Canada Welcomes Sons of the Pioneers!
What Does It Take to be a Pro Rodeo Secretary?
IAL o er FIC de id OF Ro Ins ro a P ad n Ca
Henry Kelsey Discovering the West
Western Art Mystery: Where Is the Charlie Russell Masterpiece?
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Master Class: Bit & Spur Makers Get Along, Little Dogies Training Cattle, Training Cowboys Horseman Pete Fraser Parlez-vous, Extreme Cowboy?
JUNE/JULY 2019 • $5.95
VISIT ONE OF OUR PLAYGROUNDS FOR A FEW BUCKS Sundre plays host to rodeo events that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If bucking isn’t your thing, we also have skateparks, swimming pools and trail systems to get your heart racing. Why not have an adventure in Sundre today? Check out all the action at the 40th anniversary of the Sundre Pro Rodeo happening June 21 - 23!
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25 THE WESTERNERS
PETE FRASER
Multi-time Extreme Cowboy competitor, Teala Caton of Wild Rose Arena near Eckville, Alta., on her Azteca gelding, Marshmallow, competing at the Calgary Stampede. Caton, who has earned the right to compete (a few times) at the EXCA World Championship in Texas, is well-known for her riding skills and well-respected for putting horsemanship ahead of buckles. Extreme Cowboy is spearheaded by Pete Fraser of the Calgary Stampede. Photo courtesy Calgary Stampede
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Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
JUNE/JULY 2019 | VOLUME 23, NO. 1
On the Cover
22 TRAILBLAZERS
Henry Kelsey He learned the language, charted the wilderness and he’s still remembered today
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The iconic band of silver screen fame is touring the Canadian West RANCHERS’ SPECIAL
What Works For Us
TRADITIONAL COWBOY ARTS
Making a Master Wilson Capron and Ernie Marsh are two bit and spur makers sharing their knowledge
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COWBOY WAY
Training Cattle, Part 2 of 6 Being a good cowboy means handling cattle in a controlled way
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Photo by Harry Pollard
SONS OF THE PIONEERS
Grass management with Kevin Larsen near Inglis, Man., and Warren Weatherly near Botha, Alta.
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This vintage portrait of C.M. “Charlie” Russell was photographed by Harry Pollard of Calgary in 1919. It was shared with us by Brian Dippie of Victoria, B.C.
Western Art A missing Charlie Russell masterpiece and a list of must-see galleries
DEPARTMENTS 7 My Point of View 9 In the Corral 13 Western Art Review 14 Spirit of the West 16 Wheel to Wheel 18 Some Days Are Diamond 20 Reflections 40 Shout Out Review 41 Pro Rodeo Canada Insider 55 Clownin’ Around 58 Cowboy Poetry 5
UTILITY IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT VISIT YOUR LOCAL
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DEALER
With the power of a 48 horsepower gas engine that can go up too 64km/h, the stability of front and rear independent suspension, and 2000 lbs towing capacity. The RTV-XG850 Sidekick is designed to make work and life more enjoyable. This is what ready for anything looks like.
June/July 2019 Vol. 23, No. 1 Editor Terri Mason terri@cowboycountrymagazine.com Copy Editor Carmen D. Hrynchuk carmen@cowboycountrymagazine.com Art Director Zuzana Benesova zuzana@cowboycountrymagazine.com Graphic Designers Raymond Burch, raymond@tanneryoung.com Erin Murphy, ads@cowboycountrymagazine.com Publisher Rob Tanner rob@cowboycountrymagazine.com Sales Manager Kristine Wickheim kristine@cowboycountrymagazine.com Sales Representative Kathy Kelley kathy@tanneryoung.com Traffic Coordinator Cheryl Lindquist traffic@cowboycountrymagazine.com Subscription/Circulation Marie Tanner circ@tanneryoung.com Accounting Administrator Catherine Staszkiewicz admin@tanneryoung.com Customer Relations Manager Marie Tanner marie@tanneryoung.com
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Columnists Dylan Biggs, Tim Ellis, “Diamond” Doug Keith, Hugh McLennan, Billy Melville, Bryn Thiessen Contributors Dylan Biggs, Emily Kitching, Tim Lasiuta, Dianne Finstad Contributing Artists/Photographers Chantelle Bowman, Billie-Jean Duff, Donna King, Gena LaCoste, Randy Lewis, Harry Pollard, Angie Rees, C. M. Russell Tanner Young Publishing Group #1, 9301–50 Street, Edmonton AB T6B 2L5 Tel: 780-465-3362 Fax 780-448-0424 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: $48.77 + 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 #1, 9301–50 Street, Edmonton AB T6B 2L5 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
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“This project is funded [in part] by the Government of Canada.” «Ce projet est financé [en partie] par le gouvernement du Canada.»
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MY POINT OF VIEW
Western Mystery!
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ILLUSTRATION BY LE STEVENS
must start out with the story that piqued my interest. There is one Charlie Russell painting missing from the original bunch exhibited in the 1912 Calgary Stampede, and it has been missing for decades. This story has intrigued the art world, and especially the folks who love Charlie Russell’s work. There is no indication where the painting may have gone. Was it stolen? Was it gifted? Was it sold and just never recorded? My romantic wish is that it will be discovered hanging in some great-grandma’s house out here in the West. Wouldn’t that be something? Speaking of the unknown, our Trailblazer is explorer Henry Kelsey. Who’s that, you ask? He is the first-recorded European to have visited the present-day province of Saskatchewan and possibly (but not officially) Alberta, as well as having been the first to have explored the Great Plains from the north. From all accounts, it sounds like Kelsey was a good guy who spoke the language and shared the load. In Saskatchewan, he is more famous than anywhere else, because the province has its own official record-keeping system for big game — called the Henry Kelsey Big Game Records. It’s always a welcome treat to have Hall of Fame writer Dianne Finstad grace our pages, and she brings us a wonderful bio on Pete Fraser, who’s well-regarded for Paint horses and taking the Extreme Cowboy sport across the big pond. She also delves into the seldom-seen world of our new
series, What Does It Take? A look at some of the behind-the-scenes duties performed by top professional rodeo support personnel. Our guest columnist, Dylan Biggs, has the cure for “dumb cow” — and surprise! — it starts with you, cowboy! Many of you were raised knowing this stuff, and if not, read on to become a good hand. The Traditional Cowboy Arts is home to some of the greatest cowboy artists alive today, and in this issue we are featuring interviews with and works created by two master bit and spur makers, Wilson Capron and Ernie Marsh. My favourite series (because I get to do the interviews) is What Works For Us, and this issue we are looking at what works for grass management from two diverse parts of the country and climate — the cow-calf operation in the Shell Valley of Manitoba to the plains around Botha that is home to some well-regarded bucking horses and bulls. So there you have it, turn the pages to be intrigued by a true Western mystery and treasure hunt, learn some hard-earned knowledge and enjoy the company of some of the most interesting and colourful people gracing the hills and plains here in Canadian Cowboy Country.
Subscriber Tip Your mailing label on the magazine will tell you when your subscription expires. Right above your name is an issue date, which is the final issue of your subscription.
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— Terri Mason, Editor
XXX XXXXXX JUN/JUL’19 JOE SMITH RR 1 EDMONTON, AB T6B 2L5
@CowboyCntryMag
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CONTRIBUTORS
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A bucking horse association serving breeders across North America y w he re
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Send your photos to editor@cowboycountrymagazine.com 2012 Calga ry Princess Am Stampede Indian e Great Wall o lia Crowshoe, f China
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CONTRIBUTORS
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Canadian Cowboy?
t h e Wo r
– Ev
Where in the World is er
1 Dylan Biggs
3 Tim Lasiuta
Training Cattle: Part 2 of 6 Get Them Dogies Moving, page 32
Trailblazers: Henry Kelsey, page 22
For over 20 years, Dylan has travelled extensively across North America sharing his knowledge of low stress cattle handling with producers through livestock handling demonstrations. Dylan, his wife Colleen and children run TK Ranches near Hanna, Alta.
2 Emily Kitching Making a Master: Bit & Spur Makers, page 30 In 2001, Emily Kitching started her own horse magazine, Eclectic Horseman. Her goal is to become the best horsewoman she can be and to help horses get a better deal by educating horse owners around the world.
Award-winning journalist Tim Lasiuta of Central Alberta has contributed to the pages of Cowboy many times, often on the topic of cowboy collectibles. A major fan of memorabilia and Western history, Tim’s work also appears in multiple editions of Lone Ranger stories.
4 Dianne Finstad PRCI: What Does it Take to be... Rodeo Secretary, page 50 Dianne Finstad is a multi-award-winning broadcaster, writer and journalist with over 30 years of getting the story. Ranchraised near Manyberries, Alta., she lives near Red Deer, Alta.
Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
IN THE CORRAL NEWS, VIEWS & HAPPENINGS FROM ACROSS THE CANADIAN WEST
PHOTO: COURTESY WIKIPEDIA
Wolves Kill Ya Ha Tinda Colt A wolf pack killed a horse at Parks Canada’s Ya Ha Tinda Ranch early this spring—reportedly the first time this has happened in the ranch’s 102year history. According to Parks Canada, tracks showed the wolf pack came from Scalp Creek and travelled by a pasture housing 12 colts. “The colts were spooked enough to break open the gate and got out into a larger area,” said Bill Hunt, resource conservation manager for Banff National Park. A yearling colt was run down and killed by the wolves. Parks Canada staff discovered the remains the following morning. The colts have since been moved up near the main buildings; solar lights were added to “raise the alarm” if the wolves come too close. No word on what staff could do if the wolves attacked again. Parks Canada advised that two of the male wolves in the pack were fitted with GPS collars to track their travels as part of research on the bison reintroduction, elk movement and migration. Ya Ha Tinda, about 85 km west of Sundre, is Parks Canada’s only working horse ranch. There, they train all of the horses that are used in national parks in Western Canada.
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IN THE CORRAL
2018 Calgary Stampede Champions
The “List” Each spring, one of rodeo’s most anticipated announcements is the list of contestants invited to compete in the rodeo at the Calgary Stampede. The 2019 non-sanctioned, invitational rodeo sent out invites to contestants from the CPRA, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) and Professional Bull Riders (PBR). In all, 120 were invited to compete, including World Champions, Canadian Champions (CC), past Calgary Stampede Champions and Folks They Just Like. Since Calgary went to the invitational tournamentstyle format, this year’s 35 Canadians represent the largest number to compete for the $2M in prize money. The Stampede runs July 5 to 14. To make it easier to follow, here is the list of the homegrown Canadian talent invited to ride. *Not included on this list are the Novice Saddle Bronc, Bareback and Steer Riding competitors, who have not been named yet.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING Canadian Champion Clay Elliott, Nanton, Alta. Layton Green, Meeting Creek, Alta. Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alta. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alta. Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alta. Jake Watson, Hudson’s Hope, B.C.
Orin Larsen, Inglis, Man. Clint Laye, Cadogan, Alta. Ky Marshall, Bowden, Alta. Jacob Stemo, Bashaw, Alta. Ty Taypotat, Regina, Sask. Jake Vold, Airdrie, Alta.
BULL RIDING Canadian Champion Wacey Finkbeiner, Ponoka, Alta. Marcos Gloria, Edmonton, Alta. Garrett Green, Meeting Creek, Alta. Jordan Hansen, Calgary, Alta. Zane Lambert, Ponoka, Alta. Jared Parsonage, Maple Creek, Sask. Brock Radford, De Winton, Alta. BAREBACK RIDING Canadian Champion Richmond Champion, Dublin, Texas Connor Hamilton, Calgary, Alta. Pascal Isabelle, Saint Julienne, Q.C.
TIE-DOWN ROPING Canadian Champion Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, Okla. Logan Bird, Nanton, Alta. Morgan Grant, Didsbury, Alta. Kyle Lucas, Carstairs, Alta. Jesse Popescul, Wood Mountain, Sask. Riley Warren, Stettler, Alta. STEER WRESTLING Canadian Champion Scott Guenthner, Consort, Alta. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alta. Cody Cassidy, Donalda, Alta. Stephen Culling, Fort St John, B.C. Tanner Milan, Cochrane, Alta. Clayton Moore, Pouce Coupe, B.C.
Missing, Ben Tyner
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The case of missing Nicola Ranch manager Ben Tyner is being treated as a suspicious disappearance by the RCMP. Sergeant Janelle Shoihet says the Major Crime Unit has reviewed the evidence that has been collected since the young cowboy went missing in January and has determined that the case may involve criminal activity. The 32-year-old cowboy and manager of the Nicola Ranch located near Merritt, B.C., was last seen on January 26. He was reported missing two days later when his saddled horse was found wandering on a logging road off Highway 97, northwest of Merritt. An extensive search that included RCMP and volunteers on foot and horseback, as well as in helicopters, vehicles and snowmobiles, found no trace of the cowboy.
Tyner, along with his horse, moved from his home in Wyoming to Merritt in the fall to take the job at the Nicola Ranch. The family of the missing cowboy has made a heartfelt plea for tips and information in the search for their son. “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Our hearts are shattered,” Tyner’s mother, Jennifer, said of her son’s disappearance. Investigators are now asking anyone who may have seen Tyner the weekend of January 26 and 27, or a truck and trailer that may have transported him to the Swakum Mountain or OK Forest Service Road off Mamit Lake Road, to contact Merritt RCMP through a dedicated tip line at 1–877–987–8477.
Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
PHOTO: COURTESY CALGARY STAMPEDE/BILLIE-JEAN DUFF; TYNER FAMILY
Where Is Ben Tyner?
STOCKING THE HERD
Long May Your Big Jib Draw! Every rodeo parade has its own brand of fans, and the specialness of a small-town event is celebrated even more when it’s a milestone year. That is what is happening in 2019 with the annual parade at Sundre, where they are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Sundre parade and pro rodeo.
Rain or shine, the parade is always well-attended by fans and participants
Parade organizers from the Sundre Rodeo & Race Assoc., have selected “Night at the Movies” as the theme for the 2019 parade that runs Sat., June 22, following the free pancake breakfast. Pipe bands, floats, hundreds of horses, entertainers and local heroes all take part. As well, the entire Sundre Pro Rodeo Committee has been selected as the Parade Marshalls. Along with the enthusiastic friends and family, lining the parade route will be a roving band of Newfoundlanders, about 50 strong, who will fly out to attend the event. “They love it, and they come back every year,” says Moe Fahey, one of the parade organizers. So congratulations to the hard-working pro rodeo and parade crews on your 40th anniversary! And for us non-Newfoundlanders, the translation of “long may your big jib draw” is “May you have good fortune for a long time.” For more, visit sundrerodeo.com.
Adeline Elinor Haughian Congratulations to Joann and Travis Haughian on the birth of their first child, Adeline Elinor, born January 11, in Medicine Hat, Alta. Joann is a fifth-generation cowgirl from the Lawrence Ranch in the Cypress Hills. Travis hails from a farming background in the Willow Bunch area. The young couple make their home in Maple Creek, and they are both pursuing careers in agriculture.
PHOTO: COURTESY MOE FLAHEY; SWEET PEA & THISTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
Kamloops Cowboy Festival Cowboy poetry, cowboy songs and a virtual fashion parade of cowboy duds made for another fan-favourite event at the 23rd annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival, and once again they packed the stage with a ton of talent from both sides of the Medicine Line. All who attended had a great time and enjoyed the shows, including the Art of the West Show and Sale — a popular addition to all of the visiting done at the festival. The Art Show attracted entrants from afar. Congratulations to all the participants who brought their favourite works to the show. The winners of the art show include: Flat work, Best in Show: High Bar, by Wayne Larsen Sculpture, Best in Show: Honey We’re Rich, by Reg Parson Photography, Best in Show: Hereford Morning, by Bree Patterson The People’s Choice Award: Through the Ya Ha Tinda, by Debbie Lund The Art of the West Show and Sale is sponsored by Canadian Cowboy Country magazine.
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Honey We’re Rich, by Reg Parson won Best in Show for sculpture
High Bar, by Wayne Larson won Best in Show for flatwork
Through the Ya Ha Tinda, by Debbie Lund won the People’s Choice Award
Hereford Morning, by Bree Patterson won Best in Show for photography
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IN THE CORRAL
Show Jumper Ian Millar Retires Ian Millar, Canada’s 10-time Olympian, announced his retirement from international show jumping competition after nearly five decades at the elite level. At 72, Millar has chosen to focus on coaching and developing young horses. Millar, of Perth, Ontario, was first named to the Nations Cup team in 1971. He has since been a perennial team member on the Canadian Equestrian Team, known for his ability to deliver under pressure in major competitions. Millar has represented Canada in more than 200 Nations Cup competitions, 10 Olympic Games, 10 Pan American Games and seven World Championships. Millar’s 10 Olympic appearances is a world record for any athlete across all sports. He won his first Olympic medal, a team Silver, at the 2008 Hong Kong Olympic Games. He also has 10 Pan American Games medals, including two individual gold medals and two team gold medals. “Representing Canada many times over in my career has been my greatest honour,” said Millar. Millar also has won over 150 Grand Prix competitions, including the Grand Prix at the Spruce Meadows Masters in Alberta. He is a 12-time Canadian show jumping champion and was the first rider to win back-to-back FEI World Cup Finals, earning the title with the charismatic Big Ben in 1988 and 1989. Ian has been named a Member of the Order of Canada, been inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, the Ontario Sports Hall Of Fame and the Jump Canada Hall Of Fame. At the close of his international career, Millar was quick to thank his supporters, including the horses. “It has been the journey of a lifetime with so many dreams realized, so much due to the fantastic horses I was blessed to ride, to whom I am eternally grateful,” said Ian.
Willie Crosina, 94, of Williams Lake, B.C., was inducted into the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame
BC Cowboy Hall of Fame
Ian Millar outside the field of competition at Spruce Meadows, Calgary, Alta.
Congratulations to the Class of 2019, as these well-deserving folks are inducted into the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame. The Century Ranch of 2019 is the Gun Granberg Ranch, the Ranching Pioneer and Century Ranch are Hilbert DeLeeuw and the DeLeeuw Ranch, and the Hall of Fame Family is the Charlie Moon Family. These worthy recipients were inducted at the Kamloops Cowboy Festival. Also honoured were Lawrence Elkins for his competitive achievements, Phillip Camille who was named Working Cowboy, and in the new category of Builder of Western Culture, Willie Crosina was honoured. These folks were inducted at the Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo in April. The BC Cowboy Hall of Fame is housed in the Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin in Williams Lake, at the Tourism Discovery Centre. Be sure to stop in on your travels and pay homage to some great hands.
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is Canadian Cowboy?
h n B . C. Jo
Where in the World Fort St. John, B.C. Fort St. John is the oldest immigrant settlement in B.C., as well as being one of the oldest First Nations settlements. At nearby Charlie Lake Cave, archaeologists uncovered artefacts from a Paleo-Indian settlement that was active there more than 10,500 years ago. The entire region is now known as the traditional home of the Beaver People. Originally established in 1794 as Rocky Mountain Fort, the arrival of fur traders brought change, and there were at least seven separate trading posts built, including the final Fort St. John, which was built in 1925 and finally closed in 1975. In the 1930s, a large influx of people with farming skills took up homesteads, and soon farming replaced trapping as the main industry. Many of those same families still farm in the
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surrounding area; some even farm with horses for pure enjoyment. Today, with their multiindustry tax base, Fort St. John boasts one of the younger populations in Canada, and the city has thriving recreational committees, including the High on Ice Winter Festival, where international ice carvers ply their skills and create a glittery, frozen wonderland of amazing sculptures in Centennial Park. The Festival attracts thousands of folks to the city, including well-known photographer Norbert Stoll, who took this pic of himself.
Norbert Stoll at High on Ice Winter Festival, Fort St. John, B.C.
Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
PHOTO: COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS; ANGIE MINDUS/WILLIAMS LAKE TRIBUNE; NORBERT STOLL
Fort St.
WESTERN ART REVIEW | TERRI MASON PORCH READS
Poems & Paintings from a Prairie Girl
Home by Dark, by Gena LaCoste, oil on oak panel, GenaLaCoste.com
Western Showcase, Calgary Stampede Western Showcase is recognized as one of the major destination areas of the Stampede. Surrounded by hundreds of pieces of original Western art and the artists that made it, the muted lighting, seating plus a stage filled with ongoing and vibrant musicians makes this a “must-see” part of the Stampede. Nearly 200 volunteers work tirelessly to present western heritage and values and our world-famous Western lifestyle. Western Showcase, located in Halls A, (Kitchen Theatre), D and E of the BMO Centre at Stampede Park, showcases art, entertainment, presentations Calgary Stampede Poster Competition and exhibitions that depict our Deadline: Nov 2019 Western Lifestyle. Western Showcase Calgary Jul 5–14 Halls A, D & E BMO Centre, Stampede Park 20 Roundup Way SE, Calgary, Alta. For more, visit WesternShowcase.com
Albertan youth, age 15–24, are invited to submit their best 2D works of art with the hope of being selected as a finalist to create their vision for the iconic 2020 Calgary Stampede poster and take home the first place $10,000 scholarship.
Right when you think you’ve got Saskatchewan recording artist Eli Barsi pegged, she up and surprises you all over again. This time, it’s not a new recording but rather a hardcover book that features 34 of her original poems highlighting many of her childhood memories, hopes, happy life and deep faith. The beautifully crafted poetry evokes its own imaginings and would be perfect just as printed words on a page, but to add to the imagery, the poems are accompanied by over 40 of Eli’s original paintings. Her words and brush strokes are as perfect a pairing as native grass and meadowlarks or wild crocus and baby calves. Eli, as everyone that has ever met her knows, is as sincere as she is talented, and as genuine as she is happy. With her guitar and song writing skills, she has carved an enviable life and this book is a result of her “down time” — exploring her poetry (which is completely different from writing a song) and crafting her paintings with a mixture of abandon and detail that makes up her world. This is a lovely book and one that should be shared with fans and newcomers to what I call “Barsi-ville,” in my mind a small town on the prairies where the folks all know each other, and the dogs never bite. Don’t let the size fool you — just like each of her finely crafted songs, Eli doesn’t waste words with superfluous nattering, nor does she waste paint with blobby daubs of colour. Each page is a finely fashioned consideration and worthy to ponder.
For more, visit calgarystampede.com/ postercompetition
PHOTO: COURTESY GENA LACOSTE
UPCOMING GALLERY SHOWS The 47th Annual Prix de West
Bluerock Gallery
Jun 7–Aug 11 National Cowboy Hall of Fame 1700 Northeast 63rd St. Oklahoma City, OK nationalcowboymuseum.org/ prixdewest
110 Centre Ave W Black Diamond, AB bluerockgallery.ca
The Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale features more than 300 paintings and sculpture by the finest contemporary Western artists in the nation.
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Representing almost 200 regional fine artists and craftspeople with many of them living and working within 100 miles of the gallery. The art is carefully curated and presented in a very accessible way.
Poems & Paintings from a Prairie Girl by Eli Barsi, hardcover, 35 pages. $35. To order this little prairie gem, visit elibarsi.com.
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SPIRIT OF THE WEST | HUGH MCLENNAN
Marlene Pegg Cariboo Cowgirl Artist
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t was about 1995, and our Spirit of the West radio show had only been around for about four years. Billie and I were at the Williams Lake Bull Sale looking at bulls and searching out stories for the show. Marlene Pegg was selling a great ranch horse prospect at the sale, and we got together for an interview. I was spellbound with her true-life adventures of starting colts, riding broncs and doing everything we’ve come to expect from a hard-working ranch wife up here in the Cariboo. 14
Fast-forward to the 2019 Kamloops Cowboy Festival Art Show. Marlene was there showing one of her beautiful paintings of ranch life. We were having a nice visit, and it finally dawned on me: this was
Cattle rancher and horse trainer Hugh McLennan and his wife, Billie, run their cattle in the beautiful rangeland outside of Kamloops, B.C. Hugh is the host of the multi-award-winning weekly radio program, Spirit of the West, heard across Canada and the U.S.
Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
PHOTO: MARK MCMILLAN
Hugh and Marlene Pegg during a Spirit of the West interview
too good not to share, so I sat her down, brought out my recorder and she brought us up-to-date on her life since that first visit. The years of rough horses and numerous wrecks have taken a toll on her back, and she has been unable to ride for the last several years. A tough transition after a career where there was no horse she wouldn’t work with. “My husband would say, ‘Marlene, you’re not intimidated by the wildest bronc, but a mouse can run across the floor and you lose it!’” she laughed. The transition from putting in long days on horseback to sharing her gift for art was not easy. “For years, you didn’t have to tell people what you could do. Your horse was the living proof.” Marlene still has four horses and says, “As long as I’m living, there will be horses on the place.” As an artist, Marlene is self-taught, and when you look into her paintings, the realism is what appeals to folks who understand the way of life. She does some commissioned artwork, as well as pencil portraits. “Our house needs bigger walls,” she says. “It might sound strange, but as I paint a picture of a horse, I can smell, feel and touch that horse,” she says. Her paintings have been exhibited at galleries in B.C. and have been chosen for several Williams Lake Stampede posters. One of her works was awarded Best in Show at the 2018 Kamloops Cowboy Festival, as well as winning the People’s Choice Award. Our conversation soon drifted back to horses. She explained how on a long road trip with her husband, the topic is always horses — they can talk about them for hours. I related that I, too, spend a long time telling Billie about my rides, about every subtle thing that happened between that horse and me. Marlene nodded in agreement and said, “Wow! and to have a partner that understands, that’s what relationships are really about.” c
WHEEL TO WHEEL | BILLY MELVILLE
Ray Ostrum Master Wagon Builder
When it comes to the sport of chuckwagon racing, the art of making chuckwagons is not something that readily comes to the minds of fans. However, it has probably been one of the biggest evolutions that the sport has quietly improved on over the past 35 years. Because of this, Ray Ostrom of Biggar, Sask., has be able to turn his hobby into a full-time occupation. Ray got his first taste of wagon building in the early 1960s, when he built his own pony chuckwagon to race on the local Saskatchewan circuit. Little did he know that this was the seed that would one day grow and become bigger than he ever could have imagined. He built his first Thoroughbred wagon in the early 1980s, and according to Ostrom, “it just snowballed from there.” “I don’t know if it’s a real secret (to building a good chuckwagon) per se,” says Ostrom, “but there are certain little idiosyncrasies that you should know, and I happened to figure it out.” Unlike many of the other wagon makers, Ostrom built everything from the wheel hubs (which were usually only available
Tyler Helmig’s Ostrum-built wagon
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from the Amish in the U.S.), the spokes and 100 per cent of the running gear. Everything else is an option above that. Ray never thought he would see the day when four of his chuckwagons would race against each other in the same heat at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. It happened for the first time in 2004, and many times since at just about every chuckwagon show. As Ray puts it, “I never ever thought it would ever happen, but it did. And it’s a feather in my hat. I never dreamt of it.” Former World Champion Chuckwagon Driver Tyler Helmig was one of the first drivers to run a Ray Ostrom wagon. He had driven other wagon makers’ wagons but preferred those made by Ostrom. Helmig maintains that Ray’s wagons
Ray Ostrum of Biggar, Sask., earned a welldeserved reputation as a master wagon builder
stayed “tighter,” were “well balanced” and “tracked” very nicely. He is the first to point out that Ray took the time and care and paid attention to the smallest of details. “Ray took a lot of pride in what he did,” says Helmig, “and you can see it in the final product.” Today, no less than half of the drivers on the WPCA Pro Tour are running Ray Ostrom chuckwagons. Sadly, Ray Ostrom passed away on March 29, 2019, after a brief battle with cancer, at the age of 72. He was known not only as the “Wagon Builder” but also as a master of his craft. C Billy Melville is an author, noted historian and chuckwagon colour commentator on Rural Radio (SiriusXM Ch 147) and CBC Sports. He is the grandson of Orville Strandquist.
PHOTOS: BILLY MELVILLE
T
he invention of the chuckwagon has been attributed to Texas rancher Charles Goodnight, who introduced the concept in 1866. Goodnight modified the Studebaker wagon to suit the needs of cowboys driving cattle from Texas to New Mexico.
Don’t miss this show! Witness the true art of horsemanship at this one-ofa-kind event
July 19, 20, & 21
FRIDAY NIGHT
Family Friendly Entertainment Sanctioned Rodeo
SUNDAY
Sanctioned Rodeo Finals Children’s Calf Scramble
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SATURDAY NIGHT
Family Friendly Cabaret Featuring The Backroad Traveler Band
ALL WEEKEND LONG Family Friendly Beer Gardens
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SOME DAYS ARE DIAMOND | “DIAMOND” DOUG KEITH
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few years back, shortly after harvest season, I was sitting with my buddy having a cup of cowboy coffee and solving the universe’s problems, when the subject of our new neighbours came up. They had been there for a few months, so I wondered if my friend had met them yet. He responded that he hadn’t in fact — not even at the Co-Op Feed & Hardware Store, which was the centre of our world. We get our mail, ranch supplies, feed, treats and all the latest gossip there, so 18
it’s odd not to run into someone at such an integral location. We decided to saddle up and ride over to introduce ourselves to these fine folks. They lived only two-and-a-half miles
down a dirt road from my place. Well, with all our joking, stories and laughing, it took longer than expected to tack up. Even though it was well into twilight, we struck out at a jog on our mission of neighbourly welcome. The ride was stunning, as the farmers were burning piles of stubble that sent flames high into the pink and orange sky of the setting sun. A ride I wouldn’t soon forget — for several reasons. The more we rode, the darker it got, especially since we had to keep dismounting to relieve ourselves of the countless cups of coffee we had drank. By the time Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
ILLUSTRATION BY “DIAMOND” DOUG KEITH
Horse Tubbin’
the well had gone dry, it was night, and a dark one at that. We eventually found their driveway and turned in. I said, “Let’s be quiet. They may have kids asleep.” I think my buddy nodded in agreement, but I am not sure, as it was too dark to see. I also whispered, “The last folks had their entertainment centre downstairs, so let’s go round back—they won’t hear us at the front door.” As we walked beside their house, we started to hear a kind of a waterfall sound. They must have some kind of backyard design pond or something, I thought. As we quietly continued, the horses’ ears began going crazy. Something was up there. It was then that we turned the corner and stopped in our tracks. There was a scream (not sure if it was the husband or the wife), and we found ourselves in chaps and spurs mounted on a couple of good cow horses standing right overtop a hot tub. The husband dove for a towel, and she covered herself with her arms and slipped deeper into the water until it was right below her nose. It was now obvious that they were having a romantic evening, sans their swim trunks. I didn’t quite know what to say or do, so I just stammered out, “It is a real pleasure to finally see… er, meet you guys. We thought we would come over and welcome you and let you know if you ever need anything to shout.” The gentleman replied, “We should be ok.” On that note, my horse leaned nose first into the tub, right over the woman, and started drinking that hot tub water. You know, they never called and we never saw them again — not even at the Co-op. I did, however, install a hot tub myself because my buddy told me they are babe magnets. I sit in it every night, but as of this writing… still no babes! c
Come feel the rush
Come and experience what 70KM per hour of horse power feels like!
Century Mile Racetrack and Casino is located next to Edmonton International Airport.
www.centurymile.com
“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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PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK/ 141CREW
REFLECTIONS | BRYN THIESSEN
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Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
Hang On to That Twine, Son We Can Use It to Fix the Fence (Old farmer’s advice) Anyone who knows me, knows I don’t consider myself a farmer. In fact, when the boys were young, they thought it was the “F-word” and wouldn’t utter it. But the part where twine is used to patch or tie up a fence has been known to happen. Often out of convenience, but at times out of necessity, it was all I had and, sometimes, all I could afford. Ever since the Devil’s Rope (early name for barbed wire) came into common use in the West, it has caused trouble — everything from range wars to torn flesh. In fact, in 2010, Norway banned the use of barbed wire to limit an animal’s movement, replacing it with smooth electric wire. As a result of that decision, Rolls-Royce now buys hides from Norwegian cattle to produce the leather used in their cars (Maybe politicians should take note when making elections promises: less barbs, more zing). The other problem with a fence is that as soon as it’s built, it requires attention. If your fenceline is in the open, most damage comes from pressure, both livestock and wildlife, including those from town. Back here in the West Country, we have the added peril of large vegetation, growing both under and around fences, and when moved by the wind, across them. No matter where your range is, a broken wire needs to be spliced back together. In the 45+ years that I’ve been back on the Helmer, we’ve replaced the posts on most of the fences and built some new ones. The problem is, a lot of the wire is older than I am and, like my
physical self, has become a little more brittle with age. Add that along the way I’ve acquired used wire from several sources (It was free, so it fit the budget) and have often used this for splices, as it had the same strength as the rest of the fence. I’ve learned from experience, however, that new wire allows you to tighten the fence beyond the capabilities of the old wire. As a result, I have a lot of old fence with a lot of splices, all beyond their prime, and some that have taken root. If we take that picture a little deeper, my life, much like my fences, is made up of splices. To quote myself, “I do a poor job of several things instead of just one.” I can make my life (like my fences) work, but not always to someone else’s timeline. It might be time to make some changes. I never want to be all hat and no cattle, but it might be time to replace fence and have less battle. If we take all these thoughts into our spiritual pastures, we find a teaching of Jesus, In Luke 5:36– 39. He speaks of putting new wine in old wineskins. Just like old wire can’t handle the pressure, old ways of looking at things can’t always contain new ways of thinking. As we grow in our knowledge of God, we find who He is doesn’t always fit within the fences we put around Him. It might be time to quit splicing together old wire and to allow Him some say in where He’d like to be. It’s a pasture worth fencing and a ride worth taking. 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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TRAILBLAZERS
PEOPLE WHO SHAPED THE WEST
Henry Kelsey
First in the West By TIM LASIUTA
enry Kelsey’s contribution to our nation’s history is manifold: he is regarded as the first European to see the Canadian Prairies, musk oxen, grizzly bears and the buffalo. He is credited with the first peace treaties with First Nations tribes west of York Factory. He is documented as being one of the first to search for the North West Passage (1689) and is credited with writing the first dictionary of any native language. In addition to all the above achievements, he was a ship captain, a governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company and an early proponent of adult education. Yet with all of these achievements over the course of a life that spanned 57 years (1670 to 1727), he was scarcely a footnote in Canadian history. That is until 1926 when Mr. Archibald Dobbs made an accidental discovery in his library in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. Upon examination, the papers he discovered proved to be the Henry Kelsey journals that covered 40 years spent in service of the Hudson’s Bay Company, including records of a period from 1690 to 1692 that discussed two journeys west of Fort York to secure trading rights for the Company. Prior to the posting of the young Kelsey, the farthest west any European explorer had been was Sault Ste Marie, and all lands west had been claimed by Jean Talon for France, despite him never having travelled through them.
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According to the records, Kelsey was an adventurous young man who enjoyed the company of the many First Nations tribes in the area, spoke their language passably well, and ‘could paddle with the best of them’ and carry a pack all day, in addition to being welcome in their midst. Kelsey began his journey west from Fort York on June 12, 1690, in the company of Cree First Nations guides, with the blessing of the Company on a sunny morning. He recorded his departure in his journal: “Then up the River I with heavy heart Did take my way and from all English part To live amongst ye natives of this place If God permits me for one two years space.” The richly detailed journal also records specific areas and geologic zones: “the ground begins to dry with wood Poplo and birch with ash that’s very good For the Natives of this place wch knows No use of Better than their wooden Bows.” Kelsey, along with his compatriots, travelled as few as five miles per day and as many as 10 along the old trails and stopped at what is now known as Le Pas, then a Naywatame-Cree village and described it as a “neck of land.” He reached the great River of the West, the Saskatchewan (Wa Pas Kwa Yaw) and gazed on what must have struck him with awe. His journey took him past present-day landmarks, such as Nipawin (Cree for crest), Saskatoon (by the present University of Saskatchewan site), Clarkboro, and an area of “great store of buffalo,” close to the Eagle Hills (present hamlet of Struan). Kelsey travelled with the Cree and crossed
Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
IMAGE: COURTESY CANADA POST
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IMAGE SOURCE: FIRST IN THE WEST/JMES W. WHILLANS: HBC CORPORATE COLLECTION
into what is known as Alberta today by the Battle River, 20 km north of Chauvin. During Whillans’ recreation from 1944 to 1954, he travelled the old trails and matched journal and terrain, often conversing with pioneers who knew of the trails that lead past their homesteads and farms, and often stood on the same ground where Henday (1754) and Kelsey (1690-91) travelled.
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In fact, 60 years later, Anthony Henday travelled much of the same trails that Kelsey did, recording observations that shed light on the previous journey. The information gathered from both journeys explained conditions on the prairies, pre-settlement and pre-treaty. Much of the mystery of the journal lies in its descriptive phrases, which to the eyes and ears of modern readers did not read as we are accustomed. Therein lies the romance and glamour of his journey, yet it took the discovery of the journals in the Dobbs Library and the passion of James W. Whillans to ignite the fire. In his book, First in the West, (1955), he sought to retrace the route that Kelsey took in both journeys and meticulously recorded his observations and discoveries. Other scholars and researchers, such as Dr Tyrell and the Manitoba Historical Society, have delved into his journeys, but none travelled the trail or paddled the rivers as Whillans did. While there is debate over his exact journey, there is no doubt over the significance of his journey. Whillans passed away in 1954, hours before finalizing details of his book. Kelsey died 300 years prior and like Whillans, was unaware of the significance of his scholarly works to future generations. c
OPOSITE PAGE: Henry Kelsey stamp, issued April 15, 1970, by Canada Post TOP: Map of Kelsey’s probable journey into Alberta, 1690 BOTTOM: Charles W. Jeffreys 1927 painting of Henry Kelsey
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Sons of the Pioneers, from left: Paul Elliot, Trail Boss Tommy Nallie, Dusty Rogers, Chuck Ervin, John Fullerton, Ken Lattimore
On the Trail Sons of the Pioneers By TERRI MASON
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ttend any Western gathering and if the band on stage is very, very good, they will attempt to sing a Sons of the Pioneers song, such as “Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds,” “Cool Water,” or “Ghost Riders in the Sky.” From the immediately recognizable first notes, the audience holds their breath, hoping against hope that the band will be as good as their memories of the original band that first recorded these classic tunes. This summer, you can hear the real thing as the multi-award-winning Sons of the Pioneers hit the stage with (at press time) 11 shows in Alberta and two in Saskatchewan. Their playing is stellar and their singing features tight harmonies and the band’s signature stylings. In short; from the first notes, this iconic band will transport the audience back to a simpler time — back when the West was wild, the good guys wore white hats and silver was the decoration of choice on saddles, bridles and pistols. Originally founded in 1934 by Roy Rogers, Tim Spencer and Canadianborn Bob Nolan, the band has enjoyed a continuous run of stage and screen
Born Robert Clarence Nobles, the future star was raised in Winnipeg, Man., but by 1921, he was moved to Tucson to live with his U.S. Army father, Harry, who had changed Robert’s last name to Nolan. In Sept 1931, Nolan answered a Los Angeles ad that read, “Yodeler for oldtime act, to travel. Tenor preferred.” The band was The Rocky Mountaineers, led by a young singer named Leonard Slye, who would later change his name to Roy Rogers. By 1934, Nolan co-founded the Sons of the Pioneers. The singing group became very popular, produced numerous recordings and began performing Nolan’s original songs on a nationally syndicated radio show. Nolan’s “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” became their signature tune. The Sons of the Pioneers recorded many of Nolan’s songs, including “Cool Water,” one of the group’s most famous recordings. With the Sons of the Pioneers, Nolan made guest appearances in high-budget films and appeared in at least 88 Western films. Although he was approached numerous times, the reclusive songwriter always turned down the chance to be a movie star. In 1971, Nolan was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
appearances for 85 years, during which time 45 singers and musicians have been named official members. Now, the son of Roy Rogers, Dusty Rogers, has joined up with the troupe, and it seems they’ve come full circle. 2019 marks the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Sons of the Pioneers, and they remain as talented as ever, treating each song with the reverence accorded to the classics. Canadian Cowboy Country is pleased as punch to be involved with this talented remuda of musicians, and we invite you to experience these time-honoured tunes. For more on the Sons of the Pioneers, including their performance schedule in Canada and the U.S., visit sonsofthepioneers.org c
Bob Nolan (1908–1980)
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Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
PHOTO: COURTESY SOTP, WIKIPEDIA
Bob Nolan (1908–1980)
THE WESTERNERS
Pete Fraser Bringing “Western” to the World By DIANNE FINSTAD
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PHOTO: COURTESY FRASER FAMILY
ot all good western work is done from the back of a saddle. Sometimes it happens in boardrooms, on judges’ stands, or in the arena dirt with a microphone.
Riding one of his many Paint horses, Pete and his wife, Diane, have been associated with Paint horses for decades
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Peter Fraser is a perfect example of that. He’s earned a sterling reputation, as he has judged, promoted and proclaimed both close to home and at international destinations. Fraser has been associated with Paint horses, the Calgary Stampede, the University of Calgary and, now, the Extreme Cowboy movement. In fact, he’s the first Canadian to be inducted into the Extreme Cowboy Hall of Fame! He’s also been presented with the Stampede White Hat Award. His commitment to, and enthusiasm for, all things horsemanship and horse people is truly contagious. It’s not surprising to see Fraser’s boots firmly planted in the Western way of life. His family’s roots in his home of High River, Alta., run deep. “My Dad was always involved, with events like the High River Little Britches Rodeo and the Stampede. We were raised to volunteer,” says Fraser, who has three brothers, Dave, Bill and Bob, who are all renowned horse specialists (Dave and Bob are Canadian Champion Team Ropers). His late sister, Margaret, was also Stampede Royalty. “I was successful riding and trained my own horses, but I wasn’t the best in my family,” admits Fraser. So he pursued an education, which became a cornerstone of Fraser’s life and career outside the horse pen. 25
THE WESTERNERS
Fraser family entering the Family Class at the Calgary Spring Horse Show; ca. 1966. Left: Dave, Bob, Pete, Bill, Marg and Ron
“I say my parents dropped me off at university in 1967 and never came back to pick me up,” he chuckles. After studying education, psychology, sociology and kinesiology, he landed within the administration at the University of Calgary and retired in 2010 as an Associate Vice-President. He also played a role in the 1988 Calgary Olympics. “I’ve always been able to speak; I’ve always been able to entertain and be positively controversial.” In his daily life, Fraser puts his sociology and psychology courses to good use, as well as his animal behavioural science classes. But he was also never far from the barn. “I went back to horses when I met my wife, Diane (they’ve been married 35 years). She was a city girl who was really horsey. We forged our own legacy in Paint horses and showed throughout the Midwest until we slowed down for the boys.” Their sons, Cody and Casey, who are now in their 30s, grew up showing horses and competed in team penning. They are active supporters of Cowboy Up, with
Cody serving as the clown and T-shirt gun master. While Fraser competed vigorously in most sports, as well as on horseback, his knees began to give him grief, so he turned to volunteering, and it wasn’t long before he found his way to the officiating circle. Since then he has judged nearly every equine discipline.
he’s chaired the Light Horse, the Western Performance Horse, and the Nomination and Shareholder Relations committees, and was instrumental in the construction of what’s now known as the Nutrien Western Events Center on Stampede Park. “I’ve been blessed my whole life with choices. Opportunity has always knocked at just the right time when I needed a change.” When the chance came along to champion the sport of Extreme Cowboy racing, Fraser ran with it, and it’s become a career within itself. He now serves as Director of Judges and Judging for the EXCA (Extreme Cowboy Association), which takes him to events around the world where he also runs clinics, as interest in the sport mushrooms. “The number of people coming from Australia and Europe to the world show is growing exponentially and is going to be double again this year. Travelling to Europe has been eye-opening. There are amazing riders there, and our goal is to teach them the finer points of Extreme Cowboy racing.” “It’s amazing. They’re Western crazy. They love the lifestyle. When I went to France last April, it was unbelievable.
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“Judging has always been easy for me. In good judging, like in sports, you learn to see things in slow motion. Everyone finds their niche.” Understanding people and process, plus horses, has been a dynamic combination for Fraser. His resume includes such prestigious accomplishments as being elected President of the American Paint Horse Association (he’s the only non-American ever to be head of any horse breed association in the U.S.). Over his now 40-plus years of being a Stampede volunteer,
Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
PHOTO: COURTESY FRASER FAMILY
“I’ve been blessed my whole life with choices. Opportunity has always knocked at just the right time when I needed a change.”
PHOTO: COURTESY CALGARY STAMPEDE; PETE FRASER
They were so enthralled with everything Western. They even had a replica of Fort Apache from the Rin Tin Tin TV show!” Pending his recovery from knee replacement surgery, Fraser plans to be in Belgium in September, where he will do clinics and judge the European championships. “The beauty of Extreme Cowboy is there’s no breeds. There’s no one best way of doing things, no such thing as a perfect score. We preach the best obstacle is when a rider accomplishes something virtually nobody else can do and makes it look easy.” Even though Extreme Cowboy is his “baby” at Stampede, you’ll also find him announcing the miniature horse show and his other favourite — the mini-chuckwagons. “One of the biggest thrills for me is being introduced as the voice of the mini-chucks!” Whether it’s playing with the audience at the Calgary Stampede or instructing new Extreme Cowboy participants in Europe, Pete Fraser’s passion for all things Western, and life in general, never wanes. “If I don’t learn something every day, then I’ve failed. But you also have to know when to get out of the way. That means ‘go do something different,’ not that your time has ‘ended.’ I’m downright confident I have some new things coming on. I just don’t know what they are. It’ll be a surprise, but a good surprise.” c
Cosplay participants at réplique Fort Apache
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Pete Fraser and crew setting up the Extreme Cowboy competition course at the Calgary Stampede
Cowboy Up Turns 10! Just over a decade ago, Pete Fraser described the Western horse world as being in status quo and ‘losing ground’ mode. Extreme Cowboy racing was in its infancy and being promoted by highprofile horse trainer Craig Cameron on his TV show. It was the kind of activity the Calgary Stampede was looking for to inject some new excitement into its equine competitions. So Fraser was approached to check it out. This was happening at the same time that extreme sports were being added to the Olympics. “What was it about Extreme Cowboy that captured the crowds? Loud music, intense fans, a short list of athletes who could do these things, upbeat announcers, and all the audience knew was that they had an amazing time and couldn’t believe what these people could do. That really kept the Olympics alive,” observed Fraser. Could that work to build more fans for Western events, too? The Cowboy Up challenge was created to find out, by capturing skills from all different disciplines and adding the element of speed, while still showcasing great horsemanship. Craig Cameron was invited for its Stampede debut, and it gained instant acceptance. The Stampede’s ingenuity in course design and production, Cameron’s showmanship at the microphone, plus enthusiastic competitors and volunteers have built Cowboy Up into one of the most popular equine events of the Stampede. Creative obstacles like a chuckwagon to ride through, swinging bridges or ‘merry-go-round’ wheels have been copied at Extreme Cowboy events everywhere. But the Stampede still boasts the
largest ‘spin box’ in the world (it weighs 2,318 pounds!). Cowboy Up is an invitational event to showcase the best of the best. Fraser says they’re always trying to stay current, inviting youth for the first time last year. This year, the Stampede even opened up a spot for an overseas rider. Earning the invitation is Ashir Kol, an enthusiastic rider who will travel all the way from Israel. Fraser believes the sport’s success comes because those watching can get involved even if they don’t understand the finer points of horsemanship. It’s about the stories, how the riders meet the obstacle challenges, T-shirt guns and a fast-paced, tight show. “It’s ‘speed with control’ — that’s what they love. We have the smallest rule book of any sport because we want it so that anybody can do it. You don’t have to beat everybody or anybody to actually feel like a winner. By showing what you can do, we inspire people all over the world.”
The French replica of Fort Apache made famous by the 1950s American TV show, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. From 1988– 1993 the story was adapted and became the Canadian-made TV show, Katts and Dog, which was called Rin Tin Tin: K-9 Cop in the U.S. and Rintintin Junior in France. This is the home of many extreme cowboy competitions.
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RANCHERS' SPECIAL
What Works For Us By TERRI MASON
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rass is everything. I have always called good ranchers the original environmentalists because they strive for balance — knowing that their entire bottom line depends on the health of the grass that nourishes. In this issue, one ranch is a bit older and deals with the in-and-out world of rodeo stock, while the other was literally created a mere 20 years ago.
Big Country Rodeo Ranch Elda Weatherly; Warren, Heather, daughters Haylee, Jayna Weatherly; Donna Weatherly Botha, Alta. Established: 1971 Elevation: 2,651 feet (808 m)
WARREN WEATHERLY
We supply rough stock for about 50 rodeo performances a year, (Canadian Cowboys, Lakeland, World Pro Bulls, Bull Riders Canada), so there’s a lot of coming and going. Generally, the rodeo bulls are kept separate from the horses. Because of where we’re at and how we’re set up, there are cows all around us, so the majority of our bulls stay penned up year-round; not by choice, but by necessity. It’s a heck of a lot easier to keep them penned up than to go and get them out of the neighbour’s field. In the summer I have access to a small pasture where I will day-graze them; our girls then saddle up and go gather bulls after school. The bulls are healthier for it. 28
Annual precip: 19 inches (481 mm) including the melt, except during drought Cattle: 17 head cows (bucking stock) Rodeo stock: 70 horses, 40+ bulls
We have 17 head of cows that we use to breed rodeo stock, and they are on a treed quarter of mainly native grass; it’s a nice set-up, and that’s where my sister, Donna Weatherly, lives and cowboys. For the horses we have a large and a small pasture, and they’re both mainly native grass. The smaller pasture was probably set up to ease the gather. The big pasture has a small spring creek that runs through the centre. We have a quarter about nine miles away, and that’s where we summer our colts. It’s nice ’cause I put our four-year-olds over there where I can’t get my hands on them and let them grow up. That’s also War Cry’s (2005, 2006 CFR Top SB) summer home, and he goes and babysits colts all summer. He looks after them and makes sure they make
the right choices; he’s kind of a mentor. It’s mainly native grass, too, so that’s why we get such a show of crocus every spring. With wildlife, deer come through, but they don’t tend to stay. I’m not sure if it’s because of the horses or not, and we have lots of coyotes. We see the odd moose, and there’s been the odd cougar report, but nothing’s been proven. With this drought we’ve had a lot of brush die out — it’s a big concern of mine. I’m looking into ways to preserve it. In our area there’s been far too much brush cleared, and I believe it was there for a reason. Brush always seems to pull the moisture, plus it’s a windbreak, it holds the snow — there are so many benefits to brush. We do our best and try not to overgraze — and that’s what works for us.” Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
PHOTO: COURTESY BIG COUNTRY RODEO, HEATHER WEATHERLY
BULLS ON LOCKDOWN
Brand: Triangle over Lazy R (Horse, LT)
RANCHING FROM SCRATCH KEVIN LARSEN
We managed a fairly large ranch for Doug Price near Fish Lake in the Hand Hills for several years. We had our own cows and some land in partnership, but we wanted an outfit of our own and to expand a bit. I looked for about five years, from Australia to Uruguay and all across Canada. I looked in this area, too, because we kept driving through Roblin — rolling hills, trees, rivers — it’s really pretty country.
PHOTO: COURTESY LARSEN FAMILY
We lucked into a block of land. I took one look at it and said, ‘There’s the ranch.’ It was all farmland; we’ve got about three miles of river, rolling hills, but it was all just farmland. In June we packed up everything and started from scratch. A bunch of our friends from Cessford country wanted to see how stupid we were, so they came out, the Beasley’s and the Horner’s; and we had them help build corrals. We fenced and cross-fenced (that took a couple of years), and seeded it down to orchard grass, meadow brome, tall red fescue, a little bit of crested wheat, (which didn’t do real well out here; too wet) and a bit of alfalfa. We were quite fortunate that all of the land was pretty much in a block, so that made it easy to create a grazing plan. I suppose my biggest field would be a section, and then we broke it down to quarters. We calve down along the river on stockpiled grass. Out here the farmers are pretty much seven months feeding, five months grazing, but we’re the opposite — seven-plus
From left: Tyrel, Orin, Kevin, Cassie, Kane and Wanda Larsen
months grazing. We generally make it to Christmas before we roll out a bale and try to have cows out on stockpiled grass midApril, early May. I’ll put bigger numbers out onto two or three quarters until they graze it down to 4 to 6 inches, and then move them off. It’s not like it’s being done every day; if I wanted to do mob grazing or close rotational, I would have bought a dairy. We’ve set it up so that we just have to ride out and open gates. We do things much the same way out here that we did in the Hand Hills. Out here, there are farmers who tend to calve in January / February; we calve the end of April into May; heifers a couple of weeks before. We’re done by the end of June. We check them twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, all done on horseback, and they pretty much calve unassisted. We leave the bulls out for 75 to 80 days; we try to get close to three cycles [cows coming into heat.] We brand the end of June, the same way that we did in Alberta. Calves are heeled and dragged to the fire. Predators can be a problem, and it’s getting worse. Coyotes, but also black bears — there’s a very high population
of them, and now the wolves are starting to pack up. We are six miles from Riding Mountain National Park, so there’s a healthy population. I’ll tell you winter is the [pits]; we get a lot of snow. But my favourite part of ranching over here is spring, summer and fall — it is just so beautiful. The favourite part of my day is getting on my horse and riding along the river, checking cows — it is so beautiful — and that’s what works for us.” c
Shell Valley Ranch Kevin and Wanda (nee Wearmouth) Larsen; sons Tyrel, Orin, Kane and daughter Cassie Nearest town: Inglis, Man. Established: 1999 Elevation: 1,912 feet (583 m) Annual precip: 16 inches (412 mm) including the melt Cattle: Commercial blacks Brand: Running bar L (Cattle, LH)
Shell Valley Ranch pasture
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TRADITIONAL COWBOY ARTS
Making a Master BIT & SPUR MAKERS By EMILY KITCHING
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PHOTOS: COURTESY NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM
horseman is an artist when he takes a young horse with no training through the stages of physical and mental development to become a finished bridle horse, a worldclass competitor, or a dependable children’s mount. In this instalment, master bit and spur makers and Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA) members Ernie Marsh of Lovell, Wyoming, and Wilson Capron of Christoval, Texas, offer their insight on a variety of topics relating to mastery. The parallels that can be drawn from their concepts of excellence can easily be transferred to whatever creative endeavour you might pursue.
Ernie Marsh’s Santa Barbara bit
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Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
For both artists, each piece begins with a creative vision, a clear concept of the finished piece. “Design for me starts with pencil and paper,” says Capron. “A piece has to have a good design. The ornamentation has to be laid out in a way that enhances the architecture of the piece. When I start, I’m not thinking about the individual steps. I’m thinking about the finished piece. Once I have that vision, then I break down the steps that it will take me to get there. I’m asking myself, ‘Is what I am doing now setting me up for success in the next step?’” “Mastery is a life-long journey,” says Marsh. “I float an idea around in my mind for years sometimes before I commit to building it. I give myself the time to really wrap my head around it before I begin work. Then every step of the way needs to be your best work. As Dale Harwood would say, a master would treat every cut or, in this case, every file stroke as if it were the most important one. And I live by that rule.” In horsemanship or craftsmanship, solid fundamentals will put you on the right path for success. “Most of the time it’s weak fundamentals that prevent a maker from being a master. The things he or she should have learned on Day One. Those are the elements you can never quit thinking about,” says Capron. “People get in a hurry, they are excited to move on to the next step. When I was a rodeo guy, everyone wanted to learn how to go fast, even if they hadn’t learned how to catch yet. Back up, slow down and learn the basics.” Both artists agree whole-heartedly that mentorship is crucial. Both have taken guidance they received and are teaching and mentoring the makers of tomorrow. “I’m not going to say that having a mentor is absolutely mandatory. But when people ask me how I became a member of the TCAA at 30 years old, I tell them I had
two of the best possible mentors a person could ask for. They refused to allow me to make the mistakes that they had made,” says Capron. “I had mentors, and I believe it is necessary,” says Marsh. “Some of my mentors were bit makers and some of my mentors were horsemen. I think to have both is important. And not just one guy… everyone is going to do something a little bit different. People achieve success using slightly different methods. You need to expose yourself and ask a lot of questions. Reach out to people that are getting things done, and ask them questions.” I asked: What role do you see the TCAA playing in today’s market of ideas and collectable horse gear? “My daily mission is to be the best bit and spur maker that I can possibly be. Not the best in the world, but the best that I can be. That never stops until the day I die,” says Capron. “I look at the TCAA as an organization that accepts nothing but the best. Each one of us in our own discipline is trying to push those limits of what was once thought of as the best. Our mission statement is to preserve and promote these disciplines, and we have done that. We have changed the industry. The love of the West is not dead; it’s alive and well, and it fits in your horse’s mouth, on the back of your boot, in your barn or in your home.” “There is more openness in sharing now. In every aspect, not only of gear making but horsemanship too,” says Marsh. “There are more places to go learn things now than there ever has been. The TCAA has done a remarkable job showing these works to the public that they would otherwise never get to see. I’ve been lying in bed at night for 35 years trying to go to sleep but I can’t because I’m thinking about a design for a bit. That ultimate bit… I keep thinking about it.” c
Wilson Capron created these Southwestern-style spurs with silver and 24K gold inlays
Ernie Marsh’s Chihuahuastyle spurs with filigreed 2 3/4-inch rowels
“There is more openness in sharing now. In every aspect, not only of gear making but horsemanship too.”
cowboycountrymagazine.com
Learn more at tcowboyarts.org.
Wilson Capron created this S-shank bit of sculpted steel with fine silver inlays and nitre-blue finish, sterling silver and 14K gold beads, and sterling silver conchas
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COWBOY WAY
PART 2 OF SIX
CATTLE HANDLING
Get Them Dogies Moving… Training Cattle, Training Cowboys
I
t has become clear to me over the last 40 years of herding cattle, that not all movement is equal. Calm movement, characterized by a relaxed walk with heads level with or below the level of the topline, can make moving a herd very easy and enjoyable. On the other hand, panicked movement, with heads held high and on the run, makes for a very difficult move, and at times, they may not all get moved. Calm herd movement likes to keep going and usually in the same direction, therefore, constant pushing and redirecting aren’t typically required. When we have control of a herd, we can steer it the direction we want — we can speed it up, slow it down and stop it, when 32
and where we want. This is a herd that we can drive. When we don’t have control of a herd, these aspects of control are absent, and we have a herd that we end up chasing. Chasing and driving are different. Chasing cattle will not create uniform control — it will be chaotic at best and,
quite often, bunch quitters will evade us, cattle will spill through fences or the herd will balk at gates and run back. And when we do get them into a corral, they will be agitated or flat-out wild. Sorting or processing cattle that are very bothered can be a struggle, to say the least. It isn’t that the job can’t be done or won’t get done — it’s that getting it done in a calm, controlled manner is always preferable. How a herd behaves in a corral has everything to do with the way they were gathered and corralled. One of my mentors was Bud Williams, and it was his opinion that 90 per cent of the troubles one has in corrals are a result of how the cattle are gathered and brought in. When cattle walk into the corral calmly, the job in the corral Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
PHOTO: COURTESY TK RANCH
By DYLAN BIGGS
Moving part of the TK Ranch herd; notice the rider is out where the cattle see him with their left eye, and as they walk around the soft area, the majority space themselves single file
will be much easier, safer, more efficient and enjoyable. Historically, getting certain ranch jobs done with our cattle was far from enjoyable. Sorting cattle in corrals or alleys usually peppered the air with a lot of cussing. Getting our cows to go up the chute to the squeeze was accomplished with no shortage of poking, prodding and whacking with old hockey sticks and/or canes. For those of you who grew up working cattle with your parents, I expect that, like me, getting yelled at by your dad while sorting was not an uncommon experience. Over the years my mom went back to the house in tears on more than one occasion before the job was actually done. Travelling around the country presenting livestock-handling cowboycountrymagazine.com
clinics to ranch families for over 20 years now, I can tell you that outbursts of yelling are common. The foundation for getting control of a herd, or what I call driving, is getting the right start. Cattle that are very nervous to begin with may end up spooking and running off regardless. However, if they do, don’t chase after them and try to control them — stop for a bit. You can’t chase or force a good start. All you can do is ask for it. With yearlings that spook off, if you just sit tight for a bit instead of going after them, their curiosity will quite often bring them back, and you can ask them to go again. When their curiosity doesn’t bring them back, just follow them at a walk until they come to a stop on their own. I keep asking
cattle to leave until they will turn and walk away without their heads stuck up in the air — even if it means asking a number of times before you get the departure you want. The thing I have experienced with this process over the years is that when you take the time to get them to walk away today and you can get out to the side and walk with them, they will then be set up for a good start the next time you move them. There are a number of ways we can exert pressure on cattle to get them to move. Noise is a common approach — whistling, hissing or using your voice. However, noise in itself doesn’t communicate specifically what we want. It’s just noise, similar to raising one’s voice when speaking to someone who doesn’t speak our 33
COWBOY WAY
Counting cattle on the TK Ranch as the herd calmly walks by
language. For this reason, noise is an ineffective strategy. With nervous cattle, it can even prove counterproductive by making the cattle more nervous. Calling cattle is different in that it isn’t intended to scare them, and if calling is rewarded with new pasture or a palatable feed, it doesn’t take long to train them to being called. Calling cattle can be effective in some circumstances, but it should not be confused with control. This is proven when the circumstance arises where the reward being offered isn’t enough to entice them into, through or over something that they aren’t comfortable with, such as pavement with paint, bridges, railroad tracks, a creek or simply an unfamiliar gate. Then we resort to what we were trying to avoid by calling them, which is getting behind them to push them, wave our arms and start making noise, and everything starts to fall apart. This is the same as leading with feed — there are times when it works, but there are also times when it can make your job a lot more difficult. Moving cow-calf pairs with a bale deck truck or a bale processor in the fall is a prime example. The cows know the routine and come running immediately, but the calves don’t have a clue and, from the get-go, you have everyone unpaired, calves straggling behind, and then you go to push on
them at the back, and they get nervous and want to run back to where they were with Mom last and the wreck is on. It doesn’t take the cows long before they figure out they aren’t actually going to get fed, and then they remember they have a calf and they start running back for their calves. So calling and leading with feed is fine in some circumstances, but not in all, and it is not equivalent to a herd that is trained to drive. The most effective way to exert pressure on cattle is by getting close enough to
Pushing directly into the backend of a herd will hollow out the back and flare the flanks, spreading the herd out. When this tailgating is sustained, it will cause the herd to slow down as well, and/or change their direction. The effectiveness of either pressuring into the side or using a sweeping motion across the back of the herd right past the flanks is that you don’t get stuck in behind in the blind spot. Out to the side is where the cattle can see you, and the chances of them hooking around to keep an eye on you is greatly reduced. Cattle that are at all nervous want to keep an eye on you, and if you want them to go straight, you need to be out to the side far enough that they can see you without having to turn. Pushing or tailgating is one of those impulses that seems natural when it comes to moving cattle, but it can quite often cause the cattle to do things we don’t actually want them to do. We can create a lot of extra work for ourselves if we are not aware of the full impact of our actions on the movement and/or direction of the herd. In the next article, I will discuss effective ways to control direction and speed and will touch on some other things we like to do but should actually avoid when herding cattle. c
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them that you get into their personal space and they decide to move away. Asking for forward movement is much more effective when you pressure into the side of an animal or a herd, even when you are actually still behind them, as opposed to our natural impulse of pushing directly from the rear into the tail. A back-and-forth sweeping pattern, like good herding dogs do, is much more effective than pushing on an animal or a herd as if it were a wheelbarrow.
Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
PHOTO: COURTESY TK RANCH/DYLAN BIGGS
“A back-and-forth sweeping pattern, like good herding dogs do, is much more effective than pushing on an animal or a herd as if it were a wheelbarrow.”
Celebrating
30 Years!
Alberta Donkey & Mule Club By TERRI MASON
W
hen it comes right down to it, both mule people and donkey people are a ‘different breed of cat’ — they blaze their own trails and tend to enjoy the fact that they (and the mounts they rode in on) are a tad unusual.
PHOTOS: JOE HARTUNG
Ann Fossum driving her mini donkey, Twist, at the 2018 Long Ear Days
But there are other reasons why the numbers of these eye-catching breeds are on the increase in Canada — one is the donkey’s reputation as a fierce herd protector that will take on the coyote itself to save his flock, and with the mule, it’s also the comfort of ride. Russ Shandro, Alberta Donkey & Mule Club (ADMC) president, is quick to point out that it’s the sheer ease riders experience when mounted on a good mule that helps sway their affections. “There have been many riders that swing onto a mule and in a very short time say out loud, ‘my cowboycountrymagazine.com
back doesn’t hurt!’ That is pretty attractive to a lot of older riders.” According to Shandro, another feather in the mule cap was appearing at prestigious Spruce Meadows. “I think what also helped with opinion is that those with good mules enter competitions against horses and win; they’re also seen on trail rides, at supermarket openings, whatever — and it shows people that mules are a good mount. But perhaps what helped most with opinions is when they entered mules in Spruce Meadows Battle of the Breeds,” says Shandro. “The first year, they came in dead last. Neither the riders nor the mules knew what to expect, but in four years, the mules were the 2008 Battle of the Breeds Champions.” Of course, folks that go to the popular cowboy church at Red Deer’s Mane Event are delighted to see pastor Bryn Thiessen often mounted on a mule (generally one of Shandro’s) as he delivers a stirring sermon. In 2019, the ADMC is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Its Long Ears Days celebration, held this year in Stettler, Alta., features 45 regular classes, ranging from halter to driving, plus a few of the more unusual events such as costume class, ’coon jumping, log snigging and sometimes a relay race with the Alberta Mounted Potato Throwers. So whatever your game, donkeys and mules just might be your best partner. To find out more, attend some of their upcoming events — you never know where a trail might lead… c
Sue Wensink and her mule, Squidge, competing in the ’Coon Jumping
What the Heck Is ’Coon Jumping? ’Coon Jumping is a sport that has arisen out of hunting raccoons in the Southern U.S., and these animal’s amazing ability to jump high fences from a standstill. “A donkey can jump the height of its wither,” explains Shandro. While on the trail of the raccoon, a hunter would sometimes have to cross a fenceline where there was no gate, so they would simply dismount, drape their coat over the top wire, and from the ground, encourage their mule to jump over the top wire. This, of course, led to bragging, which led to contests, which led to it being a recognized sport. Check it out on YouTube!
MULES IN ACTION! Jul 19
K-Days Parade
Jul 20
Demos at K-Days
Jul 21 Demos at K-Days Aug 10–11 Alberta Long Ears Days, Stetler Ag Grounds, Stettler, Alta. Sep 28 Grizzly Bear Coulee Trail Ride
35
WESTERN ART
Century-Old Russell Mystery By TERRI MASON
T
he year 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the Victory Stampede held in Calgary, which ran Aug 25 to 30, 1919. Organized by cowboy impresario Guy Weadick, the 1919 event marked the momentous occasion of the end of the First World War, in line with the Peace Day Parade in London and other Allied celebrations. One of the major exhibits at the Stampede was a fine art show — 24 paintings and eight bronzes, the majority of which were created over the course of the war by Montana artist Charles M. Russell, already famous for his depictions of the Old West and the great outdoors. Russell had exhibited in Calgary once prior at the 1912 Stampede at Weadick’s invitation. In 1919, his artwork was given top billing on promotional posters and in the Official Souvenir Programme, which featured an article on the historical importance of his art, stating, “The roundup, the 36
range rider, the outlaw horse, the mess wagon in dire vicissitude, roping, branding — of these details of a vanished past, Russell had made a record that would last.” The vanishing past was a theme echoed by many of Russell’s contemporaries, and many people sought to preserve their cultural past through reminders in festivals like the stampede, in events like rodeo, and through imagery. Western artwork was prized for its detail, realism and historical accuracy, and its artists were lauded as visual documentarians of the past. In short — Charlie
Russell’s paintings recorded the historical significance of the ranching and cowboy life, and to this day, he is still the most revered of all Western artists. From his wildly successful 1919 show in Calgary, one mystery has emerged — where is the missing painting entitled Black Tail—Buffalo Days (formerly Black Tail Deer)? This oil on canvas, measuring a mere 15 x 21 inches was completed in 1916. The last time it was exhibited was at the Victory Stampede — it did not sell in 1919. This is an excerpt from Brian Dippie’s essay in the exhibition catalogue: “At 42 x 72 inches, Signal Glass, the largest painting in the show, was also the most expensive. It commanded a price of $3,000 in 1916, while the small wildlife study Black Tail Deer (15 x 21 inches) was the least expensive at $500. These were still substantial sums at a time when the average American worker earned about $700 a year.” Black Tail Deer is believed to have been in the possession of Nancy, Charlie Russell’s widow, at the time of her death (1878– 1940). It hasn’t been seen for some 80 years. Today, the estimated monetary and cultural value of Black Tail Deer is incalculable. It is my contention that of any group, a multi-generational rancher is the likeliest caretaker of the painting. So check that dusty artwork handed down from your great-grandma, you might be the proud owner of an original Russell — and, perhaps, a bazillion bucks richer. c Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
IMAGE: COURTESY C.M. RUSSELL MUSEUM, GREAT FALLS, MT
Black Tail—Buffalo Days (formerly Black Tail Deer), 1916 Oil on canvas, 15 × 21 inches. Unlocated. Colour image courtesy of the C. M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, Montana.
AT THE C.M. RUSSELL MUSEUM IN GREAT FALLS, MONTANA
JUNE 7SEPTEMBER 29, 2019 Marking the 100 th anniversary of the 1919 Victory Stampede at which Charles M. Russell had an extensive art show, this exhibition will be the greatest assembly of Russell masterpieces in the last decade. Charles M. Russell (1864-1926), The Navajos, 1919, oilon canvas, 24 x 36 inches, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ; Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Aiken Fisher; photo (c) Terrence Moore
400 13 th Street North | Great Falls, Montana | (406) 727-8787 | CMRussell.org
Gena LaCoste IMAGES OF THE LIVING WEST
Siesta Time watercolour on paper 12" x 19"
Alberta’s Own Marketplace | Canmore, AB Lineham House Gallery | Okotoks, AB A Very Delightful Boutique | Okotoks, AB Broken Spoke Gallery | Maple Creek, SK
Gena LaCoste, Medicine Hat, AB 403.527.0650
gena03@telusplanet.net | genalacoste.com
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WESTERN ART
Song, by Jennifer Mack, acrylic on canvas. Bluerock Gallery, Black Diamond, Alta.; Brights Gallery, Blue Mountain, Ont. JMackFineArt.com
The Allen Sapp Gallery North Battleford, Sask. Current exhibitions include Unwrapped and The Gonor Collection, featuring the works of Allen Sapp and Lionel Peyachew. AllenSapp.com Artym Gallery Invermere, B.C. Over 60 accomplished artists from across the West are featured, including sculptors, painters and jewellery craftspeople. ArtymGallery.com Bearclaw Gallery Edmonton, Alta. BearclawGallery.com Highlights some of the finest First Nations artists in Canada. Blue Rock Gallery Black Diamond, Alta. Represents hundreds of regional artists and craftspeople living within 100 miles (160 km) of the gallery. BluerockGallery.ca MacKenzie Art Gallery Regina, Sask. The collection includes over 4,000 artworks, including Canadian historical and contemporary works, photography, folk art and work by Aboriginal artists. MackenzieArtGallery.ca
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Our Native Land Jasper, Alta. Showcasing work from Inuit, Plains and Iroquois, Southwest and Northwest Native artists, as well as contemporary arts. OurNativeLand.com
Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, Whitney Western Art Museum, Plains Indian Museum the Cody Firearms Museum and of course, the Buffalo Bill Center.
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies Banff, Alta. Discover the rich natural and cultural heritage of the Canadian Rockies and surrounding First Nations culture. Whyte.org
C.M. Russell Museum Great Falls, Mont. Home of the most complete collection of Russell art and memorabilia in the world, plus more than 12,000 objects ranging from art to the Browning Firearms Collection. CMRussell.org
Winnipeg Art Gallery Winnipeg, Man. Canada’s oldest civic gallery; current exhibitions include Government of Nunavut collection; We Are On Treaty Land, The Inuit Art Centre Project and the Inuit Art at Journey to Churchill. Wag.ca
Desert Caballeros Western Museum Wickenburg, Ariz. The permanent collection includes Native American Indian and 19th-century decorative arts, as well as late 19th-21st–century Western American paintings and sculpture. WesternMuseum.org
ART MUSEUMS Art Gallery of Alberta Edmonton, Alta. YourAga.ca Thought-provoking exhibitions featuring local and internationally acclaimed artists. Buffalo Bill Center of the West Cody, Wyo. CenterOfTheWest.org Features six distinctive museums in one locale; Buffalo Bill
Frederic Remington Art Museum Ogdensburg, NY Houses a comprehensive collection of original Remington paintings, sketches and sculptures, as well as personal effects and correspondence. FredericRemington.org Glenbow Museum Calgary, Alta. Permanent exhibitions range from Historical Art to the entertaining Mavericks: An Incorrigible History of Alberta up to The Blackfoot
Gallery—Niitsitapiisinni: Our Way of Life. Glenbow.org The Lost American Art Gallery & Museum Longview, Alta. TheLostAmericanArtGallery.com Collection of turquoise jewellery, Navajo rugs, bronze sculptures and Western art. Museum features cowboy gear, rugs, baskets and southwestern pottery. RCMP Heritage Centre Regina, Sask. The centre brings the history, pride and tradition of the Force to life for visitors. Explore over a century of RCMP history. RCMPhc.com The Rockwell Museum Corning, NY The collection includes a mix of contemporary Native American art with traditional bronze sculptures, landscape paintings and other works. RockwellMuseum.org Shurniak Art Gallery Assiniboia, Sask. The gallery features Nicholas de Grandmaison, Allen Sapp, Alan Collier; a substantial Australian collection by Aboriginal artists; the sculpture garden features Robert Davidson and Joe Fafard works. ShurniakArtGallery.com
Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
PHOTO: PHOTO COURTESY JENNIFER MACK
ART GALLERIES
JULY 5 - 14, 2019 HALLS A, D AND E BMO CENTRE STAMPEDE PARK
NOW AVAILABLE on-line
Shopping
John Bear’s Horses – 1971 – Allen Sapp
One of a Kind – Hitched & Braided Horse Hair
DISTINGUISHED WESTERN FURNITURE AND ART
www.silverstetsongallery.com cowboycountrymagazine.com
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SHOUT OUT REVIEW
Cowboy-Approved
GEAR! Occasionally we run across products that we think will be of real use to rural folk. This POG that we’ve reviewed has been used by staffers with great success, the YETI 5-gal bucket meets with approval: "I never thought I'd ever say this in my lifetime," said Rob Tanner, publisher, "but this is one great bucket." Then of course there is the bear-proof YETI Tundra Cooler (perfect for the branding pen.) It also comes in many sizes so the smaller one would be ideal for your vaccines — cow and horse-proof!
YETI Tundra 65 Cooler The Tundra® 65 cooler is at home anywhere. Yeti’s most versatile cooler, it’s just as adept at keeping your catches cold in the field as it is storing the drinks and food for your barbecue or branding. This ice chest is plenty roomy and can hold 42 cans of beer — seriously. Five colours, bear-proof and almost indestructible. $479.99. Yeti.com
YETI Loadout 5-Gallon Bucket Yeti’s ultra-durable LoadOut™ bucket is designed for lugging, loading, hauling, baling and stepping. Whether you’re at the ranch, on the boat or in the garage, the 5-gallon bucket is nearly indestructible and ready to work. LoadOut accessories sold separately (tie down straps, gear belt, lid, etc.). $49.99. Yeti.com
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POG It! An amazing invention from Sherwood Park, Alta., the POG (Portable Ozone Generator) uses naturally occurring ozone molecules to purify the air and eliminate odours at the source. Charge your POG from a wall plug or via USB on your computer, then use it to kill 98 per cent of household odours caused by bacteria and fungus. Three sizes: fridge (shown), cottage, home. $59–$120 (home). Two-year warranty; moneyback guarantee. 1–888–913–3150. ThePogStore.ca Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
Pro Rodeo
CANADA
INSIDER
WILD RIDE IN CALIFORNIA Beginning in 2000, the Wild Ride at the Red Bluff Round-Up in California has delighted fans. A member of the Round-Up committee, Haley Didio, scours thrift shops to make costumes for all the competitors that are topical, and the results are spectacular. The winner earns $1,500 and a new Cactus saddle valued over $4,000. Congratulations to Kole Ashbacher of Arrowwood, Alta., who spurred his way to a victory dressed as Mary Poppins, complete with umbrella — which he never dropped by the way. At press time, Kole was sitting in eighth place in the CPRA standings. Photo by Billie-Jean Duff.
RODEOCANADA.COM
CANADIAN COWBOY COUNTRY JUNE/JULY 2019
JULY 31 - AUGUST 4, 2019 • EVRAZ PLACE • REGINA, SK
C.P.R.A.
2019 CPRA Schedule MAY
Tours & Circuit News It’s been a busy spring at the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, and we’re still in the early days when it comes to the 2019 Canadian rodeo season. Our first Finning Pro Tour rodeo — the Grande Prairie Stompede — just finished up with a great entry and outstanding rodeo action. Next stop on the Pro Tour will be Wainwright, Alta. Our Finning Pro Tour has expanded to 11 rodeos with the finals to be held, once again, as part of the IPE and Stampede in Armstrong, B.C., on the Labour Day weekend. All Pro Tour rodeos will be live-streamed by our partner, FloRodeo, so if you can’t make it out to the rodeos in person, sign up with FloRodeo.com to watch the action live. And we’re particularly excited to note that the Pro Tour Finals will offer up DOUBLE the payout of last year! Great news for members and fans alike. Also on the news front is more detail on our inaugural Maple Leaf Circuit — and the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals. With virtually all CPRA rodeos, aside from the Pro Tour venues, part of the Maple Leaf Circuit, we’re expecting strong entries right through the end of the season, which translates into great rodeo for fans and committees. An added feature of the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals, which is set for Nov 27–30 at Canadian Western Agribition… contestant money earned at this rodeo will count toward the 2020 CFR! And 2019 marks 75 years of Canadian Professional Rodeo. Look for historical moments and stories on the CPRA website and social media channels, as well as special giveaways to celebrate this milestone. If you have a great story to share, contact the CPRA. We’re excited to see CPRA members from all corners of the globe joining us at events across Western Canada. With three out of eight 2018 Canadian Champions from south of the 49th parallel, we’ve truly become a global rodeo community. In addition to cheering on terrific Canadian talent at upcoming rodeos, look for top names from the U.S., Australia, Brazil and beyond. See you on the rodeo trail!
Falkland, BC..................................................May 18–20 Swift Current, SK * (BR) — NEW............May 25 Grande Prairie, AB — FINNING..............May 30–Jun 2 Leduc, AB.......................................................May 30–Jun 2
JUNE Wildwood, AB * (SB)..................................Jun 1 Hand Hills, AB..............................................Jun 1–2 Rocky Mountain House, AB...................Jun 7–9 Brooks, AB....................................................Jun 7–8 Lea Park/Marwayne, AB.........................Jun 7–9 Bonnyville, AB..............................................Jun 14–15 Innisfail, AB Jun...........................................14–16 Wainwright, AB — FINNING....................Jun 20–23 High River, AB..............................................Jun 22–23 Sundre, AB....................................................Jun 21–23 Ponoka, AB — FINNING............................Jun 25–Jul 1 Airdrie, AB.....................................................Jun 28–Jul 1 Williams Lake, BC — FINNING...............Jun 27–30
JULY Calgary, AB * (BR) — NEW........................Jul 2–4 Coronation, AB............................................Jul 5–6 Benalto, AB...................................................Jul 5–7 Taber, AB — pending.................................Jul 5–6 Teepee Creek, AB........................................Jul 12–14 Oyen, AB * (BR)............................................Jul 17 Morris, MB — FINNING............................Jul 18–21 Quesnel, BC * (SB) — NEW.......................Jul 19–21 Kennedy, SK.................................................Jul 20–21 Medicine Hat, AB — FINNING.................Jul 25–27 Lacombe, AB * (BR) – NEW......................Jul 27 Pollockville, AB * (SB)................................Jul 27 Bowden, AB * (BB)......................................Jul 27 Bruce, AB.......................................................Jul 28 High Prairie, AB...........................................Jul 30–31
AUGUST Regina, SK — FINNING..............................Aug 2–4 Strathmore, AB — FINNING....................Aug 2–5 Grimshaw, AB..............................................Aug 3–4 Camrose, AB * (BR) — pending..............Aug 1–4 La Crete, AB..................................................Aug 6–7 Jasper, AB......................................................Aug 7–10 Dawson Creek, BC — FINNING..............Aug 9–11
Terry Cooke, President, CPRA * equals Special Event Finning Pro Tour All dates are subject to change. Please visit RodeoCanada.com for up-to-date information cowboycountrymagazine.com
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider
C.P.R.A.
The Short Round
By TERRI MASON, BARB POULSEN
JANET VOLD MEMORIAL AWARD & FUND 2019 will mark the fifth year the Janet Vold Memorial Award has been presented to an outstanding Canadian pro rodeo timer or secretary. Created by CPRA rodeo clown, Dennis Halstead, to commemorate the life and contributions of the late Janet Vold, the award — a custom-made silver cross with Janet’s initials subtly displayed on the jewellery — recognizes women in the sport of rodeo who go above and beyond. Recipients to date include Brenda Vold, Maxine Baird and Judy Kesler. The award is voted on by CPRA contract personnel and athletes. The namesake of the award, Janet Vold, enjoyed a rodeo secretary career that spanned three decades. Vold, a Ponoka, Alta. native, connected with rodeo contestants at all levels and ages; it didn’t matter if they were NFR champions or boys steer riders just starting out. She greeted each one personally when they came into the office at a rodeo (and always shared her bowl of jelly beans). An anecdote that helps explain the kind of person Janet was includes the time a young bareback rider came into the rodeo office to pay his fees. The young man proceeded to write a cheque but had no idea how to manage his bank book. Janet kindly invited him to sit down beside her, where she proceeded to give him a short lesson in banking protocol. A person who took the time to visit with each cowboy or cowgirl, Janet was respected greatly in the rodeo world for her larger than life love and knowledge of the sport. In addition to the presentation of the Janet Vold Memorial Award, Dennis Halstead and Brenda Vold have been 44
Judy Kesler (right) receiving the 2018 Janet Vold Memorial Award. Photo by Covy Moore/covymoore.com
responsible — with help from other CPRA contract acts personnel — for maintaining a financial trust fund that is used to send greetings, gift cards and flowers to CPRA contract members struggling with ill health or other challenges. Donations to this fund would be gratefully accepted. Anyone wishing to contribute can send cheques to the CPRA office, care of either Brenda Vold or Dennis Halstead. – B.P.
Janet Vold Memorial Award, crafted by Sweetiron
Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider
AGRIBITION WELCOMES THE MAPLE LEAF CIRCUIT FINALS The CPRA and Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) are excited to announce that Agribition is the home of the inaugural Maple Leaf Circuit Pro Rodeo Finals. The four-day rodeo, featuring the top 10 contestants in each event from the 2019 Maple Leaf Circuit standings, runs Nov 27–30, 2019, at Regina’s Evraz Place. The Rodeo Finals is a key part of Agribition, a long-standing livestock show and agribusiness marketplace that attracts more than 1,200 international guests from over 86 countries. “Western culture has been a key piece of the foundation of Agribition for almost 50 years,” says CWA President Bruce Holmquist. “Rodeo has been a very important part of that, and through the years we have worked hard at growing the profile of the sport for both its fans and competitors. We are confident that the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals will take that profile to the next level.” With over $12,000 up for grabs in each Agribition rodeo event, contestants are excited to compete for a qualifying spot. An added bonus for rodeo athletes is the opportunity for the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals Champion and the Circuit Season Leader in each event to qualify for the RAM National Circuit Finals in Kissimmee, Florida, starting in April 2020. “The Maple Leaf Finals are a good fit for Agribition,” says CWA CEO Chris Lane. “We have the facilities, the committee, the expertise and 20,000 rodeo fans that want to see the most exciting rodeo possible. We’re excited about putting that all together in November.”
Riley Warren competing at 2018 Agribition Pro Rodeo. Photo by Lewis Images/Randy Lewis.
The November Finals will cap the first complete year of the Maple Leaf Circuit — a partnership between the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) and the CPRA — which includes the majority of CPRA rodeos outside of the Finning Pro Tour. The Circuit will shine a spotlight on non-Tour rodeos and help maintain solid entries throughout the season. “It’s excellent that Agribition will be the home of the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals,” notes CPRA President Terry Cooke. “With Agribition’s long-standing history of rodeo success, the Finals should be a great experience for fans and athletes alike. And the opportunity for contestants to qualify for the Ram Circuit Finals is an added incentive.” Get more details at RodeoCanada.com – B.P.
CANADIAN PRO RODEO CELEBRATES 75 YEARS The year was 1944. That’s when a group of cowboys banded together to form the Cowboys’ Insurance Association. Each member put in $1 per rodeo, and that amount was matched by rodeo management to form a small insurance fund for the participants. The following year, the group was renamed the Cowboys Protective Association (CPA) and became a society under The Societies Act. They went from an organization focused almost solely on 46
providing insurance and medical assistance when needed to a body designed to serve its members in a much broader way. Ken Thomson of Black Diamond was the first President, and the organization boasted 160 members initially. Before the organization’s formation, many rodeos were paying less than $10 for first-place money, and entry fees were not added to the prize money (Thomson recalls attending a rodeo where he spent $14 in entry fees, won four firsts and two seconds and got $34 back!). In 1965, the group incorporated under the name Canadian Rodeo Cowboys Association, an identity that lasted until 1980 when the Canadian Professional
Rodeo Association became the official name of the organization. Under the auspices of CPRA, Canadian pro rodeo has become a well-organized and well-regulated sport, with a global membership of over 1000 and a comprehensive insurance and medical program. Fast-forward to 2019 — 75 years after the early visionaries joined forces. Today, the CPRA holds 55-plus events annually, with $5.57 million in total prize money, and $1.65 million is paid out at the Canadian Finals Rodeo alone. Happy 75th Anniversary, Canadian Professional Rodeo Association! – B.P.
Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
C.P.R.A.
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HISTORIC RODEOS OF THE CANADIAN WEST This summer enjoy some of the oldest rodeos in Canada, now running under the professional rodeo banner of the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association. From the vast plains of Saskatchewan to the high peaks of northern B.C., each rodeo boasts a unique experience and is steeped in the best each community has to offer.
REFERENCE SIRES ARE: SKIPSACE OF DIAMONDS NORTHWIND SKIPSKANE SKIP ON BADLANDS SIX SCOTTISH MIGHTY LARK COUNSELS REWARD
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51st Leduc Black Gold Pro Rodeo May 30–Jun 2 Leduc, Alta. blackgoldrodeo.com 103rd Hand Hills Stampede Jun 1–2 Hand Hills, Alta. handhills.ab.ca 65th Lea Park Pro Rodeo Jun 7–9 Lea Park/Marwayne, Alta. leaparkprorodeo.com 59th Innisfail Pro Rodeo Jun 14–16 Daines Rodeo Ranch, Innisfail, Alta. innisfailprorodeo.com 65th Wainwright Stampede Jun 20–23 Wainwright, Alta. — Finning Pro Tour wainwrightstampede.ca 40th Sundre Pro Rodeo Jun 21–23 Sundre, Alta. sundrerodeo.com 73rd Ponoka Stampede Jun 25–Jul 1 Ponoka, Alta. — Finning Pro Tour ponokastampede.com 93rd Williams Lake Stampede Jun 27–Jul 1 Williams Lake, B.C. — Finning Pro Tour williamslakestampede.com 102nd Benalto Pro Rodeo Jul 5–7 Benalto, Alta. benaltoagsociety.ca
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103rd TeePee Creek Stampede Jul 12–14 TeePee Creek, Alta. tpstampede.ca 56th Morris Stampede Jul 18–21 Morris, Man. — Finning Pro Tour manitobastampede.ca
For Further Information & Catalogues, Contact
HAYES BROTHERS
Horses Listed at www.northernhorse.com
Box 687, Hanna, Alberta T0J 1P0 403-854-2550 email: hayesranch@netago.ca
87th Moose Mountain Pro Rodeo Jul 20–21 Kennedy, Sask. See us on Facebook 111th Medicine Hat Stampede Jul 25–27 Medicine Hat, Alta. — Finning Pro Tour mhstampede.com 106th Bruce Stampede Jul 28 Bruce, Alta. brucestampede.ca 54th Strathmore Stampede Aug 2–5 Strathmore, Alta. — Finning Pro Tour strathmorestampede.com 93rd Jasper Pro Rodeo Aug 7–10 Jasper National Park, Jasper, Alta. jasperheritagerodeo.com 97th Dawson Creek Stampede Aug 9–11 Dawson Creek, B.C. — Finning Pro Tour dawsoncreekfair.com 120th Interior Provincial Exhibition & Stampede (IPE) Aug 28–Sep 1 Armstrong, B.C. — Finning Pro Tour armstrongipe.com
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider
2018 Finning Pro Tour Team Roping Champions Tristin Woolsey and Denver Johnson competing at the 2018 Canadian Finals Rodeo. Photo by Billie-Jean Duff.
BIG BUCKS ON FINNING PRO RODEO TOUR Rodeo Canada’s Finning Pro Tour is back for 2019, bigger and better than ever. The lucrative program has expanded to feature 11 rodeos for 2019, with an expected payout of over $1.5M available to CPRA contestants, including the Tour Finals, which will see double the payout of last year. The Tour kicks off at the Grande Prairie Stompede May 30–June 2, with stops across Western Canada over the season. The final Tour rodeo takes place on the Labour Day weekend at the IPE & Stampede at Armstrong, B.C., with the Tour Finals set for September 1 (also in Armstrong), where athletes will compete for $12,000 per event. New rodeos on the 2019 Tour include Grande Prairie, Alta., the Teepee Creek Stampede (Teepee 48
Creek, Alta.,) July 12–14 and Regina, Sask., Pile O’ Bones Rodeo August 2–4. The Finning Pro Tour rodeos are also PRCA and WPRA approved, which means the tour is expected to once again attract top contestants from across North America. And, for the second year, for those fans who cannot attend in person, FloRodeo will be live-streaming all Finning Pro Tour events. CPRA President, Terry Cooke, is excited about the year ahead. “We’re really happy to see Finning back on board as our title sponsor… and to have FloRodeo making the action available to a wider audience,” Said Cooke. “We’ve got a terrific lineup of CPRA events overall and a Pro Tour that’s one of the biggest to date
in terms of added money and number of rodeos. And, with twice the payout at the Finals, we should see some great competition for rodeo fans to enjoy.” Finning Pro Tour standings are based on points awarded to 10 places in each go-round and aggregate at one-go rodeos and multi-go rodeos. All contestants will receive 25 points for competing. Tour finalists will earn double points for each placing, and the Finals is included in the rodeo count for CFR. A competitor who is excited about the 2019 edition of the tour is three-time Canadian bareback riding champion, Jake Vold. “The Finning Pro Tour is huge for us and a big step forward for contestants on both sides of the border,” Vold noted. “It’s great news that the Tour is getting bigger again this year and that more rodeos are stepping up to be part it. It’s a real incentive for all of us wanting to get to the Tour Finals as well as to both the CFR and the WNFR. This just makes rodeo up here in Canada an even bigger deal.” – B.P.
Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider
WHAT DOES IT TAKE? RODEO SECRETARY By DIANNE FINSTAD
T
HERE’S A LOT MORE TO RODEO THAN WHAT YOU SEE FROM THE GRANDSTAND. PRO RODEO CANADA INSIDER WANTS TO TAKE YOU BEHIND THE SCENES TO MEET SOME OF THE PEOPLE SO INTEGRAL TO THE SPORT’S SUCCESS. IT TAKES A SKILLED AND DEDICATED
TEAM TO BRING THE EXCITEMENT OF RODEO TO ITS APPRECIATIVE FANS. THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A RODEO SECRETARY.
There is a business angle to any sport, and rodeo is no exception. Not only do the contestants want to get paid for their achievements so they can pursue their quest to the Canadian Finals Rodeo, the communities also need to have a sustainable event in order to keep hosting rodeos. At the intersection for all these aims is a key position — the rodeo secretary. This person serves as the link between contestants, the CPRA, the stock contractors, judges and the local committees. The job requires organizational skills, financial know-how, trustworthiness and attention to detail. Judy Kesler and Catherine Laycraft are two of a handful of experienced secretaries who work the majority of Canadian rodeos, and they’ve outlined some of the duties involved with the position. A secretary’s job begins well in advance of each rodeo when they receive the CPRA “package,” which includes the contestant entry list, judging cards and entry-fee receipts to be distributed. When it comes to rodeo time, the secretary is technically required to have the rodeo office open two hours ahead of a performance or slack, but Laycraft and Kesler both say they’re generally at work more like three hours in advance and spend part of that time getting the cattle numbers for the timed events and posting the draws for all the events on the office walls. CRES (Central Rodeo Entry System) at the CPRA office provides daily updates to check on turnouts 50
or doctor releases, which keep contestants from participating and can impact the payout calculations. The secretary gathers that information and adjusts the numbers, judge’s cards and stock requirements so that animals aren’t loaded in the chutes if they’re not needed. “The contestants start coming in, paying their fees and getting ready,” explains Laycraft, about the hub of activity the rodeo office becomes just before an event. “Then 90 minutes out, the judges come by and we do the timed event cattle draw, and then things get pretty busy from there.” Another important duty is tabulating the judges’ scorecards. Although judges tally up their own marks in the arena, it’s the secretary who adds them together for a final score. What fans hear has generally been informally collected by announcers, but the number that counts is the one the secretary tabulates. Timed event sheets are compared as well, to ensure that barrier or barrel penalties all match up. The judges’ cards are collected throughout a performance so that scores can be posted as quickly as possible. Bad weather also makes for the extra challenge of trying to decipher muddy or rain-soaked cards from the arena (hair dryers can prove handy in the office!). Though a few rodeos use electronic handheld devices to speed up the process, written cards are still a requirement and need to be filled out and signed. The secretary also compiles a leader’s list for every event, after each performance.
“That helps the announcer, the committee and contestants to see what’s leading,” says Laycraft. It’s also provided to local media and sent in so that the CPRA website can be updated. Because many contestants still pay their fees by cash or cheque, it’s the secretary’s responsibility to keep track of the money, which is paid to the committee and then remitted to the CPRA office. The books must balance! When the rodeo wraps up, the secretary does the final calculations and immediately provides the results electronically to the CPRA office. As for the actual judging cards and paperwork, they must be physically delivered to the office in Airdrie. Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
C.P.R.A.
Pro Rodeo secretary, Brenda Vold, working in the rodeo office of the 2019 Drayton Valley Pro Rodeo. Photo by Wildwood Imagery/Chantelle Bowman.
While the duties are the same at every rodeo, each secretary develops his or her own system to help get the job done most efficiently. “When you’ve done it for as many years as I have, you figure out what you need to do. I try to make it better for everybody,” says Kesler, who’s famous for her ever-present candy bowl for all to enjoy. “Some secretaries still do everything manually, some do it digitally and some do half and half. At this point, because of the receipt process, there’s still a lot of manual paperwork that comes from the office,” adds Laycraft. Kesler works rodeos on both sides of the border and has seen the PRCA move cowboycountrymagazine.com
to a more computerized system. Both say that would make their jobs easier, but it would likely require significant investment at the CPRA office and for more contestants to pay online. For both ladies, accuracy is key. “It’s so important to be perfect; I don’t care if it takes me a little longer. We have to make sure it’s right because once it leaves our office, it goes everywhere,” says Kesler. Rodeo secretaries do need a CPRA card. While there’s no formal training program in Canada, candidates require a stock contractor’s recommendation, plus they have to shadow a secretary at several rodeos to get a card. Though they have seen a small increase in pay over
the last few years, it’s not a highly lucrative endeavor, and they cover most of their own expenses (some committees provide accommodation). Judy Kesler and Catherine Laycraft have decades of experience in the sport, and they take great pride in their roles. “Rodeo is about the people, whether it’s contestants coming in and out, contractors, or committee people we work with,” adds Laycraft. Connecting with those people and helping all the players be successful is all in the line of duty for a rodeo secretary. c
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider Dawson Hay scoring 86.5 pts and second place money in Round 1 on 508 Lunatic Party, 2018 CFR. Photo: Billie-Jean Duff
ROAD TO THE CFR
DAWSON HAY FAMILY TRADITION By TIM ELLIS
G
IVEN THE EARLY SIMILARITIES AND POTENTIAL TRAJECTORY OF HIS RODEO CAREER, IT’S LIKELY ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE DAWSON HAY WILL BE SEARCHING FOR A SPACE ON THE FAMILY MANTEL TO DISPLAY A CANADIAN SADDLE BRONC
CHAMPIONSHIP BUCKLE OF HIS OWN. GRANTED, THERE’S NOT MUCH ROOM GIVEN HIS FATHER’S HAUL OF BUCKLES, TROPHIES AND CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTATION PICTURES THAT HAVE ACCUMULATED OVER A CAREER SPANNING MORE THAN TWO DECADES.
“Every rodeo I show up at, there’s someone there who Roddy interacted with,” says Hay of his dad, Rod, who won a record eight Canadian titles and qualified for the CFR 19 times and for the NFR on 20 occasions. “And he introduces me to a lot of people who helped him down the road. It’s pretty dang nice.” Rod’s first Canadian Finals Rodeo appearance came when he was 20, same for Dawson. Rod won the Canadian Novice Championship of the Year prior to qualifying in the open bronc riding, ditto for the younger Hay. Both won the PRCA Saddle Bronc Rookie of the Year Award. 52
“My goal this year is to get to both finals,” reveals Hay, who was 14th in the world standings by the end of March. “It’s always been a goal of mine to see my name in the top 15. Now staying there is the next step.” He also had an early leg up on the competition in the race for a CFR berth after winning the 2019 Pro Rodeo Canada opening event in Regina, Sask., last November. “It was a big amount of money to have so early in the season,” suggests Hay, who made use of the financial cushion while missing a good portion of the spring recovering from knee surgery. “It was cool to still be in a good position when I came back.”
“I tore my meniscus last fall around early September. I knew I was going to need to get it fixed, but I postponed the surgery so I could get to the big winter rodeos down south. They went in and reattached it in late March.” The similarities with his soon-to-be Hallof-Fame dad don’t stop on the stats page, either. The younger Hay also possesses an all-or-nothing riding style resembling that of his father in the late 80s. “It’s still been hit-or-miss, to be honest with you,” laughs Hay, when asked if that style has changed with experience. “I don’t have any idea why. I seem to place at most of the ones where I stay on, but once my feet quit moving, I hit the ground… simple as that.” Also, like Rod, Dawson has an older brother (Logan) to travel with on the trail, as Logan embarks on his rookie season in the pro ranks. But, unlike his dad, he may soon have a younger brother on the road, too. “I never did think he would have been a bronc rider,” contends Hay of his 15-year-old brother, Devon. “But he’s definitely showing some initiative. We’ll see after he gets on a couple.” c Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
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Canadian Cowboy Country December 2018/January 2019
CLOWNIN’ AROUND | CRASH COOPER
Ash Cooper Art and Ranch Gallery
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COWBOY CHURCHES It is not what we have in life, but It is not what we have in life, but who we have in our life that matters. who we have in our life that matters.
Nechako Valley Cowboy Church Last Sun. of every month, 7 p.m., Nechako Community Church Building, Hwy 16 E, Vanderhoof, B.C., 250‑567‑4960 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, north of Caroline, Alta., 403-844-6641 Community Cowboy Church Every Tue., 7-8 p.m., Niton Community Hall, Main St., Niton, Alta., 780-795-2326
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Cowboy Trail Church Every Tue., 7 p.m., Cochrane Ranche House, 101 Ranchehouse Rd., Cochrane, Alta., 403‑638‑4254
Now showing at our gallery in Senlac, Saskatchewan Open Sundays from 1 – 5 pm
Heartland Cowboy Church 1st and 3rd Tue. of every month, 7 p.m., Stettler Agriplex, 4516‑52 St., Stettler, Alta., 780-877-2331
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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
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cowboycountrymagazine.com Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
STETTLER, AB AUGUST 10-11
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ears!
Alberta Long Ears Days An equine show like no other! Join us for an informal supper Saturday evening. This competitive weekend show is sprinkled with some demonstrations, games and the Challenge of The Ears! (Specific skilled events that pit donkeys against mules). You don’t want to miss it!
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COWBOY POETRY
The Range Cook’s “Holler” BY E. A. BRININSTOOL
They sing of the puncher — that knight of the range who rounds up the bellerin’ steer; Who rides at the head of the midnight stampede with nary a symptom of fear. They tell of his skill with the six-gun and rope, but nobody mentions the dub Who trails the chuck-wagon through desert and plain and never yet failed with the grub! The weather may find us in rain or in mud; may bake us or sizzle us down; The treacherous quicksands may mire us deep, and the leaders and wheelers may drown; The blizzards may howl and the hurricane blow, or settlers may camp on our trail, But nary excuse will the foreman accept for havin’ the chuckwagon fail.
So, in singin’ yer songs of the men of the plains who trail it through desert and pine, Who rough it from north of the border clear down to the Mexican line, Don’t give all the due to the puncher of steers, but chip in some dope of the dub Who trails the chuckwagon in sun or in storm, and never yet failed with the grub!
The Range Cook’s “Holler” by E. A. Brininstool, from Trail Dust of a Maverick, 1914. Brininstool was a cowboy poet but was not a working cowboy. He lived most his life in Los Angeles and rubbed elbows with Will Rogers and Charles Russell, who met regularly as part of a western artists group at the University Club in L.A. He is best known for Trail Dust of a Maverick (1914) and Bozeman Trail (1922).
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Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019
PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK/ DIANE
For off on the range is the puncher who rides through the buckbrush and sage and mesquite, With an appetite fierce for the bacon we fry, and the slapjacks we bake him to eat. And we must be waitin’ with grub smokin’ hot when he comes a-clatterin’ in, No matter what troubles we’ve bucked up a’gin, or what our delays may have been.
Top 10 Barrel Racers, CFR VII - Nov 15, 1980 - Photo by Ken Marcinkoski
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Canadian Cowboy Country June/July 2019 Lloydminster • Olds • Strathmore • West Kelowna • Kamloops • Prince Albert • Regina • Saskatoon
