When you order a steak, you probably consider the cut, doneness, sides, and whether to spring for a table-side Caesar salad.
But what about where that steak came from?
Before arriving at your table cooked to a perfect medium-rare, it may have beelined across Canada from the Hi-Lite Feedlot in Melfort, SK.
"We create beef for the world," said Beau Stevenson, the third generation of the Stevenson family to run the feedlot and cash crop farm located about two hours northeast of Saskatoon.
The agriculture industry has changed in the century or so since the family began farming in Saskatchewan. But one thing remains constant: the Stevensons' commitment to working together to build upon their family's legacy of feeding Canadians and people around the world.
A growing legacy
Just as many of us fail to think beyond our plate when we dine out, we probably also have misconceptions about the Canadian agriculture industry. The reality is: farming can be less "Old MacDonald" and more business.
According to the federal government, primary agriculture (work done on a farm, nursery, or greenhouse) contributed $31.7 billion to Canada's GDP in 2024 and employed 223,000 people. Farms cover 6.2% of Canada's land mass and thanks to consolidation and advancing technology, farms are only getting bigger.
The Stevensons have experienced this growth firsthand. Three generations of Stevensons currently run the farm: patriarch Daniel, his son Jeff, and his two sons Beau and Cashe. On the farm, everyone pitches in. "It’s a family farm," said Beau. "Our wives and children are just as important as us on the farm, too."
As the branches of the Stevenson family have grown, so too has the farm and how they run it. Like many Canadian farms, their operation is now high-tech, with automated processes that make it easier to keep their livestock safe and healthy.
While machinery and innovative tools can do some of the heavy lifting, there's no replacing people on a cattle farm or feedlot.
"The actual, physical work dealing with cattle, there's no way to automate that. It's still done on horseback by cowboys and ropes," said Jeff.
How does TD help support the Stevensons?
Even cowboys need a bank.
The Stevensons began working with TD and an agriculture banking specialist in 2024. At the time, they were looking to increase their line of credit to access more capital for short-term cattle purchases and innovations on the feed lot. They reached out to Monte Taphorn, Relationship Manager, TD Agriculture Services who worked with them to help secure the cash needed to streamline their farming practices.
"Farming is more than a business for Canadian farmer families – it's a way of life," said Taphorn. "When our team met with the Stevenson family, we were able to get a sense of their growth aspirations to help them with their goal to build on their success for future generations. With many of our agriculture banking specialists having grown up on or around farms, we understand what it can take to keep a multi-generational farm operating – and growing – in today’s economic environment."
Taphorn has become a trusted advisor to the Stevenson family. While the agriculture industry has undergone massive innovation and change, trust, the Stevensons said, is a constant.
"In the cattle industry, we understand the importance of honesty and reputation," said Beau — and that’s what they feel they get from Taphorn.
A true family affair
Along with support from Taphorn, the Stevensons rely on one another to keep the farm running smoothly.
Beau acknowledges that the farmer’s life isn’t for everyone. It’s a 24/7, 365-day job. They spend all-nighters calving and early mornings feeding their herd.
Things can and do go wrong, and often, at inopportune times. One Christmas morning, they received the gift of having a key piece of feeding equipment break down – both the main one and the backup. But no matter the challenge, Beau said, as long as all three generations can communicate openly, they can face whatever might come their way.
"This life is incredibly lonely and hard," Beau said. "Without our families, it wouldn’t be worth the sacrifice."
Their work stewarding the land and improving on what they have for the next generation can be a powerful calling. Jeff, for instance, left at 18 to pursue post-secondary education and work in Saskatoon. But a few years later he was drawn back to Melfort.
For Beau and Cashe, the decision to help run the farm was more clearcut. They wanted the opportunity to leave their mark on their family legacy. Yet, they’re an anomaly in the agriculture industry. The two men are in their 20s; across Canada, just 1 in 10 farmers are under 35, according to Statistics Canada.
For them, working alongside their dad and grandfather is a gift that help gives their work meaning. It also represents a massive opportunity.
“It’s a huge advantage to be in our position,” said Beau, noting how there's a sense of stability when building on a strong foundation. “We’re eager to work, we’re young guys. If you’re humble enough and have enough humility to learn from them, it’s a safer way to grow.”