Francis and Colleen Cyr were once on the brink of losing their farm, located in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains in southern Alberta.
Dried flowers were the only thing that stood between them and foreclosure in 1989. They knew that if they could sell enough dried flower arrangements, they could keep their banker at bay.
It seemed an unlikely way to hold the farm, but it worked, and it taught the Cyrs a number of lessons, including the importance of pursuing an idea when others are skeptical.
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“We sure have never looked back from there,” said Colleen, during a presentation at a direct farm marketing conference in Brandon last month. “That was a pretty tough time for us.”
Francis and Colleen, along with their two children, Joseph and Jenni, now operate the Bloomin’ Inn Guest Ranch, located near Pincher Creek.
Their farm has steadily branched into a variety of endeavours, all anchored on the idea of sharing the western country lifestyle with guests.
“The animals and all the chores are a real hit with the guests,” Colleen said. “Many of the guests are urban and they enjoy collecting eggs, branding and checking the lambs, things farmers consider chores.”
The success of the Cyr family comes from heeding the desires of their customers.
For example, in their earlier days of selling dried flowers and Christmas decorations, the Cyrs encountered a number of people who wanted to visit their farm to buy more directly.
When customers did start arriving at the Cyrs’ farm, they began asking about places to eat and stay, since a number of them were driving hours to get there.
That started the idea of a bed and breakfast, with four bedrooms to accommodate guests. Antiques and handcrafted accessories were used to furnish the rooms and add character. Seven acres of lawn, trees and flower gardens added to the appeal.
Over time, the Cyrs opened a country store at their farm and increased their accommodations to further establish themselves as a guest ranch.
One of their more recent additions is a building large enough to hold workshops and retreats. Some of the workshops have included scrapbooking, quilting, willow basket weaving and dried flower arranging.
“We do 37 weekends a year of just scrapbooking,” said Colleen.
At their website, the Cyrs promote the fresh country air, great scenery and the peaceful setting people can expect when visiting their guest ranch. In other words, they are selling an experience as well as tangible products.
“We do a tremendous number of workshops,” Colleen said, “but we never forget that the farm is why they come.”
