Sarah and Stan Konschuh of Didsbury and owners of Westlane Farms are proud owners of their Blonde cattle yet again, after winning the Grand Champion Female title at the 2003 Calgary Stampede.

Their Blonde cow, Westlane Silver Belle 2G, earned the title in the Breeders Herd and Get of Sire competition where the Konschuhs competed against a number of other breeders.

This isn't the first year that the Konschuhs have been successful at the Calgary Stampede with their winning cow, as they have been very successful in the show ring winner's circle in the past. "She (Westlane Silver Belle 2G) has the temperament and conformation. She has had that since day one. I always thought she was good," said Sarah Konschuh. "She's just a sweetheart. We only started working the calf (at her side) a week before the Stampede show. Some are more natural, but Blondes are known for being easy going.".

The easy going temperaments and easy handling techniques are what attracted the Konschuhs to the breed, aside from their meat being "some of the best" according to Konschuh.

The Konschuh family first introduced a Blonde bull into their Simmental/Charolais commercial herd over 20 years ago, and once their two sons began 4-H and got involved in the heifer program, they started into purebreds as well.

Currently the Konschuh's herd runs about 120 head, with a very big percentage of their cattle being Blondes.

The Konschuhs do not want to go solely into Blonde beef because they want to show breeders what kind of results they can expect if they cross breed with a Blonde bull.

"Breeders can come out and see what to expect (if they cross breed)," Konschuh explained.

Blonde beef is known to be very lean, and the healthier choice for those concerned about their health - and even for those that want a good tasting meat, without all that excess fat. "Blonde beef is for the health conscious consumer as it is very lean," Konschuh said, adding that it still has adequate marble and still that delicious beef taste that everyone loves.

Konschuh wasn't wanting to "toot her own horn" when asked why she feels they have been so successful at the Calgary Stampede, and other shows, but feels it is because they work so hard at making their animals the best that they can be. "We take pride in our animals and we also strive to be the best we can be," she explained.

Over the past few years Westlane Farms have become heavily involved at marketing their own meat, which earned them a contract with MacKays Country Meats. Westlane Farms sells directly from the farm gate to MacKays, who have taken Blonde beef as their exclusive beef product.

The Konschuhs will still sell half and quarters directly from their farm, by calling 335-4368.

The Konschuhs are also very busy with other things, such as they are in the process of flushing for embryos to ship to Sweden, and a number of other very exciting projects.

"It's new for us and it opens another door," Konschuh said, adding that maximizing every dollar is paramount and certainly winning at the Stampede is more exposure at a world-renowned exhibition. "In this day and age you have to maximize your own exposure."