As I am typing this I am reminded of how lucky we are to be in Canada with food on our tables, roofs over our heads, freedom to choose what religion to follow and education to pursue.
As it is Remembrance Day those choices were all made possible by the sacrifices of others. My admiration, respect and gratitude go to those who have served and continue to today.
Speaking of blessings it was only four short days ago (from when I am typing this), that I came home from Mexico after my son’s wedding. With Hurricane Patricia barring down where we were supposed to go it was a combined effort of our travel agent and WestJet Vacations to find an alternate place for 21 people to go. Good news on many accounts first and foremost the hurricane lost its intensity and no damage done or lives lost. Secondly we were able to fly out with only a day delay and still have the wedding the kids had planned at the original location.  Many have asked me to see a few pictures so check out page 41.
I do have to apologize to all our readers about the contest in the last edition as many of you discovered there was a mistake in one of the words in the scramble. Well nobody can EVER tell me that the contest does not get allot of readership. The number of calls, emails and texts asking me about the mistake reminded me that Prairie Hog Country – especially the contest are looked at.
Even when I was in Mexico I was getting emails questioning the one word. Sorry for delay in getting back to those producers my service was patchy at best. Over 200 entries were received and only a very few had some mistakes on them, not counting the Nursery word. Thanks again for the super participation.
I am looking forward to seeing many of you in the months to come either at Hog Days in Brandon, Cramer Expo in Swift Current or Banff Pork Seminar in January.
In this issue there is lots of coverage from meetings, seminars and workshops. As I have said over and over again, it is so important to keep your staff educated. As Laurie Fries who spoke at Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop reminded us, we are in this industry together and have to work together as a team. Back to basics. Because of my print deadline the coverage from SASK Industry Pork Symposium will be in the next edition.
Included in the center of this issue you will find the 2016 Prairie Hog Country Calendar, please remember to pull it out and hang it in your offices and homes. Start thinking now about what photos you would like to submit for next year, as in order for the calendar to continue we need more photo submissions. Although it makes it much harder to choose which ones to include, it’s nice to have a large variety to select from.
On behalf of everybody associated with Prairie Hog Country we want to wish you the very best this holiday season and a terrific 2016. Merry Christmas from our family’s to yours.
I am very excited for 2016 as that will mark 20 years of Prairie Hog Country. Thanks so much for the continued support from producers, industry and advertisers.
As always I am only a phone call or email away. Prairie Hog Country, Box 5536, Leduc, Alberta T9E 2A1, 780.986.0962, fax 780.980.9640 or email:
hogcountry@shaw.ca
Talk to you in the new year.   •