NuHaven Cattle Co, Pine Lake, AB

Poplar Haven Farms Ltd. was founded by John and Rebecca Smith in the 1930’s and was one of the early pioneers of the Maine-Anjou breed in Canada. After experimenting with different breeds, the Maine-Anjou breed offered the characteristics that John and his sons Ron, Robert and Gary were seeking. They sold 3 half blood heifers, by AI sires, at the first North American Maine-Anjou sale in Edmonton. Afterwards, John and Rebecca travelled to France and selected four Fullblood heifers. The Smith families were then committed to the joint success of Poplar Haven Farms and the Maine-Anjou breed. They held 10 production sales in the 70’s and 80’s, which were considered the national pacesetters for the breed. Throughout the 70’s Poplar Haven exhibited many champions at the premier cattle shows throughout Western Canada, including a string of 10 head at one of the first Canadian Western Agribition’s. Their show success continued on in the 1980’s with the legendary LW Challenger, a Fullblood Cunia son, to 13 Grand championships and 3 Supreme championships. The Poplar Haven raised bull, Poplar Haven Polled Pursuit, born in 1991, was the bull that began the surge in black Maines. During the 1980’s Gary also served on the Canadian Maine-Anjou Associations board of director’s as well as president. From leading herd sires, to the infamous gopher races during the 1984 World Congress, Poplar Haven made its mark on the Maine-Anjou breed during the 70’s and 80’s.