Sam Appleby Biography

Provided in March 2009 to the RWDCA as a response to a nomination for Director.

Hi, my name is Sam Appleby. I farm with my wife, Anne, my daughter,Sarah and son-in-law, Adam, and my son Bill. Our oldest son, Jim, is a pastor in Alberta, and so is not directly involved on the farm. He has, however, created and now maintains our website.

Sardius Holsteins is located just south of Steinbach, Manitoba, which is 32 miles North of the US border. That puts us about 150 miles north of Grand Forks, ND. My interest in Red & Whites was ingrained as a young boy in England on my father’s farm with purebred Ayrshires. Anne and I came to Canada in 1977 and started our own farm in 1979. In those early years, we bred Holstein cattle and in 1984, our first R&W was born. From this cow is the mainstay of the herd. We currently milk 100 R&W cows, with the exception of 1 B/R, plus the dry cows and young stock. One of our main goals in breeding cattle is breeding long lived cows. We have been registering our cattle with the RWDCA for about 12 years as well as with Holstein Canada. We currently hold the title for the 4th lifetime production awarded by the RWDCA. A highlight of our work with Red and Whites was to receive the Keystone Award from the RWDCA in 2007 at the National Red & White Convention in Peterborough, Ontario.

My first experience with boards was in England, at 15, when we formed the local young farmers club, of which I later became chairman. In Manitoba, I have served on the Manitoba Holstein branch, during which time I was chairman of field services. I am currently serving as a R&W director for the Canadian R&W Club. I also served on the show committee for many years for the Eastern Manitoba Holstein Club Spring Show. For a number of years, we have been sponsoring a model R&W cow to this spring show for the highest placed R&W to create enthusiasm for Red and Whites locally.

It was Elmer Howe who gave us our first subscription to the Red Bloodlines, after one of his visits many years ago. We have, since then, been avid readers of this magazine. A few weeks ago, Dr. Kim Olson phoned to ask if I would let my name stand for Director for the RWDCA, a position of which I would feel both a privilege and an honor. I would like to see the pedigree information of those animals registered with the RWDCA through their website. I would also see my time spent as a director as a time in which to return a little of the efforts put in by previous directors of the RWDCA of which we, as red breeders, all benefit. Whether that be through receiving information, advertising, education, or simply gaining enthusiasm, etc.

I wish you all the best in the upcoming season. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. 

Sincerely, Sam Appleby