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 Meet the Farmer – Laura Plett In agriculture, plans can change and often do. Making a go of it requires many skills and abilities, and importantly, a willingness to adapt. Laura Plett was living in Saskatchewan in 2014 when she purchased 30 bred heifers with a plan to start a cow-calf operation. That plan saw her return to her Manitoba roots with a cow herd in tow to build an operation alongside her family’s fourth-generation grain farm in Stead. Plett and her husband Ryan raise beef cattle on the edge of the Canadian Shield just east of Lake Winnipeg, on land that is a mix of forested areas and tame pasture, all of which was cleared by her family’s logging ventures during the early-to-mid 1900’s. Their ranch name, Sawmill Creek Livestock, pays homage to the efforts of those ancestors, whose toil on difficult land in the harshest of climates laid the groundwork for her own family’s venture.  With a shared background in guiding and outfitting, the couple was well-suited for building a life from the forest and bush. As they began building up their herd and ranch, Plett continued working off farm as a big game and fishing guide in Northern Canada’s lodge and outfitting industry. In time, she transitioned to working full-time on the ranch with Ryan and their son Dustin, the fifth generation on the land.“There’s a great deal of pride involved in building a ranch and raising a family up in it at the same time,” she said. “It’s been a lot of work, but knowing we have done it all side by side as a family makes me most proud. Our son Dustin has been involved in every part of it and having him along for the ride has brought so much joy.” Ranching in the forests of the Canadian Shield brings many challenges, such as biting insects, marshy areas, clearing scrubby brush to expand pastures, and a healthy population of predators. To keep their animals safe, the family has a pack of Turkish Kangal livestock guardian dogs that live out on pasture with the animals. Plett said the presence of the dogs keeps predators away, so coyotes, wolves, and bears can stick to their natural food sources, and the cattle can stay safe and stress-free on the same land. With proper management, cattle can also improve the land they graze, benefiting both the herd and the wildlife whose habitat they share. Plett said there is no time of day or season when one can get bored. Each season is spent preparing for the next, and there is something in every season to look forward to. When the unexpected inevitably happens, she relies on her dad's perspective to get through difficulties.  “That’s nothing for a big outfit,” is a direct and daily quote from my dad,” she said. “We need to have the attitude that no matter what happens, that’s no big deal, we can handle it. It’s kept my family on this land for four generations so far.” Canadian beef is a staple on the Plett family dinner table. Her go-to recipe for her busy life is Pan Seared Tenderloin Steak with a Dijon mustard sauce – a recipe she learned from Chef Mathieu Paré of the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence during her year in the then-named Cattlemen’s Young Leaders mentorship program.“It takes a lot of work to get a steak from our place to the table, and I feel like this recipe really does it justice. It’s delicious, my family loves it, and I can have that steak cooked to perfection and on the table before my feet even thaw out after a long day working outside in -40,” she said. Our Meet the Farmer: International Year of the Woman Farmer campaign launched in January 2026 and will run the full calendar year. A Canadian woman owner-operator is announced each month on our social channels, with detailed information provided in Canada Beef Performs and on our website. Back to main page  GINA TEEL Director, Stakeholder Communications |
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