EDMONTON — Jennifer Jenkins grew up going to bull sales with her father, Bob.
Now a full-time rancher near Twin Butte, Alta., she realizes those hours spent at shows and sales were his way of mentoring his daughter, who would take over as a full partner in the ranch.
“When I was just little, it was the highlight of my whole year just to go to bull sales with Dad,” she said.
He taught her how to show and how to evaluate cattle and made it fun.
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Jenkins always knew she wanted to be a rancher, although she almost considered going to school and pursuing another career. The ranch called and she returned.
“People were not surprised when I said I was going ranching,” she said. “I didn’t spend a lot of time in high school because I was always off at a cattle show.”
She is an only child and is working to keep the family heritage going. Being the rose among the thorns has never been an issue. Her father treated her with respect and she has paid her dues among the men she works with.
“I don’t know if I think of myself so much that way,” she said.
“I have never really felt like I have been treated that much differently because I am a woman.”
The family ranch started in 1888 when her great-great grandfather arrived with the North West Mounted Police. The Prince Edward Islander fell in love with the area and started a horse ranch. He also registered the brand J for all locations and the family has kept it since.
Purebred and commercial Herefords were introduced in the early 1960s. The family has continued with the breed because the cattle work well in the rough and rocky terrain at the base of the Rocky Mountains.
“The Herefords work good for us out there because they are an easy kind of keeping cattle with good hair coats and they seem to forage well,” she said.
Jenkins started seriously showing cattle five years ago. Her partner, Jeff Henderson, is also a skilled groomer and fitter and can help when she leaves to compete.
This year she had the grand champion Hereford at the Calgary Bull Sale, and at Farmfair in Edmonton she won premier breeder and exhibitor, which is based on points from the various classes shown. She won the same award at the event last year.
“This is the strongest string of females we have exhibited in the last number of years,” she said.
“When we brought this string, all the calves are out of the same sire and the cows were a mother-daughter pair. It was exciting for us in that we were able to bring a cow family.”
She likes the community atmosphere of these events, where she can meet new people who have similar interests.
“You come to these things and it is not all about winning. It is about meeting people and networking and seeing other people’s cattle and getting your name out there,” she said.
“It was always my life’s dream to be a rancher and be involved in the purebred business. I have lots of other interests, but that is where my heart lies.”
Jenkins sits on the Alberta Hereford Association board and has become involved in environmental projects.
The family decided to sell part of their land to the Nature Conservancy of Canada with a long-term lease for grazing. It was rolled into a large preserve that won an Alberta Emerald award several years ago for environmental stewardship. Last year, she and her neighbours started a Waterton River watershed group.
“I really enjoy being part of those,” she said.
You always learn something new and we motivate each other.”
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