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The Nykoliation name is long standing and well known in livestock industry and the Charolais breed throughout Canada and beyond for close to 50 years. The families’ humble beginnings started with Beaver Creek Charolais (Len , Marilyn, Gord and Micheal Nykoliation and families) being the first in the 1970’s. Shortly after, N7 Stock Farms (Gerald and Wendy Nykoliation and families) was established.

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The early days consisted of attending many female production sales with Merv’s brothers Len and Gerald throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan. On one November day back in 1983 they attended the Dennis Toms Charolais Dispersal at the Virden Auction Mart.

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Miss DTM 18L, a 1979 born daughter of Mr. JN Cadet 83F entered the ring (consigned by Dennis Toms of Redvers, SK). When she left, TRI-N Charolais Farms was born! The third Nykoliation in the purebred Charolais industry.

Today, well over 50% of the current TRI-N Charolais herd traces back to this first purchase. Cow families such as Prairie Rose, Creamsicle etc all trace back to Miss Dtm 18L.

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Beaver Creek Charolais were founding members of the West Man Breeders Group that were very active throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s. Through these sales Merv established his herd and later was an active consignor selling a few bulls and females in their annual bull and female sales held at the old Virden Auction Mart.

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Performance testing played a large role from the beginning in the marketing of bulls for TRI-N. From the beginning bulls were entered in the Northwest(Roblin) Bull Test Station and the Manitoba (Douglas) Bull Test Station.  Many top ten gaining bulls and banner bulls were consigned. In one year, TRI-N won both Roblin and Douglas Test Stations. The same was repeated with Douglas and Yellowhead.

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Mervin was a founding member of the Yellowhead Bull Test Station in Neepawa and consigned every year until its ending in 2005. At this time, TRI-N consigned to the Cattlemans Classic Bull Multi-Breed Bull Sale in Virden with the other Charolais consignor Gord and Lisa Nykoliation of Beaver Creek Charolais.

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Merv remembers distrinctly when the bull TRI-N Prefix 54Y was offered for sale in the 2012 Cattlemans Classic bull sale. Back in those days there was no facebook to promote your cattle, it was word of mouth and people face to face talking about it. When Prefix entered, the sales ring was jam packed, the alleys plugged and standing room only outside. Everyone was trying to get a look at the bull! Pretty dang exciting for little old Cattlemans Classic Virden MB!

When the hammer finally fell Prefix went to Vikse Family Farm in Alberta and ended up being the highest priced Charolais bull in Canada that year. Interesting enough, a full sister to Prefix is the grandma of TRI-N Go North 2411H that sold this spring and ended up being the record high selling Charolais bull ever sold and bred in Manitoba history by public auction for $80,000!

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For ten years bulls were marketed through Cattlemans Classic. At this point Beaver Creek Charolais dispersed their cow herd.

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 In 2015, TRI-N Charolais created their own bull sale at Heartland Livestock in Virden. In 2018, the bull sale was moved to the farm at Lenore, MB where it remains today.

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Time flies..

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Merv and Joanne Nykoliation have two daughters (Tanis and Brittni) and two sons (Jesse and Curtis).

 In 1995, the family moved to the main farm on NW-25-12-25W1 after taking it over from Mervs mother (Jennie) after the passing of his father where all 9 brother and sisters were raised.

The move went great and there were many family memories that were made. From the beginning, Tanis, Jesse and Brittni all took an active role in showing cattle in 4-H and the various Canadian Charolais Youth Association (CCYA) conferences throughout Canada.

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Two CCYA projects included TRI-N Prairie Rose 401P (The beginning of the Prairie Rose cow family) and KCH Malibu 1M (the grandmother of TRI-N Malibu 72B).  Both kids fell in love with the CCYA program, and the annual summer vacation was planned around the CCYA conference and shows location that year.

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The kids are all grown up now. Tanis (Rob and grandkids Broolyn, Ashley and Hudson Boyd) reside on a grain farm in Rapid City, Curtis (grandson Damon) lives in Basswood and Brittni (Trevor and grandkids Hunter and Parker Morris) live in Melita.

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Jesse (with support of his partner Nicki) are involved in the daily affairs of the family farm and are in the process of taking it over from Merv and Joanne. He has grown his cow herd by purchasing Mervs mature cow herd and plans to continue in the industry and hosting the annual bull sale for many years to come.

This sale represents the true “Changing of the Guard” from one generation to another. Close to half a century in the making by the Nykoliation family.