Tara and Ross Davidson and their family came away from Canadian Western Agribition with wins on several fronts.
On Nov. 23, their Lonesome Dove Ranch was named the 2023 Purebred Gelbvieh Breeder of the Year by the Man-Sask Gelbvieh Association.
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“It’s quite an honour that the other breeders nominated us and recognized the work we put into promoting the Gelbvieh breed,” Ross said in an interview.
Tara said one pillar of their operation is breeding functional cattle, something that has become more important amid the current drought.
“We haven’t had to downsize our herd due to drought and I think part of that is because our cattle are functional. They’re able to thrive even when Mother Nature has not exactly been playing fair with us the last few years,” she said.
“I love that they are such good moms… they want to be moms, they’re easy going, really easy calving, good moms, so that really I think is a highlight for myself.”
Tara said winning the award was a surprise.
“We’re passionate about the Gelbvieh breed and we’re really fortunate,” she said. “We’re actually raising fourth-generation purebred Gelbvieh breeders. So, it’s a breed that’s worked for our family for decades and for generations and something that our children are passionate about too.”
The passion is evident in their son, Ash, whose 4-H heifer won reserve grand champion female in the Gelbvieh show on Nov. 22, behind a cow-calf pair exhibited by Royal Western Gelbvieh of Red Deer.
The grand champion bull was exhibited by Overby Stock Farms out of Ste. Rose du Lac, Man., with additional owners of Foggy Mountain Farms Ltd.
Ash said he’s been showing cattle since he was five and was shocked to have won reserve grand champion female.
“It felt pretty good,” he said. “I don’t win a lot, so it felt different.”
He said next year the winning female will form part of his planned 4-H pair entry.
“She’ll go on and raise some good calves.”
Ash and his two brothers continued to show cattle at Agribition following the Gelbvieh show, with all three representing their ranch in the BMO Junior Beef Extreme on Nov. 25.
Ross also competed in the Ranch Rodeo Nov. 24, with his team Mankota Stockman’s Weigh Company. They won the title for the third straight year.
For Ross, Agribition isn’t just about cattle shows or competing in the ranch rodeo. It’s about the connections they make while doing it all.
“Agribition has done a very good job of bringing the people to us,” Ross said. “And that’s the most important part, so we can connect with our clients, connect with the new and upcoming cattlemen, the old cattlemen, all so we can do business going forward.”
