A documentary web series, “Real Farm Lives”, featured a family from southeast Saskatchewan.

The Englot family near Montmartre owns Costa Lotta Farms, a 3000-acre operation. The family represents three generations of farmers growing wheat and canola in the region. The show features Norman and Loretta Englot. Their adult children Madison, D.J. and Luc all appear in the series as well.

Norman said there was a simple reason why the family wanted to get involved in the series.

“We personally, I guess, felt it was maybe something that the farmers in Saskatchewan and Canada needed to do, was to kind of show people how we actually go about starting, where the grassroots of the food start,” shared Englot.

Englot points out another reason why the family wanted to take part in the series is to show those who live in bigger centres, who have never seen a farm in person, what the day to day operations are, and the challenges they face on a regular basis.

“It’s going to show you who we really are,” Englot said. “We’re just normal human beings, making a living on the farm, and showing we care about what we do.” The series shows the trials and tribulations they face, such as weather, insects and weeds. The show also addresses a different aspect of the farm, including harvest preparations, how plant science affects their crops and more. The show also highlights the fun moments and family dynamics which happen in a regular day on the farm.

Englot said the experience was a unique one for him, as he and the family got to see what all goes into the creation of a TV show. This included the production crew setting up around the farm, and the family being wired with microphones.

“I really enjoyed that, I got to meet some very nice people,” Englot said. “A majority of them were from out East, so it’s kind of nice to meet new people and nice to see how their job is.”

In all, six episodes of the series were produced in the series. The show was produced by CropLife Canada, with the goal to show what life is like on a 21st-century farm and to try to clear up any misconceptions about farming.

Alongside the Englots, the series features two families which farm in Ontario, including a soybean and corn operation near Wheatley, Ontario, and an apple orchard by Clarksburg, Ontario.

The show is viewable on the Real Farm Lives website.