A Manitoba cattle farmer hasn't told his friends that he's the province's latest instant millionaire.
Ted Yanke, a 59-year-old cattle farmer, won $1 million after scratching a Set For Life lottery ticket he'd picked on a whim in his hometown of Ashern.
But until yesterday, the soft-spoken farmer had only told his family.
"I go to the coffee shop in the morning," he said. "But when this happened, I didn't tell anybody."
Yanke said he hadn't told anyone in Ashern, which has a population of 2,029. He told his three children, but they even tried to keep it secret from his six grandchildren, who range in age from 5 months to 10 years old. Yanke had heard a friend had won $20 through the scratch lottery earlier that week. He decided that since the tickets had just been restocked, it was a good time to pick one up.
"I went to my truck to scratch it. I saw three "Set For Lifes" and I knew what it meant," he said.Yanke left his 1990 Chevy truck at home yesterday, and instead pulled up to York The Hotel in a limousine, to accept an honorary cheque in front of media. He said the money won't spell the end for his truck.
"It took me home with that ticket, and I don't intend to part with it," he said, adding he had no big purchases planned.
"It's for our retirement," he said of himself and wife Bev, saying he plans to keep farming, for the time being.
"He's a very modest guy," said friend, Budd Burger, when asked why Yanke decided to keep it a secret. "He probably thought it wasn't right."
Burger said he goes for coffee with him in the morning, which is usually Yanke's only time to relax during the day.
"It couldn't have happened to a better guy," he said when told Yanke had won the money. "We'll be getting coffee from him for a couple years," he said, laughing.Yanke's wife, Bev, 56, said she had a hard time believing they had won.
After he had scratched the winning ticket, Yanke came home and said, "Give me a big hug, you're going to be happy." It wasn't until she'd seen the ticket that she believed it had happened.
"Until you really see it, you can't take it all in," she said. She said that her husband has worked hard all his life, putting in 14 hours a day. She says he's never really had a break before.
Yanke's son doesn't think the money will change the way his dad lives.
"He'll still work hard his whole life, that won't change," said Kerry, 31.
It's the first $1-million winner in the area, and it's the province's third millionaire in seven weeks. Another Set For Life million-dollar ticket was claimed in Winnipeg on Oct. 27.
The province's biggest win in history, a Lotto 6/49 ticket worth $27,227,325, was claimed in the city this year on Nov. 12.
LOL, someone else can milk the cows this winter, nice one. I betcha if this guy has been farming all his life he won't be able to take time off or won't want too. Most farmers I know are workaholics and I believe is a great thing something sorely lacking in our day. We often forget that hard work is a reward in itself. Cheers,
Good thing Canada doesn't force lottery winners to receive annuity payments. NY has a "Debt for Life" scratch game that doesn't have a cash option.
You believe a lifetime of checks signifies "debt for life?" Maybe to someone not competent enough to know how to control their spending. Besides a cash option for $1 million dollars would not be enough to set anyone for life, unless they chose to live a very low profile lifestyle.
Good thing Canada doesn't force lottery winners to receive annuity payments. NY has a "Debt for Life" scratch game that doesn't have a cash option.
You believe a lifetime of checks signifies "debt for life?" Maybe to someone not competent enough to know how to control their spending. Besides a cash option for $1 million dollars would not be enough to set anyone for life, unless they chose to live a very low profile lifestyle.
Cash Only is very passionate about the availability of the Cash Option in all the Lottery games. It's probalby the better option most of the time for most people to take the Cash and run, but his "Lose for Life" idea seems like looking a gift horse in the mouth. Cash Only is correct about the disadvantages of committing to a long term payout as being especially vulnerable to the inflation risk. Another member pointed out the fact that it is much better to get the State out of your life once and for all by accepting the Cash Only, very true. By accepting payouts you are more vulnerable to predatory lawyer's schemes. The only advantage I can see in taking an annuity is the "protecting you from yourself" and of course the steady income for two decades or more provides relative stability for people. For me, a pension setup has an attraction, but a large lump sum ain't bad either. An annuity allows one to quit working with relative security for the next 25-30 years in most cases. I prefer the Cash overall. Sirbrad, you made a good point. Best of Luck and Merry Christmas!
yeah you never know if something drastic might happen 10 years down the line.its best to take a lump sum and be done with it.......
It's academic with Canadian lotteries, although there are some annuitized games in the Great White North, AFAIK all with a cash option. The US still has some catching up to do.
Congratulations to the winner!
Now this I like to see, a farmer, a hark working average person. God Bless him.
Good thing Canada doesn't force lottery winners to receive annuity payments. NY has a "Debt for Life" scratch game that doesn't have a cash option.
GREAT, I'M GLAD HE WON IT. MAYBE HE CAN TAKE SOME TIME OFF THIS WINTER. SOMEONE ELSE CAN MILK THE COWS !!
It pays to play. Nice to hear a good man won.
LOL, someone else can milk the cows this winter, nice one. I betcha if this guy has been farming all his life he won't be able to take time off or won't want too. Most farmers I know are workaholics and I believe is a great thing something sorely lacking in our day. We often forget that hard work is a reward in itself. Cheers,
Soooo Good to hear that you won! A down to earth hard working man with a very lovingly supportive wife at his side. May you enjoy your earnings.
Good thing Canada doesn't force lottery winners to receive annuity payments. NY has a "Debt for Life" scratch game that doesn't have a cash option.
You believe a lifetime of checks signifies "debt for life?" Maybe to someone not competent enough to know how to control their spending. Besides a cash option for $1 million dollars would not be enough to set anyone for life, unless they chose to live a very low profile lifestyle.
Good thing Canada doesn't force lottery winners to receive annuity payments. NY has a "Debt for Life" scratch game that doesn't have a cash option.
You believe a lifetime of checks signifies "debt for life?" Maybe to someone not competent enough to know how to control their spending. Besides a cash option for $1 million dollars would not be enough to set anyone for life, unless they chose to live a very low profile lifestyle.
Cash Only is very passionate about the availability of the Cash Option in all the Lottery games. It's probalby the better option most of the time for most people to take the Cash and run, but his "Lose for Life" idea seems like looking a gift horse in the mouth. Cash Only is correct about the disadvantages of committing to a long term payout as being especially vulnerable to the inflation risk. Another member pointed out the fact that it is much better to get the State out of your life once and for all by accepting the Cash Only, very true. By accepting payouts you are more vulnerable to predatory lawyer's schemes. The only advantage I can see in taking an annuity is the "protecting you from yourself" and of course the steady income for two decades or more provides relative stability for people. For me, a pension setup has an attraction, but a large lump sum ain't bad either. An annuity allows one to quit working with relative security for the next 25-30 years in most cases. I prefer the Cash overall. Sirbrad, you made a good point. Best of Luck and Merry Christmas!
yeah you never know if something drastic might happen 10 years down the line.its best to take a lump sum and be done with it.......
yeah you never know if something drastic might happen 10 years down the line.its best to take a lump sum and be done with it.......
It's academic with Canadian lotteries, although there are some annuitized games in the Great White North, AFAIK all with a cash option. The US still has some catching up to do.
When i think of america- i think of a land where cash is king-second only to god. all american lotteries should be able to pay all the cash on demand!