All About Sam!

-*-Born and raised on a commercial cow/calf and grain operation, I have always had a passion for agriculture

-*-I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

-*-I believe that youth are an important part in agriculture and I feel that producers and industry leaders need to work hard to promote, advocate and help our consumers understand this amazing way of life.  Often times the media portrays what we do negatively, and this gives our consumers an incorrect image of agriculture.

-*-I farm with my grandparents, parents, younger sister Jessica, as well as our German Shepards Dutch and Dixie, and Border Collie Lady

-*-At the age of 3, my grandmother gave me my first Simmental cross heifer calf, sparking my cattle passion. That heifer calf gave me 14 healthy calves (one set of twins) and passed away peacefully on our farm in 2009.  I still have many of her heifer calves.  The highlight of these calves being my cow Pheebee who brought home many awards as a heifer including Club Champion heifer, reserve grand champion heifer, Reserve Supreme Crossbred Female at the Provincial 4-H Heifer show, Grand Champion Heifer and Reserve Champion Female at Westerner days, as well as various other awards at other show in 2005.  Pheebee was also the proud mother of the Ponoka District's 2011 Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Steer.  She has also walked the mile long Ponoka Stampede Parade for the past 4 years.

-*-At the SanDan Charolais 2011 Sale I purchased my first Purebred Charolais heifer Tyra, and can't wait to get my Purebred business off to a start

-*-My family runs commercial Charolais, Red Angus and Simmental cattle

-*-2011 marks my third year as Bachelor of Science student and Student Ambassador at Grant MacEwan University.  Through the Ambassador Program I started a program at the university called Stare, which you can read about in my STARE page.

-*-In 2010 I was selected to take part in the Cattlemen's Young Leaders Program, mentoring under Lewis Farm's Jordan Buba.

-*-Member of the 2011 Five Nation's Beef Alliance Young Ranchers Program.  Through this program I was awarded a trip to Denver to take part in the National Western Stock Show.

-*-I have been on a tour through Cargil Meat Processing Plant, and I saw first hand just how safely and animal friendly the plants are run.  I am now confident that my food is handled safely all the way from pasture to plate.

-*-I love sports and currently play on the Red Deer Rage Ladies Lacrosse team.  I was also a member of the Ponoka Figure Skating Club and Synchronized Skating club all through school as well as taking part in school sports and competitively swimming.

-*- I am on the Government of Alberta Youth Advisory Panel

-*-I have a passion for helping people and I volunteer on a regular basis.  In 2009 I was the Student Council President at my High School.  I organized and headed one of the first ever Youth Relay For Life events in Alberta in conjunction with the Canadian Cancer Society, raising $20, 000 for cancer research

-*-This summer I haven't had a moment of down time! I have two jobs, working every day of the week, as well as the farm, and volunteering! I also continue to play lacrosse, try to squeeze that in three days a week! But that's how I love like, busy, busy, busy and full of excitement each day!