5 GENERATIONS OF FAITH, FAMILY & DEDICATION

GENERATIONS OF FAITH, FAMILY & DEDICATION5

Cross Bar Ranch is a prime example of a family-run operation, grounded in kinship and strengthened by forward thinking.

By BAR XP PHOTO – Kirk Prescott

Established in 1910, Cross Bar Ranch is a unique operation with a passion to prevail. Rich in history and backed by generations of experience, the family-run business is nestled in the Neutral Hills, north of Consort, Alberta. As the fifth generation of their family learns the ropes, Cross Bar Ranch (a long-standing cattle operation), has recently diversified to include bison. The Gattey family remains progressive and persistent, honouring a lifestyle and continuing to build a legacy that has forged forth for more than 112 years.

At the age of 17, Alfred Gattey was looking for adventure and set sail from England, in 1907. Determined to become a rancher, Gattey landed in Montreal and travelled by train to Red Deer, Alberta. John Drummond Bartlett (a family connection), facilitated a meeting of Gattey and his son Roger Bartlett, who was involved in the cattle industry near Pine Lake, Alberta. A ranching apprenticeship ensued, and a business partnership began. In 1910, upon obtaining homestead rights to a half-section of free land, Gattey and Bartlett ventured east in a democrat buggy. Directed to the east end of Gooseberry Lake, the homesteaders’ search for suitable grazing land brought them to a free-flowing spring that was surrounded by opportunity.

As Gattey noted, “Being close to a lake / spring water, logs from the coulees for corrals and buildings and natural shelter for the cattle, all made me feel that the location was ideal.” Bartlett and Gattey began establishing Cross Bar Ranch immediately and the partnership flourished for ten years. In 1920, Gattey bought Bartlett out. Gattey insisted that he keep the Cross Bar brand, because they had agreed to call the homestead Cross Bar Ranch.

As Gattey put it, “The sign of the cross was something to look up to.” Together with his wife Sue, Alfred continued ranching and naturally expanded the operation, both structurally and in commodity. In time, the ranch was owned and operated by Alfred’s son, Frank (Kelva), and later, his grandson, John (Cindy).

Currently, John Gattey, along with his son Justin, daughter-in-law Abbie, and grandchildren, Jaxen and Kelby carry on a dedicated, ranching tradition. Blessed with a rich history and a solid work-ethic, the Gatteys make their home in the same yard as many of the original structures. Carrying forward the mindset of their ancestors, everyone works together and plays a role in the ranch’s viability. Cross Bar Ranch focuses on low-stress handling and their herds of both bison and cattle are quiet and content. Primarily hosting a commercial herd of Angus/Charolais cattle, Cross Bar Ranch pastures are adorned with a growing herd of majestic bison.

While continuing with traditional

OPPOSITE PAGE: The Gattey family remains focused on quality livestock and low stress handling practices. Both their cattle and their bison roam vast pastures in the Neutral Hills, near Consort, Alberta.

TOP: A commemorative plaque stands before many of the original ranch buildings in the Gattey’s main yard.

Submitted from family archives, Alfred Pratt and Frank Gattey.

Submitted from family archives, Frank Gattey. marketing strategies, the Gatteys offer direct sales, attend local markets, and supply several outlets with delectable eats. Nurturing the future of the operation, life-lessons that stem from ranching, begin at an early age. Both Jaxen and Kelby take an active role in ranch-tasks and their mentors facilitate an appreciation of a job done well, with a mind for safety. The recreational aspects of ranchlife meld naturally with the Gattey family. Both Justin and Jaxen enjoy roping, while Abbie and Kelby prefer barrel racing and pole bending.

When the family has spare time (as little as that may be when ranching), they all enjoy fishing, golfing, and skiing. The Gattey family is skilled at blending work with farm-fun. They go about their days with a solid sense of humility, hard-work, and humour. Now spanning five generations, the operation thrives with a focus on faith, family, and dedication.

As Abbie noted, “112 years later we, Justin and Abbie, alongside our kids, Jaxen (9) and Kelby (7), the fifth generation, still celebrate the achievements of Alfred, Frank, and John, among others. Their foresight, faith, strength, endurance and dedication turned an adventure into a lifetime accomplishment.”

Q. Considering the evolution of Cross Bar Ranch, what are some of the most notable changes that have taken place? What changes would you like to see in the future?

A. Cross Bar has always been an active participant in the livestock industry. It was mainly a beef operation in the early days and in the late 1950s, the feedlot was established. In 2019, we took a leap in another direction and decided to purchase a bison herd to diversify the operation. We are still very involved in the beef side of ranching, but now get to enjoy bison roaming our hills.

Q. What fostered your transition to bison and how has this changed your operation?

A. ’We were always intrigued by these majestic animals and how they are able to flourish on the Canadian prairies. We are always looking for new opportunities and felt the time was right in the marketplace. Bison have changed our operation in a few ways. They require their own handling system, as they will not fit into our cattle set-up. We also had to upgrade some of our perimeter fencing. Bison have a vertical jump of up to 6 feet!

Q. How have you diversified your marketing and delivering your endproduct?

A. On the beef side of the operation, we have primarily sold in a commercial market.

LEFT: Cross Bar Ranch Bison Boxes are a popular choice for consumers. Contents are selected online and the options are incredibly tasty.

The fifth generation, Kelby and Jaxen Gattey, both enjoy all aspects of ranch life. From recreational roping to daily chores, they take part in it all.

With the change in the way people shop for their food, we saw the opportunity to offer our bison products directly to the consumer. Many people are unfamiliar with bison and its benefits. Bison is an extremely lean, nutrient dense source of meat. In addition to its relatively high vitamin B content, bison is a good source of iron, omega-3 fats, as well as an excellent source of selenium and zinc. In December 2020, we started offering sample boxes. This allowed people to test a variety of cuts. Since then, we have expanded our product menu, started shipping, and supply restaurants and local stores.

Q. What are some of the hurdles that you face, ranching bison? What are the benefits?

A. Ultimately bison are wild animals, some hurdles have been navigating what we can and cannot do when it comes to handling them. We take great pride in low stress handling practices but were quickly reminded that they are vastly different than cattle. There is always something to learn. There are several benefits to ranching bison. In the colder months, their metabolism slows down, making them more efficient with their feed. Moreover, bison calve easily. The calves are usually up and ready to travel within the hour. Considering our climate, bison can handle the ever-changing temperatures with ease not, if you have a plan, it’ll get derailed! So, what keeps us coming back for more? The opportunity to teach our kids what it means to work hard, care for animals, love the land and work together as a family. Some days, we long for a break. When we can’t get away, we find ourselves going for a family ride or touring the hills, sitting amongst the bison and simply watching the sunset.

Q. If you could offer advice to young and upcoming ranchers, what would you share?

A. Agriculture has changed in many ways. Being up to speed on your financials and keeping a close eye on your cost of production is extremely important. Finding people to mentor and network with will be beneficial. There’s always something new to learn. WHR

Q. What inspires you as a ranching family and what motivates you to keep going?

A. The ranching lifestyle is not for the faint of heart. There’s no 9-5 in ranching. There are no snow days (don’t get us started on thawing water troughs…) More often than