ARCOLA - Emma Lees is a true farm girl, and she loves every aspect of raising cattle and being on the farm with her parents, Corey and Tasha Lees, and her two younger sisters, Kyla and Becca.
Her parents' farm is located northeast of Arcola, where they raise registered polled herefords and have a commercial herd.
It is extremely important to the Lees family to breed and raise quality, registered cattle, which they have been doing for generations.
Emma went to school in Arcola and graduated from Grade 12 in 2021. She is majoring in human resources at the University of Saskatchewan's commerce program. She will graduate in May 2025, and it is her plan to stay near the farm while pursuing her career, while taking part in the daily operations of the farm.
When not in school, she returns home to be on the farm and show cattle.
Thanks to growing up on the farm, and her family showing cattle for many years, at the age of six her parents enrolled her into the Arcola-Kisbey 4-H Beef Club. Emma has always been interested in learning more about showing and enjoyed going to shows like the Hereford Bonanza and then the Canadian Western Agribition.
Having a great deal of interest in the cattle business, Emma loves calving season as this is when she can eye up the calves and see which one she might want to show in the fall and the following summer.
Throughout the years, kids that go to 4-H will learn public speaking, cattle grooming, judging and keeping record books.
Within the club Emma, has held every 4-H position and has enjoyed every year.
Over the years, she has had some big accomplishments, including the 2019 Hereford Bonanza in Weyburn, where she won awards for grand champion female, champion senior grooming and champion senior showmanship. This show was one week long. Also in Weyburn, at the 4-H Regional Show and Sale, she won grand champion steer in 2019.
In 2023, Emma travelled to the Calgary Stampede and came home with the reserve champion steer.
At the Weyburn Regional Show and Sale in 2024, she won for champion female and the Katelin Eagles Memorial Personal Development Award.
At the Arcola-Kisbey 4-H Beef Club level, Emma won the average daily gain for her steer this year.
Her list of achievements and wins is long, and far too many to mention. These are the ones that stand out for her.
Emma is now the vice-president of the Canadian Junior Hereford Association. She is required to attend meetings, lead the group of delegates alongside the president, present new innovative ideas to the board, make calls, help fundraise, budget and assist at the national show, Canadian Hereford Bonanza each year.
“It is an honour to hold such a position at this level and the opportunities that have come with it,” said Emma.
She is also the Saskatchewan delegate for the Canada Junior Hereford Association.
This year they are planning a beef-a-rama in Arcola, which will be held July 13 at the fairgrounds. This show will consist of art and photography competitions, speeches and a female, bull and steer show. At the end of the day there will be showmanship.
The beef-a-rama is only for registered hereford junior members. Any junior that has paid an activity fee and entered the show will be in attendance.
The Canadian Hereford Bonanza is a national show that travels from province to province each year. This year it is in Brandon and next it will be held in Alberta. The show is usually the last week in July.
Emma said that she and her siblings have very strong role models, and they want to see them do their best when it comes to showing.
“We work very hard inside and outside the ring to achieve what we do,” Emma said. “I am always trying to learn and do better.”
