When Premier Brad Wall announced his retirement from politics on Thursday, it drew many different reactions.

One of those reactions was sadness for people like Adrienne Ivey - a cattle rancher near Ituna.

"It was a shock, but not a surprise. I think we all knew that it was coming eventually," she explained. "For myself, I wanted it to be later than now. Definitely, in my lifetime, I've never had a Premier like Brad Wall."

Ivey, 36, took to social media following Wall's announcement, crafting an open letter to the Premier, where she expressed her gratitude for his ten years as the province's leader.

"I had some tears in my eyes and got very emotional when he did announce his retirement," said Ivey.

In the letter, Ivey says she "never dreamed of a leader" like Wall, and never knew what Saskatchewan - as a province - was capable of.

"There's such a big difference. When I graduated high school and university, Saskatchewan was a have not province and that is something I never imagined would change," she noted. "When I graduated, a majority of my classmates all moved out of province, mostly to Alberta, but also across Canada."

Ivey says that under Wall's leadership, she has been able to boast about living in the province.

"Right now, Saskatchewan is the best place in the world for me to be living and raising my family and being a cattle rancher," she said. "Saskatchewan is the envy of Canada and I am so proud of that."

Wall will remain in the legislature for a few more months, while the Saskatchewan Party decides on a new leader.

Ivey hopes that going forward, Saskatchewan continues to shine.

"I think the past year has caused a lot of anger and angst and hard feelings, and I feel like if we can - as a province - let go of some of that anger and move forward in a direction - as a province - I feel like it will still be the best place in the world."

Wall was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in 1999. He became Sask Party leader in 2004, and Premier for the first time in 2007.