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June 2022
CANADA’S FARM SHOW
Presented By Viterra
29
OUTSTANDING YOUNG FARMERS
ASHLEY AND LEE EASTMOND
WHEATLAND CATTLE COMPANY, MORTLACH, SK
Wheatland Cattle Company, operated by Lee and
Ashley Eastmond, is located in Mortlach, Saskatchewan.
Over the years the operation has changed from being
strictly cow/calf, to backgrounding and in 2017 to taking
their calves out to finish. They also offer custom feeding,
silaging and bale hauling. On the operation they are
always challenging themselves to become better, think
outside the box and ignite changes within the opera-
tion. Developing the feedlot and taking their calves to
finish has catalyzed there operation to where it is today.
In 2020, they recognized that consumers had a desire
for quality, locally-produced beef, and were growing
more comfortable with online shopping and direct
delivery so they pulled up chairs around the kitchen
table and began formulating a plan.
Following considerable research and strategizing,
they launched “Kattle Kountry Beef” with Lee’s parents
and haven’t looked back. In August 2021 they purchased
a local butcher shop and rebranded as Butcher Block on
the Prairie. This acquisition made their operation fully
vertically integrated.
The philosophy of “from our family farm to your fork”
is the very essence Kattle Kountry Beef. Every roast,
steak and package of ground beef can be traced back
to the animal’s birth on the farm. They are VBP+ (Verified
Beef Production) Certified, upholding the highest
standards in animal health, welfare, environmental
respect, and sustainability.
Cody and Allison own and operate a mixed cattle
and certified organic grain farm near Wood Moun-
tain, Saskatchewan along with their three boys,
Declan, Gavin and Caden. Cody grew up on a farm
in the Wood Mountain area and completed an
Engineering degree at the University of Saskatche-
wan. Allison was born in Newfoundland and met
Cody while completing her PhD in Toxicology at
the University of Saskatchewan. A few years after
getting married they realized their goal of owning
their own farm in 2010 when they bought their first
land together and started Upland Organics.
Being involved with several organizations on the
local, provincial, national, and international levels
has allowed Cody and Allison to actively give back
to their community as well as meet other innovative
and successful farmers. Learning from others and
through their own on-farm experimentation they
have successfully adopted farming techniques that
include reduced tillage, intercropping, cover
cropping, pollinator strips, and rotational grazing.
Using these practices, they have shown it is possi-
ble to improve their soil and be excellent stewards
of the environment while also realizing financial
benefits.
Through their innovation and outreach, Cody and
Allison have become leaders in organic agriculture. They have received several awards for their efforts and look
forward to continuing to give back to the agriculture sector in Canada. Their ultimate goal is to pass on a thriving
operation to the next generation of farmers. To do this they are focused on doing more with less while identifying
opportunities to expand their market with value added and diverse enterprises. They see many opportunities within
the agriculture industry and are excited about what the future holds for the next generation of farmers.
CODY STRAZA AND ALLISON SQUIRES
UPLAND ORGANICS LTD.