This year’s recipients of the Farm Family of the Year Award have been recognized for a love of farming, commitment to the community and never giving up in the face of adversity.
The Marcotte family, who operate JSM Farms Ltd. in the Outram area, was presented with the prestigious honour during the Estevan Farmer’s Appreciation Evening Tuesday night at the Beefeater Plaza, with about 300 people in attendance. Many of those present are family members and friends of the Marcottes.
The family presently farms more than 13,000 acres.
According to a bio that was read during the event, Jeff has always had a love of farming. When he was a child, he could be found following his grandfathers, uncles and father around the farm, helping out in any way possible.
“As he grew up he always knew he wanted to be a farmer,” the Marcottes said.
Both of his parents came from farm families in the Torquay area. Jeff’s mom’s family traces its agricultural background to Jeff’s great, great grandparents, Ole and Fredricka Tenold. They homesteaded in the rural municipality of Cambria in 1903.
Likewise, Jeff’s father’s farming roots also trace back to his great, great grandparents. They homesteaded in the RM in 1905.
Jeff and Stacy still have both of those quarters in the farming operation today.
“When Jeff was in Grade 12 and thinking about what he wanted to do to further his education, he was discussing it with his dad, and when his dad asked what it is you really want to do, Jeff knew without a doubt he wanted to farm.”
First land was from family
Jeff graduated high school in 1994 and headed to Regina to tech school at the Regina campus of the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (now Saskatchewan Polytechnic). After graduating and receiving a cash bursary for having the second-highest mark in an agriculture production technician course, he then moved back to Torquay and began his farming career.
With the help of his parents Brian and Patti, he was able to start his farming operation by renting machinery from them. He also received endless advice and knowledge from his mom and dad. Jeff worked off the farm for a few years at Boundary Motors and Sam’s Trucking.
Some of the first land that he farmed was rented from his grandmother Barbara McLaren, which he later purchased, and some of the first land he purchased was from his uncle Lance Marcotte.
“Jeff also rented some land in the Sintaluta area for a couple years, as well as the Goodwater area, which he still rents from Meryl and Valerie Wanner,” they said. “He knew in order to expand his farm he had to rent in other areas as he thought local rent was too high.”
Growth of a farm family
In 2002, Jeff and Stacy started dating and working together on the farm. Right from the beginning, they could be found side by side, driving tractors during seeding, driving the combine at harvest, hauling grain, changing seed boots under the drill and other activities.
“Although Stacy didn’t grow up on a farm she spent many hours with her dad while he trucked and did mechanical work,” they said. “With this background she caught on very quickly how to work beside Jeff.”
The couple was married in July 2004. On Feb. 28, 2005, they welcomed their twin boys Jordan and Landon into the world.
“This was a great change for our family, as up until this point Stacy had spent most of her time with Jeff on the farm,” they said. “The arrival of the twin boys required most of her attention. They did bring the boys in the combine cabs in their car seats during the first harvest.”
Their daughter Alyssa was born Dec. 21, 2009, and completed the family.
The farm grows
In March 2006, there was an opportunity to expand their operation when the Memory farm became available in an auction. They talked about it, went to the bank and decided to proceed with a bid.
“Stacy and Patti were off changing the boys listening to the auction happening in the background when Jeff walked into the shop and said, ‘Well it’s ours!’” they said. “We were very happy and ready to make the move.”
The yard has two houses on it, and so Jeff’s parents purchased one of the houses and moved to the new farm to live in the same yard.
“Since moving to our farm we have been able to expand our farm operation,” they said.
The Marcottes say they can’t farm so much land on their own; they also have some important people helping them. They pointed out the contributions of full-time employee Ron Wurtz and part-time employees Meryl Wanner and Stan Weinrauch.
“We are very fortunate to have the employees and help that we do. We also have endless amounts of help and advice from family and neighbours.”
Jeff became ill in February 2015, and they put the responsibility of the field operations in Andy Wurtz’s hands. He had worked side by side with Jeff for seven years, so he knew just how Jeff liked things done.
With the help of Ron Wurtz, Weinrauch, Wanner, friends, family, neighbours as well as many other part-time employees over the years, Andy Wurtz gets the job done and continues to each day and year. Ron Wurtz came to work for them in April 2015, and plays a big role in making sure things get done on and around the farm.
“Our seasonal help always goes above and beyond for us and are ready to come help when we call,” they said.
JSM Farms has always been a strictly grain farm operation, and they currently grow durum wheat, canola, flax, lentils and peas.
They have seen considerable change in the size of the farms since they started their agriculture career, as well as the size of the equipment and continued improvements in farming technology.
Jeff and Stacy love how farming gives them the ability to own their own business, which gives them the freedom of making their own decisions. There is also the pride of growing profitable crops, keeping long-term hired hands on staff, and raising the family in a rural setting.
“They also experienced the not so fun part of business when twice in their career, even though they worked hard, there was just no money to be made on the farm and they wondered if it was worth continuing to farm,” the Marcottes said.
When they came to Brian for his advice, he reminded them there are good years and bad, and usually the good years outweigh the bad. But it was up to them to make the decision.
“They decided to stick with it, and they are sure happy they did,” they said.
A love of community
When Jeff isn’t farming, he can also be found at the Rural Municipality of Cambria meetings as a councillor, serving with the Torquay Volunteer Fire Department and the Torquay Community Club, and coaching his boys’ hockey teams, whether it be in Torquay, Midale or Estevan.
He can also be found following his daughter Alyssa around, watching her in gymnastics, taking her on Gator rides and doing fun things with her.
“Last harvest Jeff was over the moon excited when Jordan and Landon were out helping the guys service combines, wash windows and running a combine and the grain cart.”
Jordan and Jeff ran two of the combines during harvest, while Landon was in the grain cart, along with the rest of the hired hands.
“This is something Jeff has waited for since the day they were born. There was no getting Jeff out of that combine or field, he was in his glory. It was also a busy harvest for Stacy and Alyssa as they made meals every day for the field. Alyssa was a huge help for this and she looked forward to taking those meals out each night and helping the guys in whatever she could.”
The award presentation and the Farmers’ Appreciation Evening took place after the Mercury’s press time. For a full recap of the event, please see this week’s edition of Southeast Lifestyles.
