The Real MVPs: Our Billet Families

Behind every Badlands player is a host family offering support, guidance and a true home away from home. These families are an important part of what makes the Badlands Baseball Academy experience so special.

We were always the family to say, “We’re not ready to be billets yet. Our kids aren’t even teenagers. How would we know what we’re doing?” But we decided to take a chance in 2024, and it couldn’t have been better.

Our billet fit immediately into our family and our sometimes hectic lifestyle. Our usually shy girls warmed up to him right away, and he has become like an older brother to them. We have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our billet, his family, and getting a small glimpse into what the future of high school teens may look like for our family.

If you’re hesitating on billeting because you think your kids are too young, our recommendation is this: it’s a lot less intimidating than you think.

Submitted by Stephanie and Jack Hauck

Sending your 15-year-old child away from home is a daunting decision for any parent. It is a decision made knowing your child is moving in with a family from a community of fewer than 1,000 people in southern Alberta. Families are opening their homes to a strange young man from all corners of Canada, and now the world.

On the surface, this list of circumstances would be a hard no right out of the gate for most families, but it is a testament to the quality of people in Oyen and the effectiveness of the screening process the Badgers undertake on both sides of this equation.

From the onset of the recruitment process, the coaches, as well as the billet co-ordinator, are in constant contact with the potential player to find out not only what kind of player he will be, but also what kind of person he is. Having an understanding of who these young men are better allows the Badgers to find the best fit for both the player and the family.

One of the reasons we chose Oyen initially was because it was a small town and, with entertainment options being limited, it would force our son Brandt to focus on baseball and school. From an outsider’s perspective, the community as a whole also possesses two other values that the Badgers convey and demand of their players: hard work and accountability.

This long-winded introduction is a detailed way of saying the Badgers do an amazing job of recruiting the right type of person who will fit into both the team and the community, and of doing their best to match that young man with the right family.

We, the Spencer family, are an example of a monumental success of this process.

Our son Brandt was accepted by the Hauck family and, if we had endless time and endless choice, I don’t think we could pick a better family for Brandt than them. Steph and Jack and their three beautiful young daughters run a very busy lifestyle, like so many young families do at this stage of life.

Brandt came from a home where his mother ran a daycare, so having youngsters coming and going at all times was nothing new to him. It was something he was not only used to, but something he embraced. I, his father, am an industrial mechanic, and Jack is a heavy-duty mechanic by trade, so we share similar backgrounds.

I bring up these facts to point out that it was the Badgers who did their diligence in knowing this information before matching Brandt with the Hauck family. And boy, we couldn’t be happier that they did.

From the minute we met them, we knew Brandt was in good and caring hands. My wife and I are over the moon with how Jack and Steph have accepted Brandt into their family and treated him as such. From helping Brandt with vehicle repairs to incorporating some of his favourite meals into their rotation, they have gone above and beyond. They have also called him out when he messed up, which is just as important as being accommodating. That is another shining example of the values we appreciate: hard work and accountability.

Brandt has learned a different side of those values while being in Oyen with the Haucks. He has also learned patience and truly appreciates when someone does something for him.

In closing, I can’t stress enough the positive impact Oyen has had on our son. From the baseball program run by the coaches to the high school welcoming the boys and going the extra mile to ensure their success, regardless of their background or scholastic standing, the support has been remarkable.

But the most important factor, in our opinion, is the group of families who open their doors to strangers. Without the kindness of these families, the Badgers wouldn’t exist.

I can’t speak for all families, but from the Spencers we send a truthful and heartfelt thank you for doing what you do and allowing our sons to pursue their dream.

For the past two years, Brandt has been a member of the Hauck family. Who he is as a person today is a reflection of the influence they have had on him. When I stand and look my son in the eye and shake his hand, I’m proud of the person looking back at me. That is a debt I can never repay, and I owe that to the Haucks and the Badgers.

If I knew two years ago what I know now, that daunting decision would have been the easiest one of my life.

From thankful parents,
Steve and Jennilee Spencer

Open your home. Support a dream. Become a Badgers billet family.

We are currently looking for families to host a Badlands Baseball Academy player for the 2026-27 school year and be part of their journey in school, sport and life.

Make a difference in a young athlete’s season while building a connection that lasts far beyond the game.