It's a fair deal...

The Frontier Days midway on the final night

Last weekend was Frontier Days 2007, the regional fair for Swift Current, coinciding with Canada Day weekend. Throughout the weekend, I was with Golden West Radio at the Leisure Wheels Mobile Studio™ at Kinetic Exhibition Park, set up right next to the concession and right across from the Elephant Ears. Other than that big storm on Friday, there was beautiful weather, and good crowds through the weekend. Some of the notable points of the past few days were the Kiddies' Day parade through the downtown area, the Michelle Wright show on Saturday, the professional rodeo at the arena, the annual Kiwanis parade through the city, and the Canada Day fireworks display on Sunday night.

A local 4-Her showing off her steer at the livestock presentation ring

My personal highlight of the fair was the 4-H Steer Sale. I have lived in Saskatchewan my entire life, and I have never been to a livestock auction before. I was quite impressed with everything about it, especially the hard work and the amount of time these kids committed to raising their cattle. The Grand Champion steer was sold for $2.55/lb (It had a live weight of more than 1500lbs.) to an ag business in Riverhurst, SK. More than 100 were sold to several individuals and businesses from all over the prairies, and the buyers had a choice of keeping it, or giving it to one of the local packing plants or abbatoirs. Some of the steers were reluctant, and even incensed they were being separated from the humans who raised them, and that just shows the emotion involved in cattle ranching, from both the rancher and the cattle.

It's been a great weekend. Can't wait for next year.