In 1925, Jake Willms was born on the home quarter section near Dundurn, Saskatchewan.  Jake and Bernice, as well as their son Dan and his wife Bonnie reside on this quarter today.  Just prior to taking over the family farm in the early 1950’s, Jake married Bernice and the two embarked on their farming career.  Jake’s first cattle were Red Poll and Hereford cross.  He started with approximately 40 mother cows and two sections of land.  Black Angus influence was first seen in the herd in 1956 and the first purebred Black Angus cattle were purchased in 1962.  Several of those first cow families are still represented in the herd today. 

The Willms family grew with the birth of Jake & Bernice’s first son Jud in 1950.  Dan in 1952, and daughter Sheri in 1955.  All children were very active in 4-H, with Angus as the cattle of choice to be shown.  Around this time Jake began leading 4-H, a passion that lasted for 25 years.  Along with 4-H their children were very active in the day to day operations of the family farm. 

Jud and Dan both left the farm to embark on a short career with the RCMP.  They both returned to the family farm after realizing this was the lifestyle they preferred.  Jud married Betty in 1972, their son Tom was born in 1975 and daughter Jennifer in 1977.  Dan and Bonnie were married in 1977, their son Bryan was born in 1979 and daughter Angie in 1982. 

By the 1980’s the Wilbar herd had grown to about 135 mother cows and about 4000 acres of land.  During this time Jake began exporting cattle to Europe which began with key contacts and work through AGDEVCO.  With the help of provincial and federal export assistance program, Jake ran seminars in Europe on the benefits of Angus cattle.  After more than a dozen trips overseas and much work, Wilbar Farms amassed an extensive export track record.  Countries included England, Austria, Bulgaria, and Czechoslovakia.  Not content to only tap the European market, Wilbar Farms was also successful at completing sales to Japan, Brazil and Chili. 

When severe drought was felt across western Canada in 1988, the Willms’ family made the decision to include irrigation in their farming operations.  Four quarter section pivots were added with the intent to secure an ample feed supply for their Angus herd.  It also allowed Wilbar Farms the ability to grow different crops to diversify their grain farm.  Faba beans, wheat, barley, oats, canola, peas, as well as silage and alfalfa were grown in rotation.  This also created opportunity to export timothy hay to the lucrative Japanese market in recent years.  Since 1988, irrigation has been added to a total of ten quarters. 

During the 80’s, Wilbar Farms had also been marketing Angus bulls directly into the U.S.  The Willms’ sold into the strong Angus based, commercial market in Montana.  They developed an excellent sight unseen purchase program based on strong repeat customers and were marketing up to 80 bulls per year south of the border.  The 23 year market for these bulls ended only with BSE. 

To capture more of the local Angus bull market, Wilbar Farms and M Double B Livestock established the “Tools of the Trade” bull sale in 1996.  Currently, Tools of the Trade is the largest Angus bull sale in Central Saskatchewan where over 100 Red and Black bulls are marketed to commercial and purebred cattlemen through the sale each spring in Saskatoon.  Prior to the establishment of the bull sale, bulls were marketed privately as well as at the Regina and North Battleford Bull Sales. 

The goal of Wilbar Farms has always been to raise sound, functional cattle by focusing on feet & leg structure, udder quality and fertility.  Cow families are extremely important and certainly formed the foundation of the current herd.  Some of the most prominent cow families at Wilbar, including Ruby, Lucy and Pride, go back to Jake’s original purchases.  In the Red Angus herd, prolific cow families include Bayberry and Lana.  It is interesting to note that each of these families is represented in their upcoming “Sure Bet Female Sale” – a venture with Six Mile Red Angus.  Wilbar females have also been marketed through some of the breed’s top sales including the Cross Canada, Masterpiece, Angus Pride and Red Roundup.  In 1977 Wilbar Farms held the record for high selling heifer calf in Canada and possibly North America – Wilbar Georgina 5H sold for $16,250 to the Loos Angus Ranch from Nebraska in the Cross Canada Sale. 

Of course, cow families aren’t the only reason for the strength of the current herd.  Bull selection has also been a priority over the years.  Notable sires of influence include breed greats such as Rito 2100, Camilla Bandolier 840G, Premier Thor, Traveler 71, Fortune 2000 and EXT.  Walking bulls like Early Sunset High Time 47G, Wilbar Traveler 84E and Wilbar Emulation 331K and Red Towaw Zama 148F have also left a big impact on the herd. 

Today the third generation of the Willms family is working on the farm.  Jud’s son Tom returned to the farm after completing high school.  Dan’s son Bryan graduated from the University of Saskatchewan’s agriculture program before returning to Wilbar.  Bryan married Tracey Edge in 2002.  Tracey grew up on a commercial ranch in the foothills of Alberta and began her own purebred Red Angus herd in 1989 – that herd now resides at Wilbar.  Bryan and Tracey have a daughter, Kylie, and a son, Owen.  The future of Wilbar looks bright with the fourth generation started! 

Wilbar Farms currently encompasses a land base of approximately 10,000 acres and the herd includes approximately 300 mother cows – 200 Black and 100 Red. 

All members of the Willms’ family have contributed to the success of the Angus breed and the cattle industry in general.  Jake was President of the Canadian and Saskatchewan Angus Associaitons as well as served on the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame board of directors for ten years.  Bernice was a longstanding Saskatchewan Angus Secretary and was named 2006 Honorary Saskatchewan President.  Both Jake & Bernice were involved in the inception of the Moose Jaw Angus Feeder sale.  Jake and Bernice received the 2006 Angus Heritage Award for their commitment to the breed and the Saskatchewan Livestock Association Honour Scroll in 1992.  Jud served on the Saskatchewan Angus board, the Saskatoon Fall Fair and Regina Bull Sale Committees.  Bryan has served as President of both the Canadian Junior Angus (CJAA) and the Saskatchewan Junior Angus Association and was a founding member of both.  Tracey was the founding coordinator of the CJAA, a former general manager of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, has spent two terms as a Saskatchewan Angus director and is currently the Saskatchewan Cattle Breeders representative to the Horned Cattle Trust Fund and the Cattle Marketing Deductions Act Advisory Committees. 

The Willms family member’s willingness to work together in all aspects of the operation ensures its success and continued prominence in the industry.  Their desire to produce a functional Angus animal combined with their strong support of the industry bodes well for their future and they look forward with confidence and optimism.