The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association handed out “The Environmental Stewardship Award” last night during their banquet. 

The 2018 Award went to Blain and Naomi Hjertaas of Hjertaas Farms at Redvers who have been farming since 1974.

"It's awesome to be recognized by your peers, I'm so humbled to have a group of cattleman than recognize," Blaine said. "It just warms me to the bottom of the heart. I just can't say enough thank yous to the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association for them placing the trust in me."

Blaine says in the late 1990’s the couple changed their grain operation to grass and started using a holistic management approach to improve the soil and grass.

He runs a few cattle as well as does some custom grazing.

"We have about 130 pairs of cow-calfs plus the 500 ewe and all of their lambs at this moment at the farm," he said. "Our farm consists of 800 acres, so our stock, stocking rate, and stocking density, is very high compared to what most people have, we are probably double to two and a half times more animals more acre and yet we seem to have more grass than anyone else."

He says their holistic approach includes multiple paddocks where he grazes the cattle and sheep together for a short period of time and then lets the grass fully recover before he comes back to it. 

Blain notes they are in the process of transitioning out of the farm and turning things over to his son and daughter-in-law.