April 18, 2019 - We had a wonderful time at the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce 29th Annual Samuel McLeod Business Award banquet. 

• "The Samuel McLeod Business Awards are named after Samuel McLeod, one of Prince Albert's early settlers and entrepreneurs. Following the collapse of the La Colle Falls project in 1918, Samuel McLeod pledged his personal credit to prevent Prince Albert schools from closing.
• It is the legacy of Samuel McLeod’s pioneering spirit, entrepreneurship, civic leadership and unfailing faith in Prince Albert that we recognize in our business award recipients." Take from the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce Website

Of course, it's easy to have a good time, when you win the 2019 Marketing Award.  We had submitted a lengthy application that focused on partnerships, networking, innovative (or guerilla)  advertising and a fair bit of low cost, high results marketing.
There is a good article on the P.A. Herald website called "Northern Lights Casino takes top honours at Samuel McLeod Business Awards" .  It gives a great summary of the evening, with a quote from just about all the award winners.  Great job Prince Albert Daily Herald!
The Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce is all about promoting local businesses, partnerships and great networking, if you are local and not a member, join up!

There was a recent article in www.panow.com by Nigel Maxwell, "P.A. businessman remembers close encounter with combine".  This article is about my accident Sept. 30, 1997, which ultimately left me with no fingers on my right hand, only the thumb came through.

I've never had an issue telling anyone about my accident. Some folks tell their children not to ask, but it's been a long time since the accident, and I'm fine helping anyone understand the dangers of farming and farm safety. Maybe it will help save some one in the future.
One day I'll write the entire story out of my accident, well I already did years ago, but I'm not quite ready to share that yet.  Likely it will include growing up in and around Prince Albert and my life story so far.  Dad dying young at 55 years old (when I was 15 years old). Tough farm women that carry on.  Story of the farm and agriculture, which shaped so much of my life.  The College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan, were I met so many of my colleagues and friends.  Becoming a Professional Agrologist and eventually becoming a Forensic Agrologist (an scientist that documents spray drift and unusual damage to crops and other Ag related crops) . 
We did all the normal crazy kid stuff, except if we broke it, we had to fix it.  We never had money to buy new items, so have fun, but don't break it.  Might have to change the names to protect the guilty parties, but everyone has those stories, like bumper dragging off the old pickup, throwing water balloons on those warm June days after school, tubing at the "Red" (Little Red River Park), having a few tasty beverages around the firepit.  Those standard things we all did, but to people from around the world, and maybe not too far from our backyard, these things are almost exotic, and quite fascinating.  So I've been collect stories of youth, fun, ag, paintball, travel and high adventure.  The story of my love, my wife and why I love Kathie.  I think it will be therapeutic and maybe of interest to others so long as my story telling keeps the audience enthralled.