Pink Tea speakers discuss women in agriculture

By Rob Vogt
Agriculture is a major part of the fabric of life for Adrianna and Kaitlynn Bolduc.
They were the guest speakers at the annual Pink Tea held by the Claresholm Public Library on Wednesday, Oct. 18 to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the Person Case, that declared women persons under the law, and how far women have come since then.
Kathy Davies, who was a longtime library manager and local historian, introduced the Bolducs.
She noted the library looks for local women who are leaders in the community.
The Bolducs own Cudlobe Angus, which began when Dyce Bolduc bought three cows to start his own herd.
Adrianna said she has worked as a nurse at the Claresholm General Hospital and Home Care.
When not working there, she works on the farm, as well as during holidays and breaks.
She grew up on a farm east of Granum, where she watched her mom do all the work a hired hand does from driving tractor to milking cows and so much more.
Her brothers were expected to do the chores and the girls did the inside work.
So much has changed since then.
“Farming has been great,” she said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Adrianna and Dyce have three children – two sons and Kaitlynn.
Kaitlynn said her family started raising pure bred cattle at the turn of the last century.
“It’s kind of in our blood,” she said. “It’s part of who I am.”
She said she is blessed to be raised in a family where she was encouraged to pursue whatever she wanted, and was not expected to return to the farm.
After high school, Kaitlynn went to Hutchinson Community College in Kansas then Montana State University.
She said she did all the right things such as get the best grades. Her mentor even encouraged her to go on to pursue her master’s degree too.
Kaitlynn debated that, but always wanted to return to the farm and the cows.
She told her mentor that. He had this look of shock, and suggested different options for her to pursue her master’s.
“At the end of the day, I knew where my place was,” Kaitlynn said.
So she returned hom to be on the farm full time.
She noted things are changing in agriculture, with more young women on farms and ranches. About 30 per cent are now operated by women.
She recalls when she was younger answering the phone, and the caller asking for the man in the house.
Kaitlynn also talked about her grandmother Alice Bolduc, who knew the business. When she travelled, people who knew her referred to her as “A livestock woman”.
“That’s what I aspire to be,” she said.
Now, Kaitlynn is also in a position to hire women for the operation.
Cudlobe started in 1967 and has grown to well over 600 cows, and two companies.
They run a meat business, supplying frozen beef to the community.
Cudlobe is also now the first Canadian producer to be partnering with Certified Angus Beef brand on the Ranch to Table Beef label in the United States.
Overall Kaitlynn is just where she wants to be.
“I’m able to return to the family farm where I was raised,” she said. “That’s a blessing.”