BRAGG CREEK, Alta. – Pintos are horses of a different color with a special place in the hearts of many horse lovers. Properly known as the Canadian Pinto, each Pinto is unique. “They’re like thumbprints – no two are alike. Each is its own work of art,” said Faith Dean, president of the Canadian Pinto […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Farmers abandon crops in dry areas
COUNTY OF ST. PAUL, Alta. – This was the first year Colin McCallum tried growing canola. On July 20, the Ashmont, Alta., farmer received the go ahead from Alberta Hail and Crop Insurance to plow his experiment with oilseeds into the dust. He is just one of many to abandon crops damaged by a prolonged […] Read more
Food processors squeezing more out of special crops
CALGARY – Ordinary crops can often have extraordinary uses. Laundry detergent made from oilseeds, processed meat additives from mustard seeds or peas spun into pasta were just some of the ideas shared at a two-day special crops conference held here last week. “Food processors, pharmaceutical companies, chemical, paper and plastics industries are desperately looking for […] Read more
Ex Cattlemen executive heads grading changes
CALGARY – A former executive of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association will oversee the privatization of Canada’s beef grading system. Charlie Gracey, a former executive vice-president of the CCA, will help with the switch to a private, user pay service. Gracey left the CCA in 1990 to sit on the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, where he […] Read more
Americans win in rodeo, Canadians take stock
CALGARY – This year’s winners list from the Calgary Stampede reads like a who’s who of All-Americans. From the rodeo to the champion livestock auctioneers, U.S. contestants dominated. Ralph Wade of Greely, Colo., was judged the best auctioneer at this year’s competition. For his chatter, he received $5,000. Reserve champion was Jim Knopp of New […] Read more
No leads in letter bomb at Alberta genetics firm
CALGARY (Staff) – Investigations are continuing into the bombing of an office at an Alberta livestock genetics firm last week. A letter bomb delivered to Alta Genetics south of Calgary exploded in an office when an employee opened the package delivered by Canada Post, said Sgt. Don Bates of Cochrane RCMP. No one was hurt […] Read more
British Isles farriers are shoe-ins at Stampede blacksmith contest
CALGARY – When Welshman Billy Crothers heard he’d won the world champion blacksmiths’ competition in Calgary, his only response was, “I’m shagged.” That bone-weary reply didn’t need translating for Canadian ears as Crothers and four other exhausted farriers laid down their tools in the final round of the annual contest held at the Calgary Stampede […] Read more
Oil impact study released soon
RED DEER, Alta. – A report studying the effects of the oil industry on Alberta agriculture will be made public late this summer or early fall. The study, initiated three years ago by the Alberta Cattle Commission and the Alberta Milk Producers Society, was released to generate comments during a June 27 meeting with the […] Read more
Ginseng: The roots of success?
VERNON, B.C. – In central B.C.’s sunny Okanagan where heat-loving, sun-worshipping plants are common, a growing number of black sheaths are spreading across the hillsides to protect British Columbia’s newest crop from heat and bright light. This is ginseng country, where the lucrative cash crop could be worth as much as $130 per kilogram ($60 […] Read more
Ranching on display to promote centennial
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. – When Fenton Blair started to comb through his barn and basement for ranching memorabilia, he probably never realized his father’s 100-year-old saddle would be considered a valuable artifact. That saddle joins a collection of nostalgia, gathered by southern Alberta ranching families, that sits in a temporary display at the Fort Macleod […] Read more
