YORKTON, Sask. — After decades of entering the draw, David and Maureen Zerr never expected they would be named winners of GX94's Supper in the Field contest.
"I've been registering for probably 25 or 30 years and I was beginning to think I had a better chance of being struck by lightning than winning Supper in the Field," David Zerr said.
The longtime farming couple hosted family and friends for a catered meal from Yorkton's Chalet Restaurant and Lounge and received prizes from local sponsors as this week's winners.
"It was quite a shock," Zerr said.
The win provided a welcome bright spot during what has been an exceptionally challenging growing season.
David Zerr has been farming for nearly 50 years, and the family farm celebrated its centennial in 1998. Today, he farms alongside his son Matthew, who returned to the operation about two years ago and represents the fourth generation to work the land.
"We'll keep it going as long as we can," David said.
This year's crop included peas, spring wheat and canola, but getting those crops into the ground proved difficult.
"It started out rough and wet and it regressed from there," David said.
Persistent moisture meant some fields were too saturated for conventional equipment. In some areas, seed and fertilizer had to be spread using flotation equipment and worked into the soil with harrows.
"There were some areas that we just couldn't go near," he said.
The wet conditions continued through the growing season and into harvest.
The family has completed its pea harvest, but David described the crop as one of the poorest he has seen.
"Peas do not hold their breath very well or very long in high-moisture situations," he said, noting drowned-out areas and poor yields across portions of the crop.
They recently managed to harvest some wheat, but the grain came off tough and required drying.
"We're running all of it through the dryer," David said.
Recent rainfall has once again left fields saturated, delaying harvest operations and raising concerns about crop quality.
"If it stays out in the rain much more, we're going to be losing quality and grades on it," he said.
For Matthew, returning to the farm has provided an opportunity to learn from his father while helping carry on the family tradition.
"It's really nice," he said. "You get a chance to be mentored by somebody that you look up to that has an amazing amount of knowledge and is constantly trying to look at new ways of doing things."
Beyond farming, David also serves on RM council, which has faced its own challenges this year.
The municipality has dealt with three major flooding events since spring, including runoff from snowmelt and multiple heavy rain systems that damaged roads and culverts.
"It's been a stressful spring for producers and it's been very stressful for council members as well," he said.
Despite the challenges, the Supper in the Field win gave David, Maureen and Matthew an opportunity to step away from harvest pressures and gather with family and friends.
"The meal was amazing. It was absolutely amazing," David said. "We got to invite some friends and family over."
He also praised the event's sponsors for their support of local agriculture.
"The prizes from the different sponsors were amazing, over the top. I couldn't have imagined anything quite like that."
As harvest continues across the region, Zerr said producers are persevering through another difficult year marked by excessive moisture, flooding, hail and other weather-related setbacks.
"It's been a challenging year," he said. "Farming is not a glitzy, sexy occupation, but it's something that's very important and vital.
"My hat goes off to the other producers out there that have persevered through all of the hardship. You've got to be an optimist to do this profession. Stay with it and better times are ahead."
