$14,500 donated to Ronald McDonald House
Proceeds of two heifers at MacPherson herd dispersal donated
February 23, 2025, 12:48 pm
Kara Kinna
A herd dispersal auction has brought in $14,500 for Ronald McDonald House after Chris MacPherson donated the proceeds of two bred heifers that were sold, with one of those heifers being bought and then donated back to be auctioned off again.
The sale was held at Whitewood Livestock on Feb. 15. After the first heifer was purchased by Karl Johnston, a local farmer from Langbank, it was donated back for re-auction and purchased by Mannle Farms and Whitewood Auction Service. The second heifer was purchased by Levi Jamieson farms of Moosomin.
Chris MacPherson says it was inspiring to see how much money was raised by the two heifers, especially after his family had to use Ronald McDonald House in Edmonton when his daughter was born.
“My youngest daughter Adaline, at our 20-week ultrasound, we found out that she had a heart defect, DiGeorge Syndrome, that’s what caused the heart defect. She was born in Edmonton, and when we were in the hospital, at 10 days old, she had to have life saving heart surgery,” says MacPherson. “I always thought Ronald McDonald house was a good charity, and we have had friends and family that used it, but when you get to use it first hand and truly experience the good that place does for families who have children in the hospital, it was just amazing.”
“When we were in Edmonton, we knew we had a safe place to stay, a quiet place. You get up to have breakfast in the morning before going back to the hospital, and you might be sitting with another parent, and you talk about what you’re going through. It’s almost like you’re having a coffee, having a meal, but you’re also having a group therapy session with other parents who know what you’re going through.
“I remember in Edmonton, going back and forth from the hospital, you’re maybe not eating the greatest. I remember one of the Italian restaurants brought food, and we ate like kings. You didn’t starve, it was such an amazing experience.”
MacPherson says he has always wanted to donate bred heifers for charity.
“After we got through that, it was actually my neighbor, Scott Mannle, he had a bred heifer sale, and they started out the sale with a donation heifer, and that was my inspiration,” he says. “That was kind of my ‘if I ever can do that, I will’ moment. And I was actually going to start donating a heifer every year to Scott’s bred heifer sale, but Scott quit doing the bred heifer sale. But that was my light bulb, that’s my way I can give back.”
He says it was a wonderful feeling seeing his heifers go for so much.
“I was very pleased. I thought with the two heifers, we should be able to donate $8,000 at least, but when one got donated back, we ended raising $14,500. It was like wow, what a great feeling.
“It truly showed me how the ag community rallies together for a good cause, how the ag community can give back. I saw that when we were going through it too— neighbours coming to help combine. Adeline had a second heart surgery and my one neighbour, he knew I had to be in Edmonton for the 21st of September for the surgery with Addie, he came over to help combine for a few days and he left a combine to finish harvest so we could be there for that surgery.
“It just reminded me of how great the ag community can be. When they can step up, they do.
“The herd dispersal was a heartbreaking moment for me, but in that heartbreaking moment, to open it with donating the heifers, it kind of took the heartbreak away and lightened it up.
“I’m not actually done donating yet. We have a cull cow that didn’t go. We are going to have her butchered and we are donating the hamburger to the Moosomin Food Share.”
MacPherson says one of the best things about Ronald McDonald house is knowing you aren’t alone.
“We were happy to give back. We have used Ronald McDonald House first hand and we know other families in the area that have used it. I know Summer and Nick, their daughter is going through a health battle, and there is a guy from Whitewood I know, his daughter, and I’ve known other people who have used it, and ourselves, we’ve used it. Adaline has a future surgery in her books, so we might not be done using it ourselves.
“I’ve seen it first hand—when you’re sitting there having breakfast, you are thinking to yourself, ‘why me? Why is this happening to my child?’ Then a four-year-old girl runs by your table with a bald head, and it’s like a light switch—a light just goes off that it’s not just me going through it, there are a lot of people going through it.”
