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7H RANCH Raising Wild Bison
CANADA’S ONLY YEAR-ROUND RODEO ACADEMY
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BRINGING IN THE SHEAVES
BRINGING IN THE SHEAVES REDING’S FAMILY FARM TRADITION BY DOUG NELSON
2006 CFR saddle bronc rider J.R. Reding sharing the lines with his daughter Raylee (pink cowboy boots)
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Canadian Cowboy Country October/November 2024
BRINGING IN THE SHEAVES
I
n 1910 Zeno and Adolphine “Big thirty-six-inch threshing Reding moved up from Minmachine outfits travelled around nesota to Alberta with their the country moving from farm two boys, Herman and Walter. field to farm field,” Robin recalled. Robin Reding recalls how “They needed lots of men to drive his grandfather, Zeno, often spoke of teams for the bundle wagons and his time in St. Paul driving teams for had ‘sleeping’ cars and ‘cook’ cars local breweries. A recent immigrant for the crew.” from Switzerland, Zeno learned how “Grandpa told me that 1923 proto properly feed and care for the vided the best crops he’d ever seen,” draft horses that would power his Robin said, “And the weather coopAlberta farming operation. erated. They worked 33 to 34 days The Redings initially leased five without a stop.” quarters of land west of Beiseker Then the ‘Dirty Thirties’ blew in, before purchasing the family’s present and everything changed. Drought Top: 1928 Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co separator, property east of Irricana in 1927. While conditions, poor crops, and even 1915 Aultman Taylor water tank on International Harvester in Beiseker, a neighbour loaned them poorer prices meant that farmers running gear beside the 1916 George White & Sons 28 HP steam tractor. All of these machines were restored by Robin. several teams of draft mares. That gencould not pay their bills. Above: Herman "Mood" Reding; note the rein chains, erous neighbour also allowed Zeno to During harvest the Reding men circle iron stirrups and fancy angoras breed the mares and keep the foals! would hire themselves and their When asked what breed the mares horses out to help thresh their were, Robin replied: “Back then draft horses Not just draft horses were required on neighbours’ fields, getting $2 a day for were hard to come by. You took what you the farm. Although an avid gardener, Adoltheir labour and another $2 a day for a could get!” phine needed store-bought essentials like team and rack. “Both my father, Herman (Mood) and baking soda, sugar, and coffee, so light draft “Now, $2 only buys a decent chocolate his brother Walter turned out to be excelhorses pulled her buggy back and forth to bar,” Robin chuckled, “but back then, it lent horsemen,” Robin continued. “Grandpa town. Saddle horses were needed after Zeno bought a couple pairs of blue jeans or a said Walter was especially good at handling acquired cattle to utilize the farm’s less aragood Stetson hat.” the young, green horses.” ble land. During winter, these same cattle Many industrious farmers also used their Robin’s father, Mood, displayed his skills fed on the straw piles left after threshing. draft teams to work on road construction in the arena, competing in the saddle bronc Few farmers had their own threshing or maintenance to pay off their taxes—anyevent at rodeos like the Calgary Stampede. machines back then. thing to keep the family farm afloat.
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COMMON THREADS
Upscale & Thrifted BY BRITTNEY CHOMISTEK
Photographer Sullivan Photography Brittney’s Hair by Kole Van Maarion at The Social by Red Velvet; Brittney’s Makeup- Aria Studio
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Canadian Cowboy Country October/November 2024
COMMON THREADS
Leather Overalls: Designed and Sewn by Susan PahlGutfriend Custom Fringe Booties: Handcrafted by Susan Pahl-Gutfriend
Ruffle Top: Thrifted Fur Vest: Susan PahlGurfriend restyled her grandmother's fur Hat: Embellished by Susan Pahl-Gutfriend
Opposite page Hat: Smithbilt Jacket: Repurposed Pendleton blanket and denim jacket by Janine’s Custom Creations Skinny Jeans: Wrangler Vintage beaded boots: Old Gringo
cowboycountrymagazine.com
Vintage Fur Coat: Repurposed by Janine’s Custom Creations Boot Stitch Jeans: Rock and Roll Denim Hair on Hide Wedge Sneakers: Alcala’s Boots
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WHAT WORKS FOR US
Water, Grass & Plains RAISING BISON ON THE 7H RANCH
BY TERRI MASON
Saying that handling bison is “different” from handling cattle is a BIG understatement. Each bison rancher has different methods for handling their herds, and this is what works for 7H Ranch.
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Canadian Cowboy Country October/November 2024
WHAT WORKS FOR US
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