MAPLE CREEK, Sask. – Sherrill Forsyth’s poems speak volumes about the ranch lifestyle she shares with husband Keith.
In 40 years of marriage, they have rarely taken holidays except to attend cowboy poetry gatherings like the one Sherrill is performing at this day in Maple Creek, Sask.
Here, her comic yet poignant material is received with the raucous laughter and hearty applause of a sympathetic audience. Keith travels with her from Saskatchewan to Alberta to Montana, sitting and smiling as Sherrill’s poems poke fun at their life together.
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“We’ve had a lot of fun and met a lot of good people,” says a soft-spoken Keith.
Sherrill called the cowboy poetry a release and a chance to make light of serious issues in life and agriculture today. She has published several volumes of her poetry, which is featured in Saskatchewan Agriculture’s compilation of materials on women in rural communities called Women in Agriculture.
Interviewed before her reading, Sherrill talked about a comfortable, modest life raising three children on the five-quarter ranch at nearby Tompkins. The couple now grows feed grains for their 85 head of commercial cattle.
Set against the dry brown rolling hills, their farmyard is an oasis of green, sheltered by pines towering over bushes, decorated with wagon wheel fences and etched by Bone Creek.
Keith keeps a horse to check cattle and he and Sherrill work together on the chores that need to be done. They rely on a large garden for freezing and canning produce and keep older machines running rather than buying new. Sherrill is the bookkeeper and pays the bills; Keith handles the repairs himself.
Cattle remain a good investment. “They’ve paid for a lot of bills,” Sherrill said. Money is tight though and invitations to prestigious cowboy gatherings at Elko, Nevada are regretfully declined.
Both were raised on ranches in the region and look to their future here.
“We’ll be there till they take us out in a pine box,” says Sherrill, dressed in boldly coloured western wear.
They bought their ranch in 1963 and added land as they could afford it. Last year, they downsized from more than 2,200 acres and culled their herd by 90 head.
Keith, 60, talks about a time when the cattle may get to be too much work for them. When that day comes, he plans to switch to raising cattle only during the growing season.
The couple says the ranch was not large enough to support another family and land prices were too high to expand.
Their daughter is raising a family in San Diego, Calif., and their sons work in the oil patch nearby.
“They can make twice as much in oil as on the farm,” said Keith.
He recalled how it took him 29 years to pay off the land, noting his son paid for his home just three years into his marriage.
The Forsyths do not think they could begin farming today as they did so many years ago, citing the costs of machinery in the tens of thousands of dollars.
“A farmer needs more than 500 cows to make a decent living today,” said Keith.
The Forsyths started with nothing and recalled some lean years.
“We were broke many times,” said Sherrill. “We were really scared of big debt.”
Keith adds, “When you start out with nothing, you’re scared to jump in too deep.”
Their advice to those contemplating farming is to get a good education and keep options open.
Keith still thinks it is a good life to choose.
“If you have a love for agriculture, it’s still one of the better lives.”
Sherrill adds: “You have to love it to put up with a lot of it.”
In addition to cowboy poetry performances and workshops, Sherrill is active in the community and local church. She and Keith take advantage of area sports like golf and downhill skiing in the Cypress Hills.
They say their community has declined since their youth and now locals must travel to Swift Current or Shaunavon for many services.
Other changes include a swing to pulse crops, larger cattle herds and Angus cattle over Herefords, no-till farming and large farms.
“We’re losing a lot of neighbours,” said Sherrill. “The places are getting bigger and bigger. You could always rely on your neighbours to help. You still can. They just have to come a few miles farther.”
My Occupation
When I’m asked about my occupation
My mind goes suddenly blank.
I know my name and address
But what about my rank?
Last week I was a cowboy
Today I helped the vet
In June I painted the barn
And fixed the TV set.
– Sherrill Forsyth, cowboy poet
