Many things have changed over the past 50 years, but some remain the same.
For Russ and Sharon Torkelson, who reside 10 kilometres west of Oungre, these years brought many challenges and successes, as they were building their farm on the first 10 acres of land and growing it to the size of almost 6,500 acres.
Russ Torkelson started farming in the Beaubier area many years ago alongside his father, a good, hardworking farmer who was more into a mixed cattle operation. Soon the two men got to a point when they had to go bigger, but they also realized that their approach was different, and Russ went his own way.
"He came home one day and asked, 'Do you want a new house?' I said, 'No, I'm happy where I am.' He left and talked to his dad again and he came back about an hour later and said, 'We are building a new house. Tell me where you want it,'" Sharon recalled.
"There is one word that expresses my feeling, you have to be able to adapt. 'Adapt' – is the major word. You have to be able to adapt, you don't have to like it, but you want to adapt to the way it is. Don't fight it," said Russ, recalling the wisdom an older man shared with him a long time ago.
"My father had trouble adapting," Russ recalled.
The Torkelsons started their own farm by renting land and building their home and yard around it on 10 acres along Highway 18.
"There was absolutely nothing when we started here," Russ said.
"The bald Prairies," Sharon added.
They never regretted going their own way.
Nachman Feldman, one of the farmers in the area, was retiring from farming at that time and offered the Torkelsons to start working his land.
"I went to see him and we set down. And I rented his farm, which is 13 quarters, bought all his machinery, which was $19,000. And that's when we got going," Russ recalled.
Torkelsons recall Feldman as a strong businessman and great farm operator, and they learned a lot from him.
It was 1968 when they took over Feldman's land, and 1969 brought a big crop, helping Torkelsons to pay some of the machinery off.
The family also kept cattle for a couple of years in the late 60s, but Russ always had more interest in grain operation. For them, farming was a business, and they always treated it as such, trying to make optimal decisions. They soon sold the cows and concentrated on grain.
Russ started custom combining before getting into his operation and it took him as far as Maxwell, Kansas, where he met Sharon. The couple got married in 1971.
"Saskatchewan was very much like Kansas because it was an agriculture-based state. And then we had a lot of gas wells, so Saskatchewan was very similar because of agricultural base and oil wells … Just so much less trees and less population," Sharon said.
After starting his own operation, Russ continued with custom combining for several more years, which also helped them to get through the debt and purchase better equipment. He recalls that back in the day farmers were used to paying cash for things and taking on debt was a big and stressful step, but he didn't have another option. Once that was paid out, he quit custom combining and focused more on his own farm.
Russ has a degree in agriculture from the University of Saskatoon, which helped him to manage and grow his business navigating through challenges.
"(The degree) gives you a different view. You look at things a little differently. I had a professor … and he said, 'Farm within your fence line.' I think what he meant was do good what you do do. And we are getting away from it as farms get bigger and bigger. And they are not operated as good as they would if they were on a smaller scale."
But the theoretical knowledge combined with farming background allowed the Torkelsons to get far ahead in the game. For example, they were one of the first ones in the area who started fertilizing the land.
The first 13 quarters they rented from Feldman they've been renting ever since, building a strong and reliable relationship only possible in the farming world.
"They were so good. He worked with us, not to us," Russ said.
"When farming changed, he changed our rental agreement so it was fair for both of us. He was willing to work with us all the time. Very trusting. We farmed his land for 47 or 48 years without a contract. It was just a handshake," Sharon added. "That goes a long way."
In the past 50 years as they were going through market fluctuations and weather whims, nature's tricks and the technological jumps, the Torkelson family learned how to adapt firsthand on many occasions. The latest turned out to be one of the biggest challenges, but fortunately, their son Toby, who chose a career as a grain merchant, was able to fill in on that to ensure that everything still goes smoothly.
Over the years, Russ has done all jobs around the farm, and he still does loading and unloading in the yard. But now, with Toby coming down to help with seeding and harvesting, as well as with marketing, and three staff helping during the season he can choose when to take on some jobs, and when to skip them.
"At my age now I don't want to get tied in something and have to be there," Russ said.
Over the years the family purchased 20 quarters of their own land and got into renting some more, currently operating 40 quarters in total. They also grew big beautiful trees around their yard, which are populated with wildlife and which are filling their corner of the Prairies.
Even though it has always been treated as a business, farming has been their life and they always appreciated and enjoyed the path they chose.
"Every year is a challenge. There are things about farming you can't control, the weather. And there are some things that you can control … In a way, I think farming keeps you closer to God because you really can't do anything by yourself. You can seed, but you don't have the power to make it grow," Sharon said.
"Every year is different … You simply get out and do the best you can in your seeding, in your farming, in pre-buying your fertilizer and … seed. It's always trying to do the best you can in so many areas … and it's always a challenge … If anything I just feel that we've truly been blessed."
