Slaving over a hot brazier on a scorching summer day is not every teenager’s idea of fun, but for 15-year-old Jaimi Sharp, working at the blacksmith’s forge is a normal family activity. She and her stepfather Sean Elliott of Carstairs, Alta., participated in the two person creative forging event at the Calgary Stampede’s international blacksmith […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
The world’s butcher shop
Rachel Galvin passes out bumper stickers proclaiming, “I love Australian beef” to visitors at the Cattle Council of Australia office in Canberra. Similar to stickers Canadian ranchers spread from sea to sea to promote beef after BSE broke out, the saucy imitations are another way Australia is determined to maintain its hold on international beef […] Read more
Every animal is traceable
As a group of young steers winds through the auction yard chutes, all activity stops because the computer says there are more cattle than identification numbers. Electronic ear tags are read again and if the radio frequency signal is dead, the offending tag is replaced. That attention to detail may appear to slow the speed […] Read more
Government stepped back from industry
A laissez-faire relationship exists between Australian farmers and their government. “Government has the view that industry should be structured so it stands on its own two feet,” said Craig Conkey, a program director with the federal department of agriculture in Canberra. When the agriculture industry took control of its own business affairs more than 10 […] Read more
Standing guard
As an island continent reliant on export markets, Australia stubbornly guards against imports of zoonotic disease. It has remained free of BSE and foot-and-mouth disease, which has opened doors to more than 100 markets around the world. Keeping out trade-halting diseases was more by chance than good planning, said one agriculture department official. Australia banned […] Read more
Best bunch of beef
HIGH RIVER, Alta. – The cattle on display at the fed beef expo are the closest thing to the real deal at the Calgary Stampede. Shown loose in pens of five without washing, clipping or polishing, the commercial steers and heifers look like the millions of cattle seen in pens and pastures throughout Alberta. This […] Read more
Winning makes trip worthwhile
For nearly 20 years the Stewart family has made the cross prairie trip from Russell, Man., to the Calgary Stampede. It has been worth it for Brent and Dale and their 17-year-old daughter, Kelsey, who have stood in the winners’ circle at the Stampede Steer Classic three times. “It’s been good to us. We’ve done […] Read more
Canadian named champion auctioneer
Chance Martin sells cattle three times a week but he also finds time to enter auctioneers’ competitions across North America. “I’ve sold more cattle at contests than some people have sold in their life,” said this year’s international champion at the stampede. He has been to the world auctioneers’ competition six times, the Canadian championships […] Read more
Performance-tested rams hit ring
OLDS, Alta. – Producing good quality lambs is serious business for Eldor and Marie Klause. They come to the Western Super Sire sale at Olds every year to pick a top performing ram to add to their flock of 500 commercial and purebred ewes at Gunn near Barrhead. “Our attitude has always been if you […] Read more
Proper pasture management can boost profits
LACOMBE, Alta. – Vern Baron knows most beef producers don’t like risk but the grazing expert says they should still be prepared to try new ideas. As a member of the Western Forage/Beef Group, he promotes intensive grazing and thoughtful pasture care as a way to make more money in the cattle business. That means […] Read more
