At the latest Estevan Farmer's Appreciation Evening, the Estevan Chamber of Commerce hosted a variety of people they felt should be honoured in the agriculture community.

The event was held for the first time in a few years, which began with supper after Mayor Roy Ludwig said grace.

Wayne & Connie Brokenshire were then awarded the Farm Family of the Year award.

With much of the Brokenshire family at the event, Wayne Brokenshire took to the stage to say a few words.

He mentioned that the Brokenshire family has been farming in the Estevan area for a long time.

"My parents, they began farming in 1945. They started the farm nine miles west of Estevan where myself and 10 siblings were raised and I still farm there today."

"The family farm is the best place in the world to raise a family and not ever once in my life have I ever thought of doing anything other than this."

Alongside the Farm Family Award for 2023, the recipients of the 2021 award, Ron and Lana Emde, and the recipients of the 2022 award, Mark and Judy Walter, were honoured.

Besides the Farm Family Award, the evening also honoured some of the local speakers from 4-H clubs around the southeast.

Included in the speakers were Hannah Tanner, of the Crossroad 4-H Club, Gage Goetz, of the Outram-Madigan 4-H Club, Laine Petterson of the Benson 4-H club, Hudson Vandenhurk of the Cymri 4-H club, Braxtnon Shier of the Steelman 4-H club, and Breanne Wright of the Browning 4-H club, who was not in attendance but was still honoured.

The organising committee also presented those 4-H members with a cheque for $6,000, with $1,000 for each of the 4-H clubs.

Jason LeBlanc, the Reeve of the RM of Estevan and MC for the night, then presented the family of long-standing committee member John Kish with a plaque for his service, while renaming a road after him. Kish passed away on November 16, 2022.

The night ended with a speech from guest speaker Danielle Wildfong, Family Enterprise Advisor and Farm Coach.

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