Fittingly, over 100 people attended the Saturday celebration at the farm two miles west of Weyburn owned by Jeanette (Metheral) and her husband Glenn Mabee - a farm owned and operated by a Metheral for the past 100 years.

Jeanette gathered friends and family to share in an important achievement as she was presented with the Century Family Farm Award by Weyburn agrologist Elaine Moats on behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan.

To qualify for the award, the farm has to be actively farmed by the same family for 100 years and there has to be documentation to back the claim.

Jeanette spoke about the Metheral family's dedication to farming, shown by the number still operating in the area. While her property was the only one originally homesteaded by a family member, it is clear that a sense of its history runs deep in the family.

"I've been here 70 years and this means quite a bit," said Jeanette. "It's just a nice distance from town, in fact a lot of people think it's an acreage. As far as I know, we'll never sell this farm, it will go to our children."

Jeanette's brother Ron Metheral spoke about when Pascal Elijah Metheral came to Canada from Creemore, Ontario during the tough years near the turn of the last century.

"Pac came here in 1899, he liked the landscape, that he could see for miles on the bald prairie. He came from trees, rolling hill country," said Ron. "He went back home and brought out merchandise to sell here, he sold right out of trunks when he got here. Also, in 1900, he bought the title to this homestead."

Pascal became a partner in building a new hardware store in Weyburn in 1902 and eventually went into real estate until his retirement to White Rock, B.C. in 1944. In 1908, he sold the homestead to his brother William Samuel Metheral, who had come back with him from Creemore in 1902. Jeanette's father Reginald Dawson Metheral took over the reins in 1920 and farmed until 1972, raising five children with his wife Irene. At that time, Jeanette's brother James and her husband Glenn inherited the farm. The couple bought James' interest in 1985 and continue to run it to this day.

While the original buildings have been replaced, the yard stays much the same, according to Jeanette. She remembers some tense times when the original house burned down in 1947 and the family lost everything. This was before comprehensive insurance and after the war when lumber was impossible to find. They ordered an Alladin house and had it shipped to the farm from Vancouver. She recalls how much easier life became when electricity and later, indoor plumbing, were available and installed in the house.

Jeanette credits early farmers for keeping the land through hard times, noting that people made do with a lot less in previous generations.

"It was hard in the 1930s, but nobody had any more than the next farmer. They persevered on very little and people wouldn't do that today," said Jeanette. "Grandpa had real estate too, and this helped during the tough times."

Jeanette and Glenn raised five children on the farm, holding jobs in Weyburn during that time. Glenn worked as a psychiatric nurse and Jeanette as a secretary at a psychiatric hospital, doctor's office, and the Weyburn Co-op. Jeanette always worked on the farm with Glenn, doing her share of driving tractor, combining, haying, and more. She says she's glad she did, noting how much more quickly work gets done now with bigger machinery.

Jeanette is proud of her childrens' connection to the farm and says that although all have good jobs, she is confident the farm will carry on in their hands. Currently, son Jim lives in Regina, Guy lives at LaRonge and daughters Debbie (May) and Susan (Carlson) live in Regina. Daughter Marcia passed away from cancer eight years ago.

At the celebration at the farm, neighbor Tom Minard spoke about the role the Metherals have played in the community over the years and about what the 100 years means in terms of local history.

"I feel we need to thank God for sending us the Metherals for neighbors," said Minard. "We have farmed beside them for 60 years or so and they have been wonderful neighbors all of the time. There are lots of farms here that didn't survive and this one has for 100 years, that's the kind of people they are.

"I think the dreams the first pioneers had were realized here today," Minard continued. "There were times when they were shattered by the weather, the drought in the 1930s, and just think how many times they picked themselves up and started over again. I just think it would be so nice if those people could be here at this farm today, to see the dream they started is here 100 years later."