COWBOY CANADIAN
COUNTRY
THE CONSERVATION ISSUE Keeping Ranches in the Family | Women’s Grazing Schools Fearless & Formidable Storm Chasers!
PM# 40070720
DEC 2023/JAN 2024 • $6.95
150+ YEARS Nicola Ranch
PREDICTING WEATHER Folklore Beats Science
THE CONSERVATION ISSUE Using Cattle to Reduce Wildfires
Using Cattle to Reduce Wildfires BY ROB DINWOODIE
The summer of ’23 was sweltering hot with no appreciable rain since June, bringing the drought conditions in the Okanagan to their highest. The daytime temperatures had not dropped below 30C for weeks, and everyone was on edge. British Columbia had declared a State of Emergency due to the wildfires that had impacted communities. It started with Donny Creek, the biggest wildfire the province had witnessed, exceeding 100,000 hectares, and it was only late June. July brought hot weather and more wildfires; Crater Mountain fire saw 50 tourists stranded in a lodge with access cut off; the Osoyoos Fire ran on the dry
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grasslands and stopped short of the community of Adams Lake. It went on and on. In late August, I was driving to the south Okanagan to assess an area for Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) through Farmland Advantage, a program that the Agriculture Foundation of BC coordinates. This pilot program is designed to reduce the risk of wildfire on private lands by grazing livestock to remove a portion of the “fine fuels” of grasses, shrubs, and the like to reduce the intensity of a wildfire. The areas are selected using a Hot Spot GIS mapping tool, assessing risk based on proximity to structures, Agricultural Land Reserve properties, Species at Risk critical habitat, and occurrences.
Canadian Cowboy Country December 2023/January 2024
STOCK.ADOBE.COM/ LYNDA
THE CONSERVATION ISSUE Using Cattle to Reduce Wildfires
I was listening to the radio when I heard that a new fire had started from a lightning strike on a mountain west of Kelowna. The weatherman came on and announced that a cold system was coming in; the winds would gust up to 50 km/hour from the south later that afternoon and then shift from the west to the North in early evening. It was an eerie forecast, knowing the tinder-dry conditions and the many wildfires already burning out of control. This same forecast was also heard 20 years ago when the Okanagan Mountain fire ravaged South Kelowna, burning down 200 homes. As forecast, the weather shifted later that afternoon, with brisk winds from the south, fanning the fire west of Kelowna into a
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raging inferno. The fire was spotting ahead of the flames as the wind and downslope currents brought the wildfire into an area of Kelowna bordering Okanagan Lake. BC Wildfire Service made valiant efforts as they and the structural firefighters from Kelowna and surrounding communities fought through the night to face what was perhaps one of the most intense firestorms the province had ever witnessed. Throughout that evening and following days, up to 200 structures were lost. This wasn’t the only fire of note in the province, as most days, over 300 fires were burning, many out of control. Everyone was thankful that September brought cooler temperatures and some precipitation.
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WESTERN EVENTS 2023 NUTRENA HORSE OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY AQHA Success in the sport of rodeo doesn’t fall on just the cowboys and cowgirls. Their horses play a huge factor when they step foot in the arena. The awards for the Nutrena Horse of the Year presented by AQHA provide recognition to PRCA’s top horses. Congratulations to the Canadian stock who dominated their field!
STEER WRESTLING Voted into the top spot is EDS Famous Bar, “Eddie,” ridden by Dalton Massey, Tanner Milan, Stephen Culling, Ryan Shuckburgh, Curtis Cassidy, Mike McGinn, J.D. Struxness — owned by Tanner Milan of Cochrane, Alta. Milan acquired the standout gelding in 2020 from Canadian bulldogging legend Lee Laskosky. Rough calculations have Eddie at $335,000 in 2023 earnings alone. Voted into the runner up spot was Dashin Haze, “Tyson,” ridden by Jesse Brown, Dakota Eldridge, Kyle Irwin, Curtis Cassidy — owned by Curtis Cassidy of Donalda, Alta. The amount of money won on this great horse has not been calculated — probably not enough lead in a pencil…
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BREAKAWAY ROPING
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4. Steer Wrestling horse Eddie in action at 2022 CFR. 5. 2023 Everything Equine on the Border Trainer’s Challenge Champion, Braden Bernier 6. Century Mile Racetrack & Casino, Leduc
EVERYTHING EQUINE ON THE BORDER Lloydminster was the scene of Everything Equine, a weekend of clinics ranging from working cowhorse to 4-H horsemanship, held alongside an exciting Trainer’s Challenge between three top trainers, including Trevor Mertes of Cochrane, Alta and Kade Mills of Sundre, Alta. This year, it was local cowboy Braden Bernier of Red Deer Hill, Sask, who earned the big prize. Bernier will be returning in 2024 to defend his title! Everything Equine on the Border in Lloydminster is April 12–14, 2024. For more, visit lloydex.com
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THE HORSES! Horse Racing Alberta just announced their race dates and purses for 2024–2026. The recently signed three-year agreement for live race days has been approved! To see all of the upcoming race schedules for Century Mile near Leduc and Century Downs near Balzac, please visit thehorses.com As well, Evergreen Park in Grande Prairie, Millarville Racetrack in Millarville, Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge and The Track on 2 in Lacombe all offer updated race schedules. Check them out and make plans for an exciting day at the races! Thehorses.com
No Wimpy Turns (barn name Onna), ridden by Shelby Boisjoli — owned by Shelby Boisjoli, now of Stephenville, Texas (formerly Langdon, Alta). The 8-year-old mare “Onna”—boasting cowhorse and reining bloodlines—has earned the coveted Horse of the Year title for the second time, 2021 and now, 2023.
PICK UP HORSE OF THE YEAR The top winner of this inaugural category is Baby Hes Hot (barn name Baby), ridden and owned by C algary Stampede Ranch manager T yler Kraft. Baby was born, raised, and trained on Doug Wilkinson’s ranch near Mossleigh, Alta. Tyler Kraft was later named as a pick up man at the 2023 National Finals Rodeo in Vegas.
Canadian Cowboy Country December 2023/January 2024
PHOTOS: WILDWOOD IMAGERY/CHANTELLE BOWMAN; COURTESY LLOYDEX.COM
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WESTERN EVENTS
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PHOTOS: CAVVYSAVVY/TSLN.COM; COURTESY CALGARY STAMPEDE; WILDWOOD IMAGERY/CHANTELLE BOWMAN; (4X)
TOP EQUINE ATHLETES — CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL RODEO ASSOCIATION Voted in by their peers, these top equine athletes dominated their fields. Ladies Barrel Racing Horse with the Most Heart is nine-year-old gelding SR Boots On Fire (barn name Cowboy). Owned, trained and jockeyed by Lynette Brodoway of Brooks, Alta. Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year on both sides of the border is EDS Famous Bar (barn name Eddie), owned by Tanner Milan. Milan acquired the standout gelding in 2020 from Canadian bulldogging legend Lee Laskosky. Team Roping Heading Horse of the Year is 11-year-old Chex Yer Gun (barn name Outlaw) owned by Dawson Graham. He purchased Outlaw as a five-year-old from Tristin Woolsey. The Tie-Down Roping Horse of the Year honours go to Shane Smith and his 14-yearold gelding, El Rey De La Luna (barn name Moon). Smith purchased the horse in Oklahoma back in 2018. For the second year in a row, the Breakaway Roping Horse of the Year award goes to Bradi Whiteside and her horse, Hott for Teacher (barn name Teacher). Owned by Ben Bamford. The Team Roping Heeling Horse of the Year, for the fourth consecutive time, is Coys Smokin Jet (barn name Cruze). He’s now owned by Canadian Champion Heeler Dillon Graham. c
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7. Shelby Boisjoli and Onna 8. Tyler Kraft and Baby 9. Shane Smith and Moon 10. Lynette Brodoway and Cowboy 11. Bradi Whiteside and her horse, Teacher 12. Team Roping Heeling Horse of the Year, Cruze 13. Team Roping Heading Horse of the Year Outlaw
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AVAILABLE NOW!
SCAN TO VIEW ONLINE!
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Cowboy’s Wish Book is back with gifts for him, her, kids and even four-legged family members. Find your holiday gifting inspiration in our 2023 Cowboy’s Wish Book!
THE NICOLA RANCH
The Nicola Ranch HISTORY AND MYSTERY BY DARYL DREW, PH.D.
STOCK.ADOBE.COM/ MAXDIGI
PART 1 OF A 2PART SERIES
The Nicola Valley, just north of Merritt B.C., has been integral to the Canadian ranching industry since the days of the Fraser River gold rush. Abundant grass and water made it home to some of the most famous ranches in the Canadian West. The Quilchena, the Guichon, the Douglas Lake, and the Nicola all trace their roots to this valley. Historic buildings of the Nicola Ranch dating back to the 1800s still stand and line both sides of Highway 5A like a Western movie set.
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