive sooner. The
cow is not as tired and the calf in turn is not as stressed from
the birth.” Mike feels those lighter calves catch up to their
heavier counterparts for that reason - they are up and sucking and
gaining, while larger calves tend to be tired and sluggish. Mike
watched one of his cows have a calf that was coming forward, but
was upside down. She had the calf without any assistance. “If
that calf would have been bigger there probably would have been some
trouble - that’s why I like these lighter calves - not as many
problems.” He heeds a warning to Purebred Angus Breeders, “Even
though Angus cattle tend to calve easier than others, watch those
birth weights - don’t let them get out of hand.” During
breeding season Mike watches his bulls carefully to make sure that
they are all working. “There’s nothing worse than having
a bull - especially if he’s the boss - that isn’t working.” Mike
never pregnancy tests as he watches his cows and his bulls carefully
and has never had a real problem. Cows that he does find dry are
sold in the spring when they are worth more than in the fall anyway.
Mike says “what you put into your operation is what you take
out.” Mike manages his cattle very well and it shows when you
tour his cowherd - what a super group of females.
On our
herd tour I was very impressed with the consistency and the quality
of his herd. The heifer calf pen was equally as impressive. It’s
also plain to see how dear they are to Mike’s heart. He has
special names for many of them and can tell you their family lineage
as well as any breeder I know.
Mike
has also taken the time to support the cattle industry. He is a life
member of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association and served as
a director for 23 years. Mike was also the Vice-President of the
Stock Growers for 4 years. Mike was a charter member of the Mankota
Weigh Company and is currently serving as the Vice- President. Mike
can be seen at many cattle related functions and at many Roughrider
Football games - as he is a season ticket holder and an avid fan.
Mike is also a civil war buff who enjoys reading about that period
in history and hopes to travel to some of the civil war sites someday.
Mike has also been known to give his opinion on politics and says “any
right wing outfit is a good outfit.” One of Mike’s concerns
today is the decreasing number of young people who are farming and
ranching. “You hear about these poor college students with
these big student loans. Well, what about the kid who wants to become
a rancher or buy a farm - where is his student loan.”
Mike is
an astute cattleman, but he is also a very special, caring person.
I remember one time when I was following him home from a bull sale
in my truck. I was in a hurry, as usual, and I passed him while traveling
way too fast. When I got home the phone rang - it was Mike. He just
wanted to make sure that I got home safely as he was worried that
I was driving a little too fast. He was genuinely concerned about
me and I was very touched by that gesture. (Not to mention the fact
that he thinks I should slow down!). You can tell that friends and
family are very important to him and he speaks fondly of his sisters
and his cousin Allan (Gus) and Allan’s wife Mama Hot Wheel’s
and children Cutworm, Nikka-Pooh and Chunky Soup (nicknames of course).
In conclusion
Mike said “Red Angus cattle are like whiskey - it’s all
good - just some brands are better than others.” Mike feels
that Black and Red Angus breeders have done their homework. They
are aggressive marketers and have become leaders in areas such as
carcass quality, EPD’s and beef programs. Never one afraid
of speaking his mind Mike says “All of the other Breed Associations
should follow the Angus people around and take notes or else be left
in the dust.”
When I
was done visiting with Mike, I congratulated him on being named the
Commercial Angus Breeder of the Year. Mike replied “Like my
old Daddy said - It’s better to be lucky than to be pretty.” Well
Mike, this writer considers herself pretty lucky to get to know you
better - congratulations again.
©2005