My first guest blog post was written by a good friend of mine, Kylie McRea. Kylie and Darren Ippolitto have been a huge part of our ranch success, as we buy the majority of our bulls from them. Their genetics, as well as their experience and wisdom have helped us improve our cattle herd year over year. As a new mother, I was looking forward to reading Kylie’s food story. Enjoy!!

……………………………………………………

Thank you Adrienne for the opportunity to submit a blog post in celebration of “Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Month”.

My name is Kylie McRae, and I am part of the team at Moose Creek Red Angus {check them out here!}, a family run purebred and commercial Red Angus cattle operation at Kisbey, Saskatchewan.  

How lucky can a gal get… to be a part of Saskatchewan’s Agriculture industry. On a daily basis I get to work outside on the land, take care of animals, work with family, grow food for my family, and now I get the opportunity to raise our son Kord here on the ranch. 

 Kord was lucky enough to be born at the beginning of our calving season, February 21st. With this being our first child, it was suitable that I was giving birth in sync with the heifers (first time calvers). So from an early age he has been helping me on the ranch, everything from checking calves, bedding barns and feeding cows (those Ergo baby carriers sure are handy) because let’s face it, there is always work to be done. I think that exposing him to different types of animals, hay and other farm smells at a young age will reduce his risk of major allergies to pets, dust, hay etc. as he gets older.  

Kord is the lucky one now. He gets to grow up on a ranch; surrounded by his family, pets, livestock, friends and Mother Nature. I will be able to tell him to “get outside” and not have to worry about him staying in a fenced yard, or strangers… although I may have to put a sign in our yard to slow traffic down… but regardless growing up in the country is definitely a blessing. 

 I was lucky enough to grow up on a farm, and I am thankful that my parents chose to raise me there along with my siblings. The family values it instilled, lessons in teamwork, and close relationships we were able to form with grandparents and extended family was something I am truly grateful for.  

There is a strong sense of pride growing your own food, and you gain extra satisfaction at every meal. We are lucky to have a freezer full of beef and pork we raised, chicken from our neighbour, and fish from a northern fisherman. The beef may or may not have had added growth hormones, and maybe at some point it had to be treated with antibiotics for an ailment, but it really doesn’t matter to me. The food safety standards of Canadian beef assure me that by the time these animals are butchered, they are safe to eat. It is safe because the proper length of time has passed for the withdrawal periods, meaning any added hormones or antibiotics have long since left the animal’s system, so you are not eating them in your meat. All the fear marketing occurring these days is really just fear mongering without any science to substantiate claims. I ate beef all throughout my pregnancy, and I had a healthy happy pregnancy. The first meat Kord has tried, now that he is eating solids, was roast beef. Healthy, nutritious and safe to eat, Canadian beef is my protein of choice! Tonight for supper Kord got to eat a variety of foods raised right here on the ranch, beef, apples and beans! Now that is food with a story. #OurFoodHasAStory

 Supper for 7 month old Kord, made with homegrown beef, beans and applesauce from our ranch. #OurFoodHasAStory

 Kord enjoying his supper made from food all grown here on the ranch. #LoveCDNBeef #EatBeef #nomnom