Prairie Hog Country – Awards of Distinction

2017 Saskatchewan Pork Industry Awards of Distinction
for Entrepreneurial Spirit and Service to the Pork Industry

Honouring Paul and Judy Ulrich, Ulrich Pork Farms, Spalding, SK

Sask Pork’s Awards of Distinction honour individuals or organizations who through their leadership, commitment and innovation contribute to the success and sustainability of the Saskatchewan pork industry. Awards are presented annually in November at the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium in Saskatoon.

Paul and Judy Ulrich are recipients of the 2017 Award of Distinction for Entrepreneurial Spirit and Service to the Saskatchewan pork industry. Lee Whittington, President and CEO of the Prairie Swine Centre presented the award.

Paul was raised on a farm in the Spalding area and began hog farming 50 years ago in 1967 with 25 sows and later expanding to a 400 sow farrow-to-finish operation. He and his wife and business partner Judy also operated P & J Sales, a dealer for Crystal Spring Hog Equipment. Judy was responsible for the accounting for their operations and also worked in the barn with Paul until 15 years ago. They have raised 5 children and have 2 grandchildren.

Paul Ulrich served as Sask Pork delegate from 1999-2000 and was then elected as director in November 2011. He completed 3 consecutive terms as a director in November 2017. He has served as Sask Pork’s Audit Chair since 2012 and representative to the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan. Prior to joining Sask Pork’s Board of Directors, Paul also served as a director for SPI Marketing Group and was a director of the Prairie Feed Coop and participated as a member of Sisco.

Judy Ulrich was elected to Sask Pork’s Board of Directors in April 2001, serving three consecutive terms until November 2007. During her time as a director, Judy also served on the Audit Committee (2003-04), Public Policy Committee (2001-05) and Research Committee (2002-07). Judy was also honoured with a Rural Women’s Achievement Award in 2003.

For many years they were very involved in Canadian Western Agribition, serving on the Swine Committee and hosting the pork industry displays at the Agri-Ed Showcase for both SPI Marketing and Sask Pork. They also competed in the hog carcass competitions at Western Canadian Agribition and Red Deer Swine Seminar winning $3200 in prize money and placing 1^st and 3^rd their first year in the competition at Agribition!

One highlight of their long service to the pork industry was participating in a “manure tour” for the media that demonstrated the effectiveness of the straw blowing technique in eliminating odor by holding a picnic by the lagoon!