REGINA - At this year’s Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, long-time cattleman David McLean and his wife Marsha were honoured with the coveted 2022 Angus Heritage Award.
It recognizes them for their perseverance, vision, and dedication to the Angus breed.
The McLeans farm near Arcola and David has raised Angus cattle all his life. Originally named Diamond Meadows and now operating under DM Angus, their mixed farm has been in the Angus cattle business since 1954. That was the year David’s dad, Jim, bought his first purebred Angus cow. The farm typically had 55 cows and marketed a select group of females and bulls every year.
David and his children Kim, Brent and Michele were all members of the Arcola-Kisbey 4-H beef club, and several summers were spent showing Angus heifers and steers at the Weyburn Regional Beef Show. He was also an exhibitor at the Canadian Western Agribition and Regina Bull Sale for many years.
David was an original consignor to the Black Harvest Sale. He remembers hearing many times that an Aberdeen Angus sale would never work. The breed has come a long way since then. This sale was very successful with a regular female sale held in November and a bull sale in April at the Johnstone’s Auction Mart in Moose Jaw.
At one time, many herds in the area had cattle carrying the DM prefix.
David was an Angus Journal subscriber who would spend all year researching the next up-and-coming sires. With a significant artificial insemination program, David utilized exciting sires new to Canada and worked hard at improving the herds’ expected progeny differences.
“There isn’t a time you talk to him when he doesn’t talk about a bull or female sale he’s been watching the results on,” said his daughter Kim.
For the past 20 years, David has marketed his purebred animals by private treaty with a strong commercial customer base. Often customers ask him which bull is his recommendation for the year and know that he will select the bull that fits their own program the best.
The John and Fran Brown Family of Carlyle won this prestigious award in 2021.
“I am delighted to hear that Dave and Marsha have received the 2022 Saskatchewan Angus Heritage Award,” said Helen Finucane, who is the daughter of John and Fran Brown. “I remember my dad talking about how much he respected Dave. Over the years, Brown Bros. bought many bulls from the Black Harvest Sale.
"After my father passed away, I had the pleasure of going to Dave and Marsha’s to select a bull. I came away thinking that he’s calm, quiet and knowledgeable and that their farm raises great bulls. Congratulations to a very deserving couple.”
