Canadian Cowboy Country Apr/May 2020

S r eo de GHT od si SI R In IN ro a S & P ad E W n ,N Ca ULE

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Git Along, Little Dogies!

Secrets to Trailing Newborn Calves

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Singer/Songwriter Hank Snow

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What Works For Us Branding Time

Vacation!

Fairs, Events & Cowboy Fun International Delight Mongolia’s Altai Eagle Festival PM# 40070720

APRIL/MAY 2020 • $5.95

Opening Saturday, June 06, 2020

Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey, Forever Glacier: Antilocapra Americana, Pronghorn, silk painting, 30 x 40 inches

Forever Glacier

Andy Warhol: Cowboys and Indians

JUNE 6ďšťAUGUST 20, 2020

Billy Schenck: Myth of the West

As a Glacier Centennial Artist and with the Park so close in proximity and near to her heart, Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey has created Forever Glacier, a series of large colorful silk paintings honoring each of the 18 large mammals plus four additional pieces showing groupings of all the small mammals who live or have lived in Glacier Park.

JUNE 6ďšťSEPTEMBER 14, 2020 Andy Warhol: Cowboys and Indians explores how the father of American pop art highlighted classic Western archetypes. Organized as a companion exhibition, Billy Schenck: Myth of the West illustrates how the “Warhol of the Westâ€? fashioned a new movement —Western pop.

400 13 th Street North | Great Falls, Montana | (406) 727-8787 | CMRussell.org 2

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

In This Issue

APRIL/MAY 2020 | VOLUME 23, NO. 6

38 Features

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From branding multiple commercial herds to branding Registered Texas Longhorns

20 TRAILBLAZERS Hank Snow

From a rough start to the successful life of Canada’s iconic country singer/ songwriter

22 Mongolia

Experience the ancient partnership between Golden eagles and Mongolian hunters at the Altai Eagle Festival

On the Cover A team of Belgian draft horses in the arena at the 81st Annual Frontier Days, Swift Current, Sask.

Page 25, Cowboy Country Vacation Guide Photo courtesy Snapshots

by Jo/Jody Seidler

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Cowboy Country Vacation Guide Make your plans to saddle up and enjoy these fun and exciting vacation ideas!

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COWBOY WAY

Give Them Time

PHOTO COURTESY MARK STEWART

Dylan Biggs’ ongoing series of working cattle with minimal stress

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WHAT WORKS FOR US

Branding

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WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

The Chute Boss A behind-the-scenes look at the job of being a rodeo chute boss

Departments 5 My Point of View 7 In the Corral 11 Western Art Review 12 Spirit of the West 14 Some Days Are Diamond 16 Wheel to Wheel 18 Reflections 37 Pro Rodeo Canada Insider 52 Clownin’ Around 54 Cowboy Poetry 3

April/May 2020 Vol. 23, No. 6

COWBOY STONY PLAIN

GATHERING

AUGUST 14-16 28th Annual

Editor Terri Mason terri@cowboycountrymagazine.com Copy Editor Tamara Aschenbrenner tamara@cowboycountrymagazine.com Art Director Zuzana Benesova zuzana@cowboycountrymagazine.com Graphic Designer Erin Murphy erin@cowboycountrymagazine.com Publisher Rob Tanner rob@cowboycountrymagazine.com Sales Manager Kristine Wickheim kristine@cowboycountrymagazine.com Sales Representative Kathy Kelley kathy@ cowboycountrymagazine.com Traffic Coordinator Cheryl Lindquist traffic @ cowboycountrymagazine.com Subscription/Circulation Marie Tanner circ @cowboycountrymagazine.com Accounting Administrator Catherine Staszkiewicz admin @ tanneryoung.com Customer Relations Manager Marie Tanner marie @ cowboycountrymagazine.com Columnists Tim Ellis, “Diamond” Doug Keith, Hugh McLennan, Billy Melville, Bryn Thiessen Contributors Patty Auger, Dylan Biggs, Chantelle Bowman, CrAsh Cooper, Billie-Jean Duff, Dianne Finstad, Fred Hauck, Covy Moore, Primo Morales, Anne Stevick, Tulga Tanner Young Publishing Group #430, 8170–50 Street, Edmonton AB T6B 1E6 Tel: 780-465-3362 | Toll Free: 1-800-943-7336 Website: cowboycountrymagazine.com E-mail: askus @cowboycountrymagazine.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Call Marie at 1-800-943-7336 1 Year: $21.43 + tax | 2 Years: $35.71 + tax 3 Years: $46.45 + tax | Single Copy: $5.95 + tax Canadian Cowboy Country magazine is published six times per year by Tanner Young Publishing Group PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40070720 ISSN 1701-1132 Please return undeliverable addresses to: Canadian Cowboy Country magazine #430, 8170–50 Street, Edmonton AB T6B 1E6 FREELANCE POLICY Canadian Cowboy Country welcomes freelance contributions but will not be held responsible for unsolicited text or photographs.

Direct all freelance enquiries to: freelance@cowboycountrymagazine.com PRIVACY POLICY At Tanner Young Publishing Group, we value your privacy.

For our complete privacy policy go to tanneryoung.com/ privacy.html or call us at 1-800-943-7336 Canadian Cowboy Country makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions.

This magazine is a proud member of the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association, and Magazines Canada, abiding by the standards of the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors. Visit albertamagazines.com

Gordie West Band, Bryn Thiessen, Allen Christie & many more Stars!

Location: PIONEER MUSEUM, Stony Plain Information: 780-916-8416

www.stonyplaincowboygathering.com 4

“This project is funded [in part] by the Government of Canada.”

«Ce projet est financé [en partie] par le gouvernement du Canada.»

MY POINT OF VIEW

Learn Something New Every Day I’ve been the editor of Cowboy for 16 years now, and I know I say this every year, but really, the Vacation Guide is my favourite issue. One reason is because of the time of year that we’re all working to put this issue together. It’s close enough to spring to get your hopes up and get you daydreaming of long summer days. Yessiree, the days are getting longer, the ice and snow are finally melting off, and both man and beast are starting to shed — from winter underwear to winter coats.

Our old friends, Anne and Quentin Stevick, just happened to take a trip over to Mongolia to attend the famous Altai Eagle Festival, and Anne has shared her experiences with us. Dedicated world travellers with a keen interest in agriculture, the Stevicks will soon be hitting the flyways again to another exotic destination that they’ll bring to Cowboy!

My longtime friend, Fred Hauck, wrote a fascinating Trailblazer article on Hank Snow. Fred himself is a well-regarded historian, and I am hoping that he writes a book someday.

The ground-breaking cattle handling column Dylan Biggs has been writing was initially planned for one year. I am pleased to announce that the response from cowboys has been so great that he’s going to keep going. Plan to attend one of his eyeopening and fun clinics this summer.

And of course, my special thanks to ranchers Dustin Gonnet and Mark Stewart for their insightful interviews on branding in our ongoing series, What Works For Us. You never know what you’ll learn here in Canadian Cowboy Country.

— Terri Mason, Editor

A Message from Our Publisher On behalf of all of us at Canadian Cowboy Country, we would like to sincerely thank everyone that took the time to fill out our survey. It is important to us that we give you a great read and your feedback is invaluable. In fact, we love to hear from you with your story ideas and suggestions anytime!

ILLUSTRATION BY LE STEVENS

Thanks again,

Rob Tanner, Publisher

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@CowboyCntryMag 5

CONTRIBUTORS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Many Miles Long time reader of your magazine. Covered lots of miles and airplane rides with one in my bag.

Great read, great history, great people.

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—Darryl Sutter, Viking, Alta.

Roping Rhinos

CONTRIBUTORS

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1 Dylan Biggs

3 Fred Hauck

Cowboy Way: Let Them Go, page 35

Trailblazers: Hank Snow, page 20

For over 20 years Dylan has travelled extensively, sharing his knowledge of lowstress cattle handling with producers through livestock handling demonstrations.

Dylan, his wife Colleen and children, run TK Ranch near Hanna, Alta. TKRanch.com

Fred Hauck is a well-known collector and noted historian, who specialises in early Canadiana, ranging from music to Calgary Stampede collectables. The multiaward-winning, lifelong volunteer lives in Redcliff, Alta.

2 Dianne Finstad

4 Anne Stevick

PRCI: What Does it Take?, page 47 With more than 30 years behind the rodeo chutes, that’s still Dianne’s happy place, covering the sport she loves best. The muchfeted reporter is an inductee into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

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4

Vacation Guide: The Eagle Hunters, page 22

I enjoyed your poem, Jingle Bells & Heel Chains — it brought back fond memories.

My first paid job was driving a team of Percherons on a dump rake for $4 a day and board, and I thought I had the world by the butt. Then I was allowed to drive the team on the overshot stacker and finally on the hay sweep. This was the most difficult as you were standing on a 12-inch wide plank and walking — initially forward to load it, and later, backwards to tip it up to take the load to the stacker.

I also fed cattle with horses in the winter, and I was taught to park the sleigh bobs overnight on some loose hay before unhitching the teams, so the bobs wouldn’t freeze down. It worked well.

I’ve had horses around all my life, as a cowboy and competitive team roper. I’ve used my cowboy skills in unexpected ways as a zoo and wildlife veterinarian — roping escaped Muntjacs, Chinese Bighorns, Ostriches, Zebras — and even a rhino.

—Darrel “Doc” Florence, Rose Willo Ranch, Cremona, Alta.

Anne Stevick ranches with her husband, Quentin, in the Pincher Creek/Waterton area of southern Alberta. Their shared love of travel and agriculture and being semiretired allows them to travel to some fascinating countries around the world.

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

IN THE CORRAL NEWS, VIEWS & HAPPENINGS FROM ACROSS THE CANADIAN WEST

Cattle Cait Cait Bascom, better known as Cattle Cait, was invited to put on the sidesaddle riding demonstration alongside her mom, Lee MacLean.

Cait recently restored this sidesaddle, initially made in 1890 by R.T. Frazier. The grey gelding loaned to her for the Arizona demo is Goose, owned by Scott and Alicia Adamson of Makwa, Sask.

PHOTO BY JBK PHOTOGRAPHY

Cait Bascom, aka Cattle Cait, and Goose

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IN THE CORRAL

John Swales — He Did it Again!

Flundra’s Heart of the Horse John Swales riding Metallic Cat Rose to victory

4-H Generations

Three generations of 4-H members at the recent show, Doug, Colt, and Billy Richards

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This photo is a testament to the strength of 4-H families (and the resiliency of hand-knitted wool.)

Pictured is rancher and rodeo stock contractor Doug Richards of Cochrane, Alta., his grandson, Colt, and Colt’s dad (Doug and Jill’s son) Billy.

What is remarkable is the sweater worn by Colt; it has now been passed down to the third generation. Originally it was knitted for Doug by his Aunt Mariette over 65 years ago when he was showing cattle in 4-H. The Richards family has been in 4-H for multiple generations.

Today, Colt is an active member of the Madden/Crossfield Beef 4-H Club. This photo was taken in 2019 at his 4-H Achievement Day.

Multi-award-winning horsewoman Niki Flundra has announced a new location this fall for the smash hit equine symposium, Heart of the Horse.

The event will be happening in the spacious Silver Sage Arena in Brooks, Alta., from Sep 11–13.

The three-day equine expo features their record-setting $20,000 world-class Colt Starting Competition. Stepping up to the starting line for their share of the 2020 prize money is defending champion Glenn Stewart from northern British Columbia, Steve Rother of northeast Washington and southern Alberta’s own Dustin Sippola.

Fans can enjoy the exciting colt starting plus educational demonstrations by the trainers, as well as meet special guest, JR Vezain. The six-time NFR qualifying professional bareback rider was severely injured in 2018 at the Pasadena (Texas) Livestock Show & Rodeo when the horse flipped over on him, breaking his T9 and T10 vertebrae. Well on the road to recovery, Vezain will share his inspiring journey.

There will also be some pure entertainment as patrons will be treated to live music Friday night and a thrilling Saturday night show of an equine extravaganza that you do not want to miss. All this, plus plenty of shopping! Get your tickets early at theheartofthehorse.ca.

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

PHOTOS PHOTO COURTESY JILL RICHARDS; PHOTO COURTESY JANELLE CAMERON; PHOTO BY PRIMO MORALES

Congratulations to John Swales who earned the title of National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) World’s Greatest Horseman. This is the second time the Millarville, Alta., horse trainer has won this hotly contested competition.

Held at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Swales rode Metallic Cat Rose (Metallic Cat x Teletrona x Little Trona) to an incredible 878.5 points (217.5 herd / 218.5 rein / 215 steer / 227.5 cow). The pair rode home with $42,000 and a profusion of prizes for High River-area horse owners Jerry and Nicole Myer. With the win, the mare doubled her lifetime earnings, going from $41,228 to $83,228 in one evening.

Traditionally, there are three judges, and each can award between 60 and 80 points. Over three days, horse and rider gather a score in each of the events: herd work (cutting), rein work, steer-stopping (rope and stop a steer), and cow work (work a steer along the fence, then circle them both ways in the centre of the arena). The points from each event are totalled for the final score to determine the top 10. Then for the Championship run on the last day, the finalists start with a clean slate and compete in all four events — and once again, Swales bested the field.

In 2017, the Alberta trainer first won the World’s Greatest Horseman title when he rode Heza Diamond Spark, owned by Jesse and Elyse Thomson of 7P Ranch, to the championship.

– Bergen,

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is Canadian Cowboy?

rway – No

Where in the World Bergen, Norway

Founded in the 12th century, Bergen is a city on Norway’s southwestern coast. It’s surrounded by mountains and fjords, including Sognefjord, the country’s longest and deepest. The city features colourful wooden houses on the old wharf, once a centre of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire. Bergen is the birthplace of renowned composer, Edvard Grieg. Today, the city of 250,000 is a popular port with cruise ships and tourists, including Art Seidl from Tomslake, B.C.

The Alberta team that competed in the Art of the Cowgirl ranch rodeo, from left: Tanya Schmidt, Pam Didier, Katie Keates, and Janelle Cameron. The team was sponsored by Eagle Hill Equine & Ranching.

PHOTO BY PRIMO MORALES; PHOTO COURTESY BONTERRA PRODUCTIONS

Art of the Cowgirl Clear Arizona sunshine beckoned a wealth of Canadian cowgirls to the Art of the Cowgirl, a celebration of women and the Western industry of horses, riding, training, music, art, traditional cowboy arts and ranch rodeo.

The Canadian prairies were well-represented in the arena with the Eagle Hill ranch rodeo team, sidesaddle clinician (and writer) Lee MacLean, painter Shannon Lawlor, multi-artisan Cait Bascom (aka Cattle Cait, the sidesaddle rider), and the band Genuine Cowgirls.

Add to that a bunch of Canadian fans who went down for the event (and those that winter there), and it was a great time.

One elegant highlight was Lee MacLean and her daughter, Cattle Cait, demonstrating the graceful art of riding sidesaddle.

“I learned that it’s really easy to say 'no' and it’s really easy to stay

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home,” said Cait, who lives deep in southern Saskatchewan with her pasture-managing cowboy husband, Lee Bascom. “But travelling is important; it opens our minds, and we meet so many like-minded people. There’s horsemanship everywhere in the world so no matter where we go, there are people that we can connect with."

Cattle Cait is a leather craftsman, artist, clothing designer and Western style influencer. “So many of us live so remotely, and this was an event that we were representing all those Canadian women, we were honouring them, and honouring those that came before us. It had a really 'feel good' vibe about it. We sure saw a lot of Canadians, and we can be proud of what we can offer.”

Plans are underway for another Art of the Cowgirl in 2021.

The Wild Ones A documentary series featuring Xeni Gwet’in (pronounced honey gwaa teen) cowboys and their efforts to protect the area’s wild horses is airing on History.

The First Nation’s efforts to save these wild horses was filmed in 2019 in the Nemiah Valley and at the Williams Lake Stampede.

There are 10, one-hour episodes in the series.

Featured in the series are Xeni Gwet’in Chief Jimmy Lulua, Howard Lulua, Amanda Lulua, Roy Mulvahill, Emery Phillips, Mike “Hawk” Hawkridge and Michael Lares.

In an interview with the Williams Lake Tribune (wltribune.com), Chief Jimmy Lulua said the most exciting thing about the series is the exposure his community, the Tsilhqot’in Nation (pronounced like Si coat een) and Williams Lake.

“I think it is a great opportunity to show a bit of who we are,” he said. “Tsilhqot’in people were known as horse people before contact."

Lulua said The Wild Ones will showcase the beauty of the 1,700 km2 the Tsilhqot’in Nation won in the 2014 Supreme Court rights and title decision.

As for the wild horses, he said there are about 300 in the Xeni Gwet’in area, and more than 3,000 throughout the Tsilhqot’in Nation.

The 10-part series follows Xeni Gwet’in Chief Jimmy Lulua, Howard Lulua, Amanda Lulua, Roy Mulvahill, Emery Phillips, Mike “Hawk” Hawkridge and Michael Lares

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IN THE CORRAL EMPTY SADDLES

Longtime Alberta cowgirl and rancher, Edna Munro, being attended to by a Calgary Calendar Firefighter at the 2019 Cowgirl Cattle Co. Rendezvous

Cowgirl Rendezvous Cowgirls love a good party! Combine that zest for life with fundraising for a worthy cause, add in a great meal prepared and served by Calgary firefighters (including the Calendar Firefighters), and you’ve got a night to remember.

The Cowgirl Cattle Company is a group of like-minded women who share a background in the agricultural industry, mainly ranching and rodeo, and its mission is to promote Western values and heritage.

This year, the 22nd Annual Cowgirl Cattle Company Rendezvous is slated for May 2 at the Madden Community Hall in the community of Madden, Alta. The Calgary firefighters are cooking and serving an Alberta beef supper with all the trimmings. They prepare the meal from scratch, including desserts, right at the Hall, serve the meal, and run the bar.

Along with the Calendar Firefighters, this year, the Cowgirls are featuring the short documentary, Guardians of the Grasslands, filmed at the Waldron Grazing Co-op, showing how native grassland is an endangered ecosystem and that it must be grazed by cattle to be maintained.

The charities that the Cowgirls support include Children’s Wish Foundation, STARS, Alberta Children’s Hospital, Canadian Cancer Society, Breast Cancer, Heart & Stroke Foundation and the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society.

Heading to the World Championship

Norbert Kenneth Stoll Oct 6, 1961–Jan 2, 2020

A friend to many and known to all, in the cowboy world Norbert was perhaps best known for his equine and travel photography. An enthusiastic promoter and photographer of cowboy poetry, haying with horses, and the wilderness of his beloved Fort St. John, B.C., region, Norbert’s imagery was frequently published in many international publications, including Canadian Cowboy Country.

Dean Edge catching bids at VJV; this summer he will be heading to the World Auctioneering Championship in Tennessee

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PHOTOS BY COWGIRL CATTLE CO., DONNA SMITH, DEAN EDGE

Congratulations to Dean Edge of Rimbey, Alta., who was named Champion at the 2020 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) Midwestern Regional Qualifying Event.

Stockmen’s Livestock, Inc., Yankton, S.D., hosted the final of three WLAC qualifying events in January. Some 31 contestants competed for a top-ten placing, granting them a spot in the 2020 WLAC Semi-Finals at Dickson Regional Livestock Center, Inc. in Dickson, Tenn.

Edge, who has competed off and on since 2002, was Reserve at the 2019 WLAC Championship and made Top 10 in 2018. He says the win gives him a boost of confidence going into the 2020 WLAC contest.

“I can now go into June knowing that I can place at the top,” Edge says.

Edge attended Western College of Auctioneering in 1999 and began working as an auctioneer at Vold, Jones & Vold Auction in Rimbey, Alta., upon graduation.

Although his sights are set on obtaining the 2020 title, Edge believes his most rewarding experiences as an auctioneer don’t come from a contest win.

“When a customer comes up and thanks you for working so hard for them, you feel as though you are the one getting the cheque. It keeps me going.” Edge was sponsored by Vold, Jones & Vold Auction Co., Rimbey, Alta.

Judges for each qualifying event are livestock market owners, managers, dealers and/or allied industry members from across the United States. Other Canadian contestants who competed were Frederick Bodnarus, Saskatoon, Sask., and Albert Carroll, Downeyville, Ont.

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

GIDDY UP

WITH GREG SHANNON

Horse Woman Notes on Living Well & Riding Better Life on a ranch is lived in seasons, and author Lee MacLean — who is indeed a well-regarded horsewoman from southern Alberta — understands that better than most. Her book, Horse Woman, Notes on Living Well & Riding Better, is not so much a “how-to” book, although there is good, solid advice on many of the pages, as it is a good read of her thought-provoking journey that takes (many) of us back to the days when “shadowy men did horse deals by the lights of their pickup trucks.”

Lee’s book, like ranch life, has been divided into the four seasons, creating a loose framework to corral her writings on a myriad of subjects that touch on horses, past and present, ranch life, hardship, luck, joy and second chances.

Long-time readers of Canadian Cowboy will recognise Lee’s name; she wrote a fabulous article on riding sidesaddle for us a few years back. Since then you’ve heard her name a lot in regards to sidesaddle racing at the Calgary Stampede. Her credibility is hard-earned and welldeserved, and it’s a delight to discover that her book is a result of a lifetime of journaling, a habit she began at eight years old. Whether you ride every day or just dream of riding, this book is for you.

Horse Woman, Notes on Living Well & Riding Better by Lee MacLean.

Softcover, 207 pages. Published by Red Barn Books, RedBarnBooks.ca.

An Art and Photography Experience

Welcome, Ivan Daines!

My old pal Duane Steele and I recently had the privilege to induct our older (and more distinguished) friend, Ivan Daines, into the ACMA Hall of Fame. Here’s an excerpt from our introduction to the Alberta Cowboy Legend: In 1966, the boy who once rode his horse to school in Innisfail attended schools in Wyoming and San Luis Obispo’s Cal Poly. Historians are unsure whether Ivan received his business diploma then, but confirmed that he grabbed an intercollegiate Saddle Bronc title! In 1970, Ivan was in his prime as a pro, winning the average at the NFR in Oklahoma City. He stuffed his Wranglers with gas money and the BIG beautiful belt buckle he wears to this day!

According to Spirit of the West’s Hugh McLennan, Ivan, a licensed pilot, probably started flying to rodeos because no one would carpool with him. Ivan loved to take in the scenery while multi-tasking with his original Blackberry, a huge binder of contacts, and could often be seen happily swerving down the road to the next performance. Ivan and World Champion, Chris LeDoux, were thick as thieves, playing guitar, singing, and selling their cassettes off the back of a half-ton tailgate.

For nearly a half-century, the Ivan Daines Friends & Heroes Pick-Nic has showcased country music talent from yesterday, today and tomorrow, and featured such legends as Tommy Hunter, Hank Snow, Ian Tyson and Pam Tillis. The annual event was a launching pad for aspiring singers like Gord Bamford, Brett Kissel, Michelle Wright, Patricia Conroy, a 12-year-old Terri Clark and her eventual Mercury/Polygram label-mate, Duane Steele. Duane recalls settling up after a performance and the shock when Ivan pulled off his boot to yank out a wrinkled cheque! Duane and I joke that it’s the first-ever mobile banking transaction!

Ivan Daines, welcome to the Builder Category of the Association of Country Music in Alberta!

Cowboys, Characters and Candids

PHOTO BY JEN RUSH

April 17–28, 2020 Cre8ery Gallery & Studio‎ 125 Adelaide Street Winnipeg, MB

— Greg Shannon, 840 CFCW Morning Show Co-Host

Cowboys, Characters & Candids is a uniquely creative exhibit combining the roots-based art of “Diamond” Doug Keith and the urban grittiness and charm that are the photos of Teena Legris. Cre8ery.com

Email Greg with column suggestions: greg@cfcw.com Hear Greg Shannon & Co-Host Stella Stevens weekday mornings on 840 CFCW! cowboycountrymagazine.com

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SPIRIT OF THE WEST | HUGH MCLENNAN

Spirit of the West cruisers; in front to the left of the banner are the new hosts, Mark and Kathy McMillan; to the right are Billie and Hugh McLennan

“S

o, how long do you folks want to keep doing this?” That was the question from Jim Bell, the guy who has organized The Spirit of West Cruise for 20 years. At that time we thought we’d go on forever.

When Billie and I agreed to host the first one 20 years ago, we had no idea that it would become a project that would see us sharing incredible adventures, heartwarming conversations and developing life-long friendships.

We'll remember sharing stories with folks like rodeo Legend, Bob Robinson, in the ship’s dining room, listening in to Jack Daines holding court with his savvy insights into the cattle industry and then later, watching him clean up at blackjack in the ship’s casino. I’ll never forget seeing the rodeo pickup team of Lanny Bristow and Gerald West strolling on the beach at Grand Cayman Island. The temperature was about 12

95 °F, and they were comfortable in their “Let’s invite the whole group up to our place Wranglers, boots, leather vests, neck rags at the start of the trip... hence the name, 'The and black felt hats. There are hundreds of Spirit of the West Brings it Home.'" highlights, way too many to list.

The group will gather at our little ranch One of the most significant things we in the hills above Kamloops on July 16 felt about every trip was the camaraderie for lunch and a concert with the Western created by sharing our pride in our way Spirit Band. If she’s still up to it, there will of life with the entire group. It seems that be a special appearance from “Lucky the folks who have worked hard for everything Wonder Horse.” The group will then head they have and feel a sense of satisfaction to beautiful Sun Peaks for the evening, with what they have accomplished in the then bus to Vancouver where we’ll board face of the adversity that is a part of farm Holland America’s Koningsdam for a sevenand ranch life have a special bond. The day cruise to Alaska and back. laughter, the hugs, the tears and the joy will But it's not the end of the Spirit of the warm our hearts as long as we’re around.

West Cruises — they will continue. Taking An unforgettable part of every cruise has over the hosting duties will be the longbeen sharing our beloved music of the West time Spirit of the West support crew, Mark under the stars with musicians like Ed Peake, and Kathy McMillan. Mark has assembled who knows every cowboy song in the world, a fascinating collection of cruise memories, the easy-flowing fiddles of Don Howard and and you can see them on our cruise page at Reg Evans, Bev Felker on keyboards, and hugh-mclennan.com. c many others like Bill Lamport and Wayne Terpsma who have added their voices.

Cattle rancher and horse trainer Hugh McLennan and his wife, Billie, run their cattle in the beautiful So to address Jim’s question: Billie and rangeland outside of Kamloops, B.C. Hugh is the I have decided that the 2020 cruise will be host of the multi-award-winning weekly radio our farewell voyage, and we wanted to make program, Spirit of the West, heard across Canada and the U.S. this one something special. Billie spent a few sleepless nights thinking about it, and when I woke up one morning, she said, Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

PHOTO BY COURTESY THE SPIRIT OF THE WEST

The Spirit of the West Brings it Home

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13

Longhorn Freight Train

H

ere’s an embarrassing story from a Texas Longhorn encounter I had. A long time ago, when the earth was mostly green, I had a girlfriend with more kinds of animals than you’ve ever seen.

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There were three kids, numerous dogs and cats (including a Siamese that peed on my arm), maybe 100 or so Longhorn cattle, around 25 horses, 50-some sheep, seven bottle-fed lambs and two goats. The only thing missing was the unicorn.

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

ILLUSTRATION BY “DIAMOND” DOUG KEITH

SOME DAYS ARE DIAMOND | “DIAMOND” DOUG KEITH

She had her operation and several other businesses running slicker ’n calf slobber.

Her kids would step in if something came up when Mom was off the ranch. They knew just the way Mom would want it done; I, on the other hand, didn’t, and was continually screwing up.

The traumatising tale I’ll relate to you still gives me nightmares. You see, my old girlfriend was running out of grass, so she had rented some land a few miles away and moved her cattle and horses over there, except a few horses to use at home. She asked if I wanted to come and feed chop to the cattle and check on the horses and fencing. Of course, I responded, “Sounds fun!”

We loaded the chop into the back of her one-ton dually and took off for the rented land. The first thing I wanted to check was the fence. There was one short section where the fence was entirely shot, so we had put up a temporary electric fence and attached it to a car battery for juice. (In my head, I thought that would have less power than a regular fence charger, but I found out after I touched it this was not the case.)

By this time, the cattle had gathered around the truck and were jockeying for position at the bovine drive-thru.

I said, “I am going to sneak through that bush line and see if I can see the horses over there.” There was plenty of bush, and I had to walk purt’ near to the middle of the pasture before I could see them. All of a sudden I heard the bush rustling and branches cracking — and here came the matriarch of the herd on the run, shaking her 6–7 foot long horns at me. I couldn’t outrun her.

First, I yelled and took an aggressive stance. The cow stopped — briefly. I could see her giving me the ol’ stink eye and then with a beller, the run was back on. Just as I was about to be freight trained by this protective momma, my friend veered the cow away from me with the truck.

I understand that Longhorns are historically significant — I get it. That, and the fact they can live a month on six inches of grass and a glass of water while travelling dozens of miles a day makes them a marvel.

However, my time with Longhorns — and that relationship — is over. c “Diamond” Doug Keith is a poet, storyteller, Leanin’ Tree cowboy cartoonist, Western painter and preacher. He offers his unique take on everyday cowboy life through poem, story and art. Doug has been featured in several documentaries.

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WHEEL TO WHEEL | BILLY MELVILLE

New Kids on the Block With so much on the line, drivers always feel more comfortable hiring experienced hands, but that doesn’t mean that an experienced rider is always going to be penalty-free, just like it doesn’t mean that a young rider is going to cause a penalty.

Back in 2014, one of the most significant awards at the annual WPCA banquet was not handed out — the buckle for Top Rookie Outrider. Since the Calgary Stampede and the Ponoka Stampede went from four outriders to two starting in 2011, it looked like the sport could be in trouble in the outrider pen as not as many opportunities would be available for young outriders. For sustainability, it’s always good for two or three new outriders to start in any given year, so when you have a year when not a single outrider qualifies as a rookie, it’s concerning.

To move forward, sometimes you have to look at the past, and to one man in particular, Cliff Claggett.

Cliff Claggett organised his famous barnstorming tours in the 1940s–1960s that saw chuckwagon racing branch out into Central and Eastern Canada, the Maritimes and even the Northeastern United States. Not only was he a great promotor of the sport, but a host of Canada’s top chuckwagon drivers and rodeo cowboys give Cliff Claggett credit as the one who gave them their start, or was the most influential over their careers.

Former driver and outrider Deryle Mullaney was just 17 when he went out on the road with Cliff Claggett. As Mullaney explained, “Cliff Claggett was the kind of man who would let young people do things.

That’s where a lot of us young guys (Dallas

Dorchester, Doyle Mullaney, Tommy Glass, among others) got a lot of experience. We learned a lot from our mistakes.”

With veteran outriders Chad Cosgrave, Eddie Melville, Shawn Calf Robe, Wayne Wright and Reo King all retiring within two years, it paved the way for a new group of outriders. The door was opened for Ethan Motowylo, Brendan Nolin, Hayden Motowylo, Rory Armstrong, Quinn Langevin, Trey MacGillivray and Dayton Sutherland to prove themselves as outriders. And the new kids on the block are getting the job done and getting it done well. There aren't any more outriding penalties on the WPCA Pro Tour than there were just a few years ago with the veteran squad.

Although today’s drivers might not have been as comfortable with the young guys as Cliff Claggett was, they are giving them a shot, and the young guys are answering the call.

It’s good to see that the future of the outriding crew seems to be in good hands. c

Outriders Ethan Motowylo (front, black shirt) and Hayden Motowylo (back, black shirt) Quinn Langevin (white shirt) and Dayton Sutherland (yellow shirt) at the 2019 Calgary Stampede are some of the new kids on the block

16

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

PHOTO BY BY CAROL EASTON

O

ne thing is certain in chuckwagon racing when it comes to outriders: no outrider is foolproof. Regardless of their age or experience, again, no outrider is foolproof.

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REFLECTIONS | BRYN THIESSEN

18

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

Spiritual Buck Brush /// And my thoughts kind of drift as a gentle breeze blows and I wonder what life was like say even 60 years ago…

I wrote these words about 35 years ago. It was late May and a dry spring, so I was able to haul some stock salt with the team and wagon back into a meadow on some lease land. Most years the trail was too wet until later in the season for a wagon, so a packhorse was the method of transport.

After setting out the salt, I took time to look over the changes. Earlier in the winter we had some of the willows and bog birch (locally called buck brush) dozed and piled. The resulting clearing not only allowed increased forage, but it could also give the surrounding area a chance to dry out some. (Sort of like a politician having the opportunity to tell the truth.) In the ensuing years, the grass quality and quantity improved. As for the surrounding area, there were too many springs, so they stayed wet; the politicians, you decide. I don’t want to leave you with that thought so let’s cross the ridge to a different watershed.

About 10 years before I wrote these words, I was talking with Albert Helmer. He’d grown up on the place and had seen the first 30-some years of changes. I asked him why they had settled where they did. (By this point the hills were all covered in pine and spruce, the flats were mostly aspen and willow — not much natural grasslands.) Albert told me when they were first settled in the early ’30s, the trees on the hills were 10 feet high and 15 feet apart. There was very little underbrush and the aspens were just starting to encroach on the

meadows. The whole country had burned off in 1912, and probably earlier, resulting in a natural brush control.

In the early ’60s Hugh Munns, the next owner, cleared about 60 acres, cropping it for silage. In the mid-’80s we cleared about another 100 acres — including the meadow I wrote these words from.

Also in the ’90s some of the marketable timber on hills had been harvested, resulting in, for a while, increased forage. Still in all, the clearing that’s been done, unless something different is seeded, it returns to its former state.

If we follow the watershed down into the pastures of our life, we find the same things hold true.

Just as we remove trees and brush to increase the capacity for more desirable forage, we make “clearings” in our journey through life to allow the same.

And just like in nature, we have dormant weed seeds and the roots from our past that reach out from the edges. We can make changes, but unless we plant something, preferably better, it returns to what it was.

If we saddle up that thought and ride it on our spiritual circle, and look for some seeds of change to plant, try Philippians 4:8 — “Finally hands, graze your thoughts on pasture that’s been seeded with, truth and honour; respect and goodness, and water that’s pure and wholesome. Let them fill up on grass of the greatest value, and they’ll grow right.” (My words.) c

Bryn Thiessen is a rancher, poet, cowboy and preacher at Cowboy Trail Church in Cochrane. Bryn and his wife Bonny market grass-fattened beef from their Helmer Creek Ranch southwest of Sundre, Alta.

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19

TRAILBLAZERS

PEOPLE WHO SHAPED THE WEST

Hank Snow The Singing Ranger

By FRED HAUCK

W

///

hen we think of singing cowboys, we think Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, and here in Canada, we add Wilf Carter (also known as Montana Slim) and Clarence Eugene Snow. If the name C.E. Snow doesn’t ring a bell, maybe his stage name of Hank Snow might.

20

Hank Snow, Canada’s Singing Ranger

attracted Hank. He learned Jimmie’s songs but dressed the part in a 10-gallon hat and chaps.

His first radio job was at CHNS in Halifax. He was hired to do a daily radio show, and his theme song was Jimmie Rodgers’ “Yodelling Cowboy.”

A superb self-taught guitarist, Hank also taught lessons. While in Nova Scotia, he married his wife, Minnie, and they would remain married for 55 years. They soon had their only child, Jimmie Rodgers Snow, named after Hank’s idol.

In 1936, Hank made his first recording for Victor on the Bluebird label (later RCA Victor) in Montreal. The first two songs were “Lonesome Blue Yodel” and “The Prisoned Cowboy.” The name on the record was Hank, The Yodeling Ranger.

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

PHOTOS COURTESY FRED HAUCK COLLECTION

Hank Snow was born May 9, 1914, in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia. When he was eight, his parents separated, and the local Overseer of the Poor removed the children from her home because of her inability to support them. One sister moved in with an aunt, the other two were sent to separate foster homes, and Snow himself went to live with his paternal grandmother, a cruel woman who ordered him never to mention his mother’s name and subjected him to severe beatings as well as psychological abuse. Snow would sneak away to visit his mother in nearby Liverpool and eventually, after his grandmother failed to get him sent to reform school, he was allowed to rejoin his mother.

At age 12 he went to sea as a cabin boy. Four years later, during a gale, the schooner was almost shipwrecked on Sable Island and that was the end of his fishing career. Having no home to go to, he spent many nights sleeping in the Liverpool train station.

One of his waterfront jobs was unloading salt. Hank purchased his first guitar — a $5.95 T. Eaton Special with his earnings. While in Nova Scotia he heard recordings of the “Old Blue Yodeler,” Jimmie Rodgers. Hank took an instant liking to the singer. Jimmie sang about trains, dressed as an engineer and the fact that he worked on railroads, got him the name The Singing Brakeman. Jimmie also did western songs and dressed as a cowboy. The cowboy image

ABOVE: Hank Snow, a superb guitar player, performing on the Grand Ole Opry with his custom, mother-of-pearl inlaid guitar and wearing one of his many “suit of lights” custom made by the famous designer, Nudie Cohn BELOW: Hank Snow, who rose from poverty to having his image on a Canadian stamp as one of Canada’s most celebrated and successful singer/songwriters

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The recordings continued, and some became popular in Canada.

Meanwhile, his voice deepened, and he could no longer yodel. RCA told Hank that he needed a new name, so he decided on “Hank the Singing Ranger.” This he kept until the end.

During this time, Hank bought a pinto horse he called Shawnee from Elmer Newman of Pennsylvania. The horse was partially trained, and Hank finished the training and went on the road with his young wife and son as part of the show. Hank bought a truck with a van body to haul Shawnee. The horse was a featured attraction, and his greatest trick featured Hank standing on the saddle spinning a lariat around the both of them, while Shawnee twirled a small lasso with his mouth.

Hank went to Dallas, Texas, and landed a spot on radio station KRLD. At the time, his hit was “Brand On My Heart.” While there he became friends with Ernest Tubb who told him that he needed to be on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Ernest took some 78’s down to WSM Radio, and they gave Hank a shot on January 7, 1950. He sang “Brand On My Heart.” The crowd was not too receptive and Hank’s trial period was almost over when, as Hank had often said, “the good Lord guided my pen as I wrote, 'I'm Movin' On,' and that saved the day.”

The song hit number 1 and stayed there for 21 weeks. This feat stayed unchallenged until another Canadian, Shania Twain, broke the record some 50 years later.

With Hank’s new success, he bought his first and only home in Maddison, Tenn., that he named Rainbow Ranch. Hank’s band was called “the Rainbow Ranch Boys” — both throwbacks again to Jimmie Rodgers. It had a barn for Shawnee and room to roam.

“I’m Moving On” was the first of Hank’s seven number-1 hits on the country charts. That same year “The Golden Rocket” and “Rhumba Boogie” both hit number 1. Along with these hits, his other signature song was “I’ve Been Everywhere.” Hank was hot, and he went on tour. In the early ’50s, Hank discovered Elvis and put him on his shows as his opening act.

During his career, Hank recorded 800 songs on 140 albums, which sold over 80 million copies and charted more than 85 singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980. His number 1 hits include the self-penned songs “I’m Moving On,” “The Golden Rocket” and “Rhumba Boogie” plus famous versions of “I Don’t Hurt Anymore,” “Let Me Go, Lover,” “I’ve Been Everywhere” and “Hello Love.”

In 1978 he was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, in 1979 to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Nova Scotia Music Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985. Today, the old Liverpool train station he slept in as a child is now a museum dedicated to Hank Snow.

His autobiography, The Hank Snow Story, was published in 1994, and later The Hank Snow Country Music Centre opened in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. A victim of child abuse, he established the Hank Snow International Foundation For Prevention Of Child Abuse.

In 2014, Canada Post issued a Hank Snow postage stamp.

Hank died Dec 20, 1999, and is buried in Nashville, Tennessee.

He was 85 years old. c

21

Mongolia Wild Horses & Soaring Eagles

By ANNE STEVICK

Horses are deeply embedded within Mongolia’s culture and are an indication of a man’s wealth. The pace of life is governed by the speed of the horse, and horses are woven into Mongolian song, verse and history. Even the morin khuur — their national musical instrument — is called a “horsehead fiddle.”

Rural nomadic children are taught to ride before they can walk, and a young person’s prowess is measured by his skill as a horseman. The life of a nomad is basically unchanged since the days of the Golden Horde when Ghengis Khan’s “devil horsemen” created the largest empire the world has ever known. Even in present-day western Mongolia, near the Kazakhstan border, mounted horsemen use Golden eagles to hunt for foxes whose pelts are a significant form of income.

22

That is why my husband Quentin and I wanted to travel to Mongolia — their nomadic culture is based on livestock grazing and their traditions on horseback in the Altai Mountains. We had seen the documentary film, The Eagle Huntress, at the Fox Theatre in Pincher Creek in 2016 and vowed to someday go see the Altai Eagle Festival in person.

The 17th Annual Altai Eagle Festival was at the very end of our two-week trip and was an absolute highlight.

After a three-hour flight from Mongolia’s capital city of Ulaanbaatar (or UB as it’s known), we arrived in Bayan Ulgii (or Ulgii town), the epi-centre of two annual Eagle Festivals. With fewer than 100 eagle hunters left in western Mongolia and bordering Kazakhstan, these festivals are keeping an ancient tradition alive.

Held in a beautiful natural rock amphitheatre not far from a lake, some of the highlights of the events in the two-day festival were the parade of 60 participants, including 10 mounted eagle hunters with their eagles seated on their arms. The eagles were each hooded with “jesses” affixed (thin leather ankle tether straps), followed by 50 more hunters wearing traditional fox fur and leather coats and hats, high leather boots — each

ABOVE: Competitor with his hooded Golden eagle riding in the grand entry OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Competitors dressed in full regalia riding to the start line of Kyz Kvar

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

PHOTO COURTESY NOMADIC TRAILS/TULGA

M

ongolia is a unique area of unsurpassed geographical and human diversity, with alpine, forest, desert, steppe and lake lands populated by over 20 ethnic groups.

PHOTO COURTESY ALTAIHUNTERS / CC BY-SA (HTTPS://CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/LICENSES/BY-SA/3.0); BY ANNE STEVICK

with their Golden eagle other with near-constant perched on their arm. little chirps.

After the opening cerAnother event was emony, which included “Tiyn Teru” where riders speeches and honouring compete to pick up flags or the dignitaries such as flowers from the ground. the Eagle Huntress her(It’s similar to trick riding.) self, Aisholpan. (She rose Only 10 horses were presto fame as the subject ent, so all the contestants of the internationallyrode these 10 head. The released documentary, horses are ponies, about The Eagle Huntress, following her 12-13 hands tall but tough as nails. attempt to become the first female Most are not shod, and they fly The Golden eagle is one of the biggest and eagle hunter to compete in the up the mountain valleys with no fastest birds of prey in North America, weigheagle festival at Ulgii. Now 16, problem, carrying full-grown, 6-foot ing 2.5–7 kg/8–15 lbs and diving at speeds of Aisholpan is studying to become a tall men. over 240 kph/150 mph. It is also the world’s medical doctor.)

Mounted Archery is selfmost common official national animal and After the introductions, the explanatory. From horseback, the is an emblem for Albania, Germany, Austria, first event began — the Eagle Call. riders shoot targets that are mostly Mexico and Kazakhstan.

This event tests a hunter’s ability to big balls on the ground. This sport “call” their eagle to their horse from featured new contestants in difa distance. ferent garb. Archery is one of the Each eagle hunter’s assistant climbed way up into the cliffs with three national sports of Mongolia; the other two are horse racing the hunter’s eagle on his arm. In turn, each hunter would enter a and wrestling. designated “ring of rocks” and proceed to call to his eagle. The assisThen we saw BushKashi or Buzkashi, a popular event of tug-oftant released the eagle, and the one to land on his handler’s arm in war played on horseback with a headless goat carcass; this event is the fastest time was the winner. common throughout Central Asia.

There were a few eagles that took advantage of their freedom to Kyz Kvar or Kyz kuu is a race between a man and a woman on soar off course and land up in the crags. All eagles were eventually horseback, also known as “kiss-chase.” Both on horseback, a man retrieved, but not all expediently. These eagles are all females (the chases a woman and attempts to kiss her before the finish line. If females do all the hunting in nature) and have been trained since he is unsuccessful, the woman then chases him back towards the birth to live and hunt with their owners. The eagles are massive start line, and if he’s in range, she whips him, and that constitutes and majestic — and both the eagle and the handler “talk” to each a victory for her. The history behind this competition reflects the

Golden Eagle

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23

Competitors and their hooded Golden eagles loping across the Steppes

24

Przewalski’s Horse Equus przewalskii or Equus ferus przewalskii is a rare and endangered horse native to the steppes of central Asia. Also called the Mongolian wild horse, or Takhi, the horse is named after the Russian geographer and explorer, Nikołaj Przewalski.

We viewed the “Przewalski’s Horse” (Takhi) in Hustai National Park, a Biosphere Reserve located a couple of hours out of UB. We were able to view the small herd of over 20 head of Takhi horses from about 50 meters/150 feet). They are wild, stunning and fully protected. The Park is not fenced, but because of the horses’ natural selection, they do not wander too far from their birthplace.

The breed was almost lost. By the end of the 1950s, only 12 horses were left in the world. Through careful selection to avoid inbreeding, zoos from around the globe saved this horse from extinction and are being reintroduced to the wild.

In 2005, the status of the Takhi horse was changed from “extinct in the wild” to “endangered”.

PHOTOS COURTESY NOMADIC TRAILS/TULGA; BY ANNE STEVICK

culture. Mongolian girls are shy and chaste, so when a young suitor steals a kiss from a girl, she is mortified and chases him on horseback. Only two teams competed; we think the first couple was married because she seemed to really enjoy beating on the man.

The second day of the Altai Eagle Festival didn’t go as planned. As our guide explained, “In Mongolia there are two times: before noon and afternoon.”

Eventually, things got underway, and the first event was another test of a hunter’s ability to communicate with his eagle. The hunter would drag a fox skin behind his horse, and his eagle must attack it.

This event featured the top 16 placing eagles from the eagle call event on the first day. The assistant again carried the eagle high up the mountain and released when the eagle hunter called from below. In this event, the eagles were very focused, and every eagle soared down and attacked the fox pelt.

The rest of the day was intense competition deciding the champions of Kyz Kvar, Tiyn Teru (using the same 10 horses) and BushKashi, definitely the highlight of the day. These finalists were serious; after all, this was for the title of Champion Goat Puller for the next 365 days.

No prize money, just prestige.

At all times during the Festival, the eagle hunters were willing to pose with their eagles singly or in groups of six to ten, or on horseback for the barrage of photographer’s present. There were no hands out for money because understandably, they were all very proud of their ancient culture and Kazakh heritage. c

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TOFIELD, ALTA. | APRIL 11 POSTPONED Indoor CPRA Bull Riding Event presented by BHD Tubular in association with Tofield Agricultural Society. See 30 bull riders from Western Canada and USA competing for $10,000 in added prize money.

780–662–3269 | TofieldAlberta.ca

TOFIELD SODBUSTER RODEO

TOFIELD, ALTA. | MAY 29–31 Outdoor amateur rodeo presented by BHD Tubular. Fri night Promenade (Street Fair). Weekend events include Pancake Breakfast, Saturday Dance with live band, Cowboy Church (Sunday) Beer Gardens, Concession and more!

780–662–3269 | TofieldAlberta.ca

ROCKY MOUNTAIN EASTERN SLOPES, ALTA. This summer — avoid the crowds.

For 88 years the Alberta Outfitters Association has represented trail riding on the Eastern slopes of the Rockies. Each of our 23 member outfitters offers something different, suiting different tastes and preferences. Explore spectacular landscapes from Waterton Lakes National Park to the Willmore Wilderness in the company of a trusted horse and a handful of kindred spirits.

Mention Canadian Cowboy Country magazine and get 10 per cent off your adventure with participating outfitters. albertaoutfitters.com

TOWN OF MAPLE CREEK

MAPLE CREEK, SASK. Voted Canada’s Most Western Town, the soul of Maple Creek is pure cowboy. Two impressive museums trace the town’s beginnings to the NWMP, the railroad, and a cast of wild and colourful characters who made this town. Maple Creek features the most-envied but never copied Battle of the Little Big Puck fundraising hockey game, the oldest, continuously run Ranch Rodeo in Canada, plus a wealth of many equine and rodeo events.

Maple Creek is also the gateway to the sacred and many-storied Cypress Hills.

306–662–4005 | MapleCreek.ca 30

Tyler Lybbert and his steer, Jasper

VALLEYVIEW AG SOCIETY

VALLEYVIEW, ALTA. | AUGUST 7–9 Come to the annual Crocus Hill Stampede Aug 7–9. Aug 7 features the Parade, Cowboy Challenge, Chili Supper and Jackpot Roping. Wild Rose Assoc. rodeo action Aug 8–9 at 2 pm.

Also: Pancake Breakfast, local & Junior events, Family Fun Zone, Bench Show, WRA Rodeo, Specialty Act Tyler Lybbert and his steer, Jasper, Beer Gardens, Mini Broncs, Mutton Bustin’ & Rodeo Dance.

780–524–3473 | ValleyviewAgSociety.ca FB: Crocus Hill Stampede Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

PHOTOS COURTESY TOWN OF MAPLE CREEK; VALLEYVIEW AG SOCIETY

ALBERTA OUTFITTERS ASSOCIATION

Explore an authentic Cowboy Way of life at

La Reata Ranch is an authentic working cattle guest ranch located on Lake Diefenbaker.

Our guests experience the cowboy way of life including lots of horseback riding on our well trained quarter horses. It will fill your heart and draw you back to this special place.

45 minutes North of Swift Current 306-375-2291 | 375-2225 | lareata.com

MillarvilleRacetrack.com 403.931.3411

“The first time, it’s a vacation. After that, it’s coming home.”

Just 4 hours north of Vancouver 1-800-553-3533 www.sundanceguestranch.com saddleup@sundanceguestranch.com cowboycountrymagazine.com

31

COWBOY COUNTRY VACATION GUIDE

Special Advertising Feature

LA REATA RANCH

KYLE, SASK. Imagine yourself stepping into a visually stunning, open landscape warmed by the sun. Located steps from your cabin is a bright blue lake. Take a deep breath of air so fresh you can taste it. Enjoy the scent of a delicious home-cooked meal being prepared for your enjoyment. Now listen... you will hear the sound of hooves as guests go for an evening ride…

306–375–2225 | LaReataRanch.com

82ND ANNUAL FRONTIER DAYS

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1–866–BIKTRIX | Biktrix.ca

SWIFT CURRENT, SASK. | JUNE 24—27 The Swift Current Ag & Ex is dedicated to enhancing the lives of folks with agriculture, entertainment, sport, and culture. Strap on your cowboy boots, put on your cowboy hat and come join us in celebrating 82 years of Frontier Days, June 24—27 at Kinetic Park in Swift Current. The greatest show in the Southwest, Frontier Days and CCA Rodeo boasts the second biggest outdoor rodeo and fair in Saskatchewan. Come out for livestock and equine events, midway, concerts, and more! The Chute is Always Open!

SwiftCurrentEx.com

53RD EDITION FESTIVAL WESTERN DE ST-TITE

CM RUSSELL MUSEUM

SAINT-TITE, QUE | SEPTEMBER 11–20 Each year the Festival Western de St-Tite, brings together over 600,000 people who travel from all over the world to experience the real “cowboy spirit.” Every edition stands out with its unique country and new country music shows, electrifying atmosphere and professional rodeos. In 2019, the Festival Western de St-Tite won the IPRA’s annual “Best Outdoor Rodeo in North America” award for the 21st year in a row.

1–877–493–7837 | FestivalWestern.com

32

GREAT FALLS, MONT. The Art & Soul of the American West The C. M. Russell Museum features the incredible art and life of the “cowboy’s artist,” Charles M. Russell. The museum also hosts his contemporaries, and the art of preceding and ensuing generations that depicts and focuses on the culture, life and country of Russell’s West. This stunning museum is also the home to an exciting array of art-inspired events.

C.M. Russell Museum, 400 13th St N, Great Falls, Mont.

406–727–8787 | CMRussell.org Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

PHOTO COURTESY ALBERTA OUTFITTERS ASSOCIATION

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780-662-3269 tofieldalberta.ca

SODBUSTER RODEO May 29 – 31 Outdoor co-sanctioned rodeo.

Promenade, Pancake Breakfast, Rodeo Dance, Cowboy Church and more!

AFB FREESTYLE BULLFIGHTING & MINI BRONC RIDING WITH GUNS OF THE GOLDEN WEST WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 - 7 PM

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Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

COWBOY WAY

ADVANCED CATTLE HANDLING

Give Them Time To Get Ready To Go

By DYLAN BIGGS

A

s a kid, I was taught that my job moving cattle, regardless of class or the situation, was to get the cattle going and to keep them going. Of course, in a broad sense, this is correct. The trouble comes though when the pressure we apply to get the cattle going isn’t adjusted or relieved once they are going.

I used to think I had to keep pushing, that was the job, that was what I was there for, or else the cattle would stop.

cowboycountrymagazine.com

35

COWBOY WAY

ADVANCED CATTLE HANDLING

There are some situations where one does need to keep asking for movement.

When you have to move cows across ungrazed pastures, especially green spring pastures, to get to where you are going. It is almost inevitable that given a chance, the herd will stop to graze, and all movement will stop. In this case, constant pressure is quite often a necessity. Cows can graze on the move though, and I don’t mind that at all as long as they are going. I actually prefer that kind of move — especially with yearlings. Another situation that requires constant driving pressure is when deer flies, horse flies or mosquitos are bad. If you are driving a herd with the wind, those cattle won’t want to go. In fact, they will want to turn around and go upwind. In this situation, you are going to have to really work to keep that herd going.

In my experience, most often once a herd is going, we can get out from behind and move off to the side and let the cattle go, and just go along with them. When training a herd of fresh yearlings to drive on open range, this is actually a very important step. They need to learn that they can simply move along and that we

from, no incessant bother, just a nice, calm walk.

The other circumstance that took me a while to learn to relieve my pressure and let cattle go is when you are driving very young cow-calf pairs. Moving even one cow with a day or a two-day-old calf can be really easy, or it can be a real chore. The trick is to pressure the cow just enough that she wants to leave and take her calf with her. Anyone who has moved new pairs has experienced the situation where you ask the cow and calf to go, and the cow leaves without her calf.

Then you get the calf up to get it to follow the cow that may have gone a little ways and has since stopped and is looking back at her calf, or the cow is just walking away, so we start pushing the calf with our knee to get it going — and the more you push, the more it leans back into you. If the cow is nervous and doesn’t trust us and we are that close to her calf, she

“If you are driving a herd with the wind,

those cattle won’t want to go. In fact, they will want to turn around and go upwind. In this

situation, you are going to have to really work

36

to keep that herd going.” can go along with them, and everything is okay. The pressure is off and everybody can just walk along. This teaches them that there is no pressure to get away

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

won’t come back to take it, and there we are left pushing the calf along behind the mother to keep it going.

If you watch calves learning to nurse right after birth, you will see that the instinct of the calf when she brushes up against the cow is to push into the cow, or when the cow brushes up against the calf, the calf pushes or leans into the cow.

This is an instinctive physical response programmed into the calf, so it pushes into the cow and eventually finds a teat to nurse on. It ensures the calf sticks to mom to learn to nurse and to learn to follow her as it gets mobile.

I remember many a time calling these calves stupid or worse. I was trying to push them along or up to their mom, and every time I pushed on them, they would push with all their weight back into my knee.

It was so frustrating. Turns out I was the stupid one.

cowboycountrymagazine.com

I have learned that the cow does a much better job of taking her calf with her.

Over the years I have seen many vigorous Angus calves only hours old walk a mile or more with mom with absolutely no problem, but when we are the ones asking them to go then all of a sudden it is a struggle.

The trick is to just get close enough to the cow that she gets up and/or starts to think about leaving; maybe even back off a bit. Then, wait for the cow to get her calf up and give her time to take her calf with her, and then don’t keep pushing, don’t pressure her anymore, just go along with her and her calf at a distance that she is comfortable with.

If the cow does leave without her calf, back off far enough that the cow will come back and get her baby. In my experience over-pressuring new cow-calf pairs causes most of the problems I used

to have when pairing out or moving new pairs. Once I learned to use just enough pressure to get the cow thinking about leaving and giving her time to get her calf up and going with her, it became a much easier job.

There is a time to push, and there is a time to let the cattle go so you can just walk along with them. Often, we feel pressed for time, but with animals the reality is that, more often than not, our impatience gets rewarded with more problems, and in the end, the time we hoped we were saving ends up being wasted.

Animals need time — especially new cowcalf pairs, just like when my dear wife and I had toddlers, it always took longer to get ready to go.

I hope everyone has a very successful and enjoyable calving season! c

37

WHAT WORKS FOR US

MSW Organic Farms Owners: Mark and Kristina Stewart Nearest Town: Ponoka, Alta.

Established: 2000 Elevation: 807 m (2,650 ft) Annual Precipitation: 355 mm (14 inches) average rain (not including the melt)

Making Your Mark

Size: 2,000 acres

By TERRI MASON

R

anching in Western Canada takes on many faces, but one thing ranchers know is that tags may come and go — but a brand is forever. Even today, hundreds of years after cattle first stepped onto North American shores, a well-applied brand is still the fastest way to identify a breeder or an owner — especially from a distance.

DELAYED BRANDING MARK STEWART

Our Longhorns calve out on the 200-acre calving field. They start calving about the middle of April. There’s no night checking, and I’m excited to go out every morning. Calving is pretty easy over here.

The first two weeks of July, I bring all the cows and calves in and the calves get their RFID tag, an eight-way shot and dewormer, then they go back out to pasture.

38

We don’t brand our calves until they’re about a year old.

For our purposes, we find that the brands get too big. We have our brand plus the number brand that has to go on, and it’s hard to get a 2” brand that does not grow into something monstrously big. What works best for us is we brand when the animal is about a year old. We know which animals we are keeping for our herd.

There are many ways to do it, but how we brand for the association we register our Longhorns with is that the first calf born gets the number 1 and the year underneath on the left hip. So last year's calves will be branded 1 over 19, the second will get 2 over

Cattle/Herd size: 170 cows/30 bulls/15, 5-yr-old trophy (lead) steers Website: mswfarms.com Cattle brand graphic and location: MST (LR)

19, and so on. We know the order because when they are born, I tag them with the needed info such as mother, sire, and which breeding group they were in.

An interesting thing about Longhorns is that you can breed the same cow to the same bull for a decade and get a completely different coloured calf every year. Another thing is that their horns grow immensely, especially during the first three years of their life.

I’ve spent a lot of money bringing great genetics for horns out of the U.S. Last year's calves are almost a year old, and they’ve already got a good 10” of horn coming out each side. I’m well-known for having some Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

PHOTO COURTESY MARK STEWART

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2020 COMMUNITY EVENTS

Hill Country Clothing 306-662-5010

Willowbend Motel

willowbendmotelsk.com 306-662-2555

und & Cabins Showdown in Cowtown Willowbend Campgro willowbendcampground.com 2020 16-18, July 306-662-3006

Heritage Festival July 4, 2020

Cobble Creek Lodge cobblecreeklodge.com 306-662-5100

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cowboycountrymagazine.com

June 20 - Fort Walsh Rotgut Run July 1 - Canada Day Celebrations July 4 - Heritage Festival July 4 - Ranch Rodeo July 12 - Murraydale Stampede & Picnic July 16 - Indian Relay Race & Bull Riding July 17 & 18 - CCA Rodeo & Parade August 8 - Maple Creek Demolition Derby August 15 - Fly-in Breakfast August 15 - Taste of Maple Creek August 15 - Creek Classic’s Show’n’Shine August 15 & 16 - Maple Creek Light Horse Show September 18, 19 & 20- Cowboy Poetry Gathering November 28 & 29 - Piapot Lions Gun & Hobby Show December 10 - Cowtown Christmas 2021 Events January 2021 - Piapot Lions Antique & Collectables Show February 2021 - Battle of the Little Big Puck

39

WHAT WORKS FOR US of the best horned cattle in Western Canada because I’ve spent the last 12 years improving the horn genetics.

I get phone calls every week from people looking for horns, skulls — it’s a very big part of the market, and they range in price from $100–$3,000. Everyone’s trying to get rid of horns, and I’m trying to increase horns because it’s a part of our profit.

However, with really cold weather, we have to worry about frozen horns. We have a pasture that is heavily treed with spruce,

NOT YOUR TYPICAL RANCHER DUSTIN GONNET

I’m not sure I’m the guy you want to interview. Last year I ran cattle from Cochrane to our home area. This year I’ll have cattle in the Priddis area. I’m still trying to find more country…

I’m not really your conventional rancher.

I sold my entire cowherd last year and bought a whole bunch of calves. But the way this market is, it doesn’t mean I couldn’t be calving cows next month because I could get a good deal and buy 100 cows next week. It’s whatever I think I can make money at.

However, as far as ranching goes, we do consistently breed heifers every year, and they are black. We run black bulls with

and that’s where we move them if the forecast is bad. But still, out of that long deep freeze we had last winter (-30 – -40°C) we had five cows freeze their horns. It takes about six months for them to fall off — and they don’t grow back.

When we are branding our yearlings, the horns do create difficulties. See, a five-yearold cow with a big set of horns knows how to manoeuvre without smacking them, but the yearlings don’t know yet how to move without hitting their horns. And, because

they’re yearlings, we use a squeeze for our brandings.

Longhorns are fascinating, and they are a multi-stream income, from horns to skulls to hides to their meat. In 1987, Texas A&M did a study: grass-finished Longhorn meat is leaner than all other meats, including turkey, chicken, buffalo and venison. Plus, they’re just nice cattle to be around — and that’s what works for us.”

them, and then I sell them in the fall. After they’re bred, we ship them to wherever I have grass.

That’s the other “fun” part of being a rancher these days; getting a long-term lease is getting harder and harder to find.

We had grass in Saskatchewan and some up by Cochrane, but we don’t anymore. I’m hoping I have some by Priddis this year.

So, for this year, we bought everything in the fall, and we built a bit of a feedlot at home, and we’ve had everything on feed.

Lots of times, we’ll buy them closer to grass [spring]. We’re feeding 730 head right now.

The ones I own now might not ever see my grass — they might get sold and be replaced.

But yes, the ones I buy, I brand.

We do have a couple of different brandings; that’s because it depends on what we’re buying and selling. When we’re buying and selling cows, we have older calves and some younger, and that’s the only reason why we have different brandings. It ain’t because of geographical needs. We pair off the oldest

ones, brand them, and when the other ones get old enough, we brand them.

As for our brandings, most of the time it’s just me, Destry and Marla. But if I get a big enough group, I get the neighbours.

There’s a lot of guys west of Nanton that I go to their brandings, so they’ll come and help me. Most of the time I use propane to heat the irons, and at my brandings, we head and heel everything, no Nord Forks, no wrestlers. We’ll brand around the beginning of May, and if I can, we brand on grass.

The horses I use are the cutting horses that are in training — the ones I show.

I think it gives them a real mental break and I think it’s the best thing for them. But really, I’m not your typical rancher — and that’s what works for us.” c

Gonnet Performance Horses Owners: Dustin, Marla & Destry Gonnet Nearest Town: Nanton / Cayley, Alta.

Established: 2008 Elevation: 1,021 m (3,350 ft) Annual Precipitation: 223.3 mm (9 inches) Size: 880 acres Cattle breed: Commercial/Black Angus Cattle/Herd size: 0-1,200 head

Cattle brand location: Bar over XO (LR)

40

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

PHOTO COURTESYMARLA GONNET

Facebook: Gonnet Performance Horses

Pro Rodeo

CANADA

INSIDER

PHOTO BY COVY MOORE

PARSONAGE CBI CHAMPION Jared Parsonage celebrating his win with the unique championship guitar presented to him at the 7th Annual Chad Besplug Invitational Bull Riding in Claresholm, Alta., after riding Outlaw Buckers’ A32 OLS Tubs Anika’s Pet to 85.5 points for the long-go win. Parsonage, of Maple Creek, Sask., who so far has qualified for the CFR five times, is also the CPRA’s Bull Riding Director.

RODEOCANADA.COM cowboycountrymagazine.com

CANADIAN COWBOY COUNTRY APRIL/MAY 2020 41

PROUD TO BE IN OUR COMMUNITY

1-888-Finning | Finning.com 346-6464

42

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

C.P.R.A.

Rodeo Season With the start of April comes a busier CPRA schedule. Over 50 established rodeos and events are planned for the 2020 season.

At our CPRA Annual General Meeting and Special Meeting in Airdrie on February 29, we welcomed new board members Shane Crouch (from Sundre Pro Rodeo) as a committee director, as well as Michael Solberg (riding event director and bareback rep) and Braidy Howes (existing ladies barrel racing rep and now timed event director as well). Congratulations as well to new team roping rep, Brett Buss, and Craig Weisgerber, steer wrestling event rep. Thank you to Denny Phipps, Roland McFadden and Renne Reidy for their contributions to the CPRA Board in recent years. Your efforts and time were much appreciated.

Look for details and updates for CFR ’47 in the next weeks and months.

And we’re moving into year two of the Maple Leaf Circuit — with the Finals slated, once again, for late fall at Canadian Western Agribition. We’re excited that the inaugural Breakaway Roping Finals will be held in Regina as part of this event.

Congratulations to all of the winners of 2020 RFD-TV’s The American Rodeo. Special congratulations to Canadian stock contractors C5 Rodeo, as Kaycee Feild won the Bareback riding with 93 pts on two-time World BB Horse of the Year, F13 Virgil. Congratulations as well to Northcott-Macza Rodeo as Wyatt Casper topped reigning Canadian and World Champion SB Horse of the Year 242 Get Smart for 91.25 pts and the Saddle Bronc win.

On a sad note, we were sorry to lose Judy Kesler in early March. A longstanding rodeo timer and secretary, Judy was an integral part of the Kesler Rodeo family, often working alongside her late husband and stock contractor, Greg. Judy had a very positive impact on our sport; she was twice honoured with the Janet Vold Memorial Award and served as CFR secretary for many years. Condolences to Judy’s family and many friends.

With the challenging economic times all of us are facing, particularly in Western Canada, we want to salute all of our rodeo committees and their dedicated volunteers for working so hard to maintain a solid roster of events for the 2020 season.

See you at a rodeo soon!

2020 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association Schedule APRIL Picture Butte, AB * (BR)........................... Apr 10 Tofield, AB * (BR) postponed................. Apr 11 Medicine Hat, AB....................................... Apr 17–19 Camrose, AB * (RS) postponed............. Apr 24–26 Postponed Crowsnest Pass (Coleman), AB........... Apr 24–26

MAY Drayton Valley, AB.................................... May 1–3 Stavely, AB................................................... May 7–9 Innisfail, AB * (SB)...................................... May 9 Falkland, BC................................................. May 16–18 Grande Prairie, AB FINNING.................. May 28–31 Leduc, AB...................................................... May 28–31 Hand Hills, AB............................................. May 30–31

JUNE Brooks, AB................................................... Jun 5–6 Lea Park/Marwayne, AB........................ Jun 5–7 Rocky Mountain House, AB.................. Jun 5–7 Innisfail, AB.................................................. Jun 12–14 Wildwood, AB * (SB) date change....... Jun 13 Wainwright, AB FINNING....................... Jun 18–21 Sundre, AB................................................... Jun 19–21 High River, AB............................................. Jun 20–21 Williams Lake, BC FINNING................... Jun 25–28 Ponoka, AB FINNING................................ Jun 25–Jul 1 Airdrie, AB.................................................... Jun 26–28 Calgary, AB * (BR)...................................... Jun 30

*Indicates Special Event Finning Canada is the Title sponsor of the Pro Tour All dates are subject to change. Please visit RodeoCanada.com for up-to-date information

Terry Cooke, President, CPRA

cowboycountrymagazine.com

43

Pro Rodeo Canada Insider

The Short Round

By TERRI MASON, ALICIA ERICKSON

WHAT’S IN A NAME? PLENTY!

44

hip number, which is why the stallion Special Delivery carries the hip brand of S-83.

“S” means born in 2006 and 83 shows a direct relationship (in this case, the son) of Zippy Delivery.

In many circles in the horse world, the emphasis is on the stallion, but on the Stampede Ranch, the outfit honours their great mares.

“There is a method to the hip numbers,” confirmed Calgary Stampede Ranch manager, Tyler Kraft. “Each number corresponds back to the mare; they’re not simply numbers pulled out of a hat. And we know who the stud is because of our careful record-keeping.”

Nowadays, one of the daughters of Special Delivery — U-83 Untimely Delivery, is in the broodmare field, and her babies have inherited the “83.” Two of her babies on the

rodeo trail making names for themselves includes A-83 Ancient Delivery and B-83 Borderline Untimely.

Just for fun, here are a few of their famous horses:

Year Foaled

Hip Brand and Name

1997 “G”

G-65 Grated Coconut

2006 “S”

S-83 Special Delivery

2010 “X”

X-55 Xena Warrior

2013 “A”

A-91 Agent Lynx

From now on, I guarantee you will look at the hip brand and the name of Calgary Stampede horses with more interest. —T.M.

Orin Larsen of Inglis, Man., winning Round 5 of 2019 CFR with 90 points on Calgary Stampede’s stallion, S-83 Special Delivery

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

PHOTOS BY BILLIE-JEAN DUFF

For years, naming the Calgary Stampede horses has been made a little easier, or a little tougher, by the system the famous rodeo ranch incorporates to keep track of their rough stock.

With around 700 head ranging from foals to retirees roaming the 22,000acre ranch near Hanna, Alta., the outfit developed a solid strategy for at-a-glance bookkeeping.

Each year is assigned a corresponding letter for a hip (freeze) brand. For instance, the year 2020 is “H” — so the hip brand will be an “H” and the names of all of the foals born this year will begin with “H”. However, there is a twist — the Stampede does not use the letter I, O, Q or V in their system.

The hip numbers tell an equally fascinating story.

Long-time fans will have noticed that often, the same hip number pops up generation after generation and now, thanks to the introduction of embryo transplants (an egg from a superstar mare is fertilised by a superstar stallion; the embryo is “flushed” and implanted in a carrier mare to carry the foal to term), there might be as many as four full siblings born in one year.

A prime example was the famous Calgary Stampede mare, Z-38 Zippy Delivery. Two of Zippy’s babies or “flush mates” was the gelding S-38 Spring Delivery (he inherited his mother’s hip number) and for his brother, the ranch team transposed the

C.P.R.A.

JUDITH RETA KESLER DECEMBER 7, 1945 – MARCH 5, 2020

BECOME PART OF THE LEGACY AT THE 2020 CALGARY STAMPEDE The Calgary Stampede is accepting entries for Novice Events on May 27 - 28, 2020 Novice Saddle Bronc - Novice Bareback Riding Junior Steer Riding For full details: CalgaryStampede.com/noviceentries nphipps@calgarystampede.com

The CPRA extends heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of long-time rodeo secretary and timer, Judy Kesler.

Judy was an integral part of one of rodeo’s most dedicated and successful families, often working alongside her late husband and stock contractor, Greg.

Judy served as CFR secretary for many years and mentored countless rodeo personnel over the years. She was twice honoured with the Janet Vold Memorial Award, presented to an outstanding woman of professional rodeo. —T.M.

FORT WORTH & THE CANADIANS Congratulations to the Calgary Stampede rodeo stock on their eye-catching first appearance at Fort Worth.

Dawson Hay, the second-generation saddle bronc rider from Wildwood, Alta., drew into the final and turned in a record-tying 91-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s X-55 Xena Warrior to claim the $20,000 first-place cheque and a total of $23,080 overall.

In the Bareback Riding, the event was won on a Calgary Stampede horse with Tilden Hooper setting an arena record of 91.5 pts on A-91 Agent Lynx.

Plus, CPRA member from Two Hills, Alta., team roping header, Clay Ullery teamed up with Jake Edwards (Ocala, FL) for the Fort Worth win for $22,200.

Other CPRA members who enjoyed Finals success include steer wrestlers Ty Erickson and Matt Reeves, and tie-down roping former Canadian (and World) Champions Tuf Cooper and Tyson Durfey.

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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider THE SHORT ROUND

LADIES WHO LUNCH

SO FAR! From first being crowned Miss Rodeo Canada 2020 at the 46th Canadian Finals Rodeo, to singing the Canadian anthem with honour at the Denver Stock Show & Rodeo, and launching off of a six-foot drop at the Cowboy Downhill Ski Race, my 365-day adventure has yet to see an uneventful day. I cannot wait to land in Florida this April and cheer on the inaugural Maple Leaf Circuit Champions who will be competing for a RAM National Circuit Finals Championship.

Throughout April and May, you will see me at the Leduc Back Gold Rodeo, and the Grande Prairie Stompede, amongst other events! I am looking forward to continuing to represent the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, athletes and equine throughout Canada and the U.S. Wishing all of our competitors health and happiness throughout the 2020 rodeo season! —A.E. 46

Would you like to be on the planning committee for the muchanticipated 2020 Ladies of Canadian Pro Rodeo Fashion Show held in November in Red Deer during CFR? This annual event raises money for Sport Medicine and the CPRA’s Cowboy Benefit Fund. Come be entertained by the top professional rodeo competitors on the trail today, have a great visit with old and new friends, and enjoy a terrific lunch — all while looking fabulous.

To join this dynamic group, please contact Patty at the office of Pro Rodeo Canada in Airdrie, Alta. 403-945-0903. —T.M.

DUFFERS AND SANDBAGGERS The 3rd Annual Canadian Cowboy Classic Golf Tournament, in support of the Canadian Pro Rodeo Sport Medicine Team, goes June 16 at Valley Ridge Golf Club in Calgary.

The fund-raiser — which has garnered $90,000 to date — features a cowboy pancake breakfast at 7:45 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 9:00.

The Sport Med team provides care for rodeo athletes before, during and after each rodeo performance and educates competitors on taking better care of themselves and their injuries. Along with the Ty Pozzobon Foundation, the team is producing educational videos related to mental health, concussions and other rodeo related issues. To sign up, go to CanadianCowboyClassic.com. —T.M. Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

PHOTO COURTESY MRC COMMITTEE; PATTY AUGER

Miss Rodeo Canada 2020, Alicia Erickson

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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

THE CHUTE BOSS RODEO’S TOP RANAHAN

By DIANNE FINSTAD

R

ODEO FANS APPRECIATE AN EXCITING, SMOOTH AND EFFICIENT PERFORMANCE OF THEIR SPORT. WHILE DEFINITELY A GROUP EFFORT, IT’S THE CHUTE BOSS WHO’S THE POINT PERSON FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

Most rodeos have someone designated for the position, but the role has been most well-defined by Don Johansen.

Don has ruled the roost on the arena floor at the Canadian Finals Rodeo for an 48

impressive 33 years and at the Ponoka Stampede for 34. The Strathmore-raised champion earned his place in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame with his bull riding accomplishments, but his post-riding career

work has also contributed much to the professionalism of the sport.

“The biggest thing is getting everyone to know they’re on the same team and going in the same direction, so everybody knows what’s going on,” explains Johansen. “They all have very important roles, but if they’re not there at the right time, it can delay the rodeo or even hurt someone.”

There’s a lot of orchestration that happens for each performance. It all begins with the chute boss meeting with stock contractors, to collect details on what ‘deliveries’ each of their animals prefer. Just as humans are left or right-handed, horses or bulls perform better if their preference for chute sides are met. Depending on the number of chutes available at a rodeo set-up, that can be an organizational challenge for loading and riding order. For instance, Johansen Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

PHOTO BY COVY MOORE

Tanner Girletz at 2019 CFR; Don Johansen in background

C.P.R.A.

and stock boss Duane Kesler had one CFR46 performance where nine saddle bronc horses needed a left-hand delivery.

They managed to coordinate getting six horses out of two chutes as smooth as silk.

The organizational tool of choice is a production sheet, outlining the order of the cowboys and the chutes for the horses. Bigger rodeos even have a daily production meeting to go over the order and timing outlined for each performance.

Contestants can see the draw ahead, which helps them be prepared to ride when it’s their turn.

While Johansen came to the chute boss role after riding bulls, Kynan Vine brings his perspective as a bullfighter and rodeo administrator when he’s calling the shots out front. As Manager for Rodeo and Chuckwagons at the Calgary Stampede, he knows a chute boss needs to ‘read’ stock and understand rodeo.

Don Johansen “In rodeo, the animals don’t know that there’s a schedule or a script, so the best people for in-arena personnel are those that know the animals, know the competition and see the trouble areas before they even happen,” states Vine.

“It’s about paying attention to details — it’s easier putting out fires when they’re just Serving as chute boss is giving some a spark,” agrees Johansen. “You want to give ‘retired from competition’ cowboys a way to the best shot to the horse (or bull) to buck stay involved with the sport, with the likes and give the contestant the best shot.” of Matt Lait, Kyle Daines, Gordie McKie and Just as important as a smooth perforTanner Girletz working the chutes, along mance is a safe one, for both competitors with Kale Ethier from the stock end of and animals. That can involve handling the equation. delicate situations with authority.

Having a close tie with the rodeo “You’re not always everybody’s best announcer is another crucial link. Johansen friend when you’re a chute boss,” admits credits legendary announcer Hadley Barrett Vine. “It takes a certain amount of respect with teaching him a valuable lesson on the from competitors to know that you’re just potential they each had to make the other doing your job, and part of the job is being look good… or not. Announcers don’t want the boss.” to call for the cowboy and then have to ‘fill’

for a long time while they get ready.

So there are often subtle signals the chute boss gives the announcer to cue the rider description or any order changes.

The chute boss is someone who is basically ‘on’ for the entire performance, watching, anticipating and preparing for whatever is to come next, like making sure the previous ride is safely cleaned up, and pickup men are in place before the next one comes out.

“You’ve got to be thinking ahead.

I can do a whole performance and honestly can’t tell you what anyone did. When the gate opens, I’ve got to be headed to the next guy,” adds Johansen.

Today’s rodeo fans have high expectations for their entertainment dollar. Vine sees that impacting the traditional chute boss role.

“I think one of the bigger changes I’ve seen is the production is such a big show, with so many moving pieces compared to even a few years ago. Now with a designated person doing the music, and video screens and replays, it’s kind of evolved where you need someone that oversees the whole production, tying it all together, which includes communicating with a rough stock chute boss and a timed event chute boss,” he explains.

Even if the ‘chute boss’ of the future is on a wireless headset, with a timed and detailed script, managing the overall rodeo production, the end goal will persist — to showcase the excitement and drama of professional rodeo in the best way possible.

“You want to give it to them quick so when they leave, they want to come back again,” emphasizes Johansen.

“Providing good rodeo, with top stock — people will come back for that because it’s entertainment.” c

PHOTO BY WILDWOOD IMAGERY/CHANTELLE BOWMAN

“It’s about paying attention to details — it’s easier putting out fires when they’re just a spark.”

cowboycountrymagazine.com

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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider ROAD TO THE CFR

MICHAEL OSTASHEK RESETTING HIS GOAL

By TIM ELLIS

I

F SHEER DETERMINATION WAS THE ONLY PREREQUISITE FOR QUALIFYING FOR THE CANADIAN FINALS RODEO,

MICHAEL OSTASHEK WOULD HAVE HAD A SEAT AT THE YEAR-END FINALS

BY NOW. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE EDSON, ALTA., BULL RIDER, HEALTH AND EARNINGS ARE ALSO PART OF THE EQUATION.

“I was eyeing up my chance to make the CFR in 2018, but it didn’t work out,” said the 26-year-old Ostashek. “I’ve re-focused, and that’s my goal.”

50

He began that season in fine style by placing second at the Camrose Spring Classic Rodeo in late April. The nearly $1,600 in earnings from the event propelled Ostashek into the top 12 of the Pro Rodeo Canada bull riding standings. That ranking, however, did not last long.

“About Grande Prairie, I pulled my groin real bad,” he explains. “I tried riding injured, but it kept getting worse after every bull. I thought it was alright, but I was falling off way too many bulls. I kept going through the Cowboy Christmas run but ended up broke. I decided to rest up until the fall.”

It was the second time that Ostashek had pulled off the pro rodeo trail. After trying his luck in 2016, he opted for the amateur trail the next year.

“I wasn’t riding that good, donating a lot of money,” muses Ostashek. “I wanted to get my confidence back and feel good about my riding. It was 100 per cent mental. I needed to believe in myself and believe that I belonged. I took the time, started staying on more bulls and built more confidence in my riding.”

And while that move started to pay dividends in early 2018 in his return to the pro ranks, it perhaps showed even more

justification last season. At the Ponoka Stampede, Ostashek was 84.5 points in the long round to finish 11th and advance to the finals.

“That was the biggest accomplishment of my career so far,” beams Ostashek. “The first time I rode in Ponoka, I let one get by me. I wasn’t going to let another one get me on the ground.”

He later added another $2,000 to his 2019 earnings by posting the high-marked and only ride of the finals on night three of Cody Snyder’s Charity Bull Bustin’ in Calgary in early July.

Heading into the 2020 CPRA season, it appears Ostashek has things figured out both on and off the rodeo trail.

“While I was resting up in the winter before last season, I got a job as a mechanic,” he reveals. “That’s what I went to school for.”

“I found a boss (in Whitecourt) that lets me rodeo as hard I want to go. I give him my schedule a week in advance. There are lots of times I leave on a Wednesday night. He’ll just say good luck, and away I go. It helps knowing I have a job when I get back on Monday. I’m really fortunate.”

Ostashek is working hard to need a week off in early November to ride in the CFR. c

Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020

PHOTO BY JKW PHOTO/JEREMY WOMBOLD

Michael Ostashek riding KB 318 Ivy League to 85.5 pts at 2019 Ponoka Stampede

cowboycountrymagazine.com

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Canadian Cowboy Country April/March 2020

COWBOY CHURCHES Open Valley Cowboy Church Every Sun., 6:30 p.m., Head of the Lake Hall, past the O’Keefe Ranch on Hwy 97, Vernon, B.C., 250‑503‑0707 Boomtown Trail Cowboy Church 2nd and last Wed. of every month, 7 p.m., Elnora Drop‑In Centre, Elnora, Alta., 403‑749‑2047 Clearwater Cowboy Church Every Thur., 7 p.m., Dovercourt Hall, Hwy 22, south of Rocky Mtn House, Alta., 403-845-5351 Community Cowboy Church Every Tue., 7-8 p.m., Niton Community Hall, Main St., Niton Junction, Alta., 780-728-9088 Cowboy Trail Church Every Tue., 7 p.m., Cochrane Ranche House, 101 Ranchehouse Rd., Cochrane, Alta., 403‑638‑4254 Heartland Cowboy Church 1st and 3rd Tue. of every month, 7 p.m., Stettler Agriplex, 4516‑52 St., Stettler, Alta., 780-877-2331 James River Cowboy Church Every Wed., 7 p.m., James River Community Hall, 2.5 km S of James River store or 11.5 km N of Sundre on RR 53, Alta., 403‑638‑6439 Pipestone Cowboy — Cowgirl Church 2nd Mon. of every month, 7 p.m., Pipestone Café, Hwy 795, 11 km north from junction Hwy 13 and 795, Pipestone, Alta., 780-312-8653 St. Albert Cowboy Church Every Fri., 7:30 p.m., 60 Liberton Dr., St. Albert, Alta., 780-459-2222 The Cowboy Church Every Fri., 7:30 p.m., Sherwood Park Presbyterian Church, 265 Fir St., Sherwood Park, Alta., 780‑918‑5530 Viking Cowboy Church Last Fri. of every month, 7:30 p.m., Viking Auction Market, junction of Hwy 26 and 36, Viking, Alta.

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COWBOY POETRY

Added Age

By BRYCE BURNETT

The cowboy admired his wife preparing for bed In a negligee trimmed with lace He glanced at her reflection in the mirror and said, “What’s that smeared on your face?”

She replied with excitement, “It’s a miracle cream, Younger, it makes me appear.

It smooths my complexion, makes my hair darker, My figure is sleeker, my dear.”

Now the cowboy examined her over real good, then said, “My sakes alive, Your skin makes you look 20, your hair 18, And your figure only 25.”

His wife blushed, “Oh dear, you’re just trying to flatter me, I’ll bet.”

The cowboy smiled, “Oh, just wait a minute, I haven’t added up all those numbers yet.”

“Added Age” is excepted from Horses, Dogs and Wives by Bryce Burnett. The Burnett family have been ranching on their place near Swift Current, Sask., since 1907. Visit bryceburnett.com.

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PHOTO COOURTESY STOCK.ADOBE.COM/ SCOTT GRIESSEL

After her lengthy preparation, she crawled into bed And snuggled up to his side She said, “This cream softens my skin, Like years ago as your beautiful bride.”

TIM ELLIS’ RODEO REPORT

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Lloydminster • Olds • Strathmore • West Kelowna • Kamloops • Prince Albert • Regina • Saskatoon Canadian Cowboy Country April/May 2020