Cattle Country
2013
LeRae Haynes Photo
Page 2
Cattle Country 2013 Cuyler Huffman new Cariboo Cattlemen’s president Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer For two months 31-yearold Riske Creek rancher Cuyler Huffman has been president of the Cariboo Cattlemen’s Association. When former president Duncan Barnett decided to run for the next provincial election as the Cariboo North NDP MLA and vacated the post, Huffman stepped up to the plate. Prior to accepting the president position, Huffman served on the board of directors of the association for two years. “Duncan’s are big shoes to fill,” he said. When asked how long the term is for president, Huffman smiled, chuckled, and answered “life.” In reality the term will end at the association’s next AGM in 2014. Huffman grew up on the Cotton Ranch at Riske Creek, working alongside his father Grant. Ten years ago he completed the Livestock Production diploma program at Olds College in Alberta, and today lives at Deer Park Ranch, part of the Cotton Ranch operation, with his wife Jenny and their three children. The couple moved there when Huffmans’ uncle and aunt retired from managing the site. Along with his father, Huffman runs a 1,100-head cow/calf operation. Recently Huffman was one of 16 people chosen to participate in the Canadian Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program, a national one-year mentorship opportunity. Out of 70 applicants from across Canada, 22 semi-final-
Cuyler Huffman, 31, Cariboo Cattlemen’s Association president has been selected for a national mentorship program. Monica Lamb-Yorski photo
ists were chosen to travel to Ottawa on March 5 and 6 to attend the CYL Spring Forum during the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting. The finalists vied for a spot on the mentorship program. Participants in the program receive formal and informal opportunities to learn from existing beef cattle industry leaders and other youth organizations, while gaining essential business connections. “We will be matched with someone with similar interests to mentor us,” Huffman said. On the application he could specify if he had someone in mind. While he didn’t at the time, he’s now hoping to be matched with Kristoff Weeder, a rancher in the Peace River Country of Alberta.
“He’s doing a lot of things I’m interested in. We actually buy a lot of bulls from him.” Participants are given a $2,000 travel budget to attend beef industry events in Calgary, a fall semi-annual Canadian Cattlemen’s meeting, or the Denver, Colorado stock show. At Denver, the young ranchers participating in the mentorship program can meet up with participants in a similar program run in the U.S. “We’ll discuss issues with them,” Huffman explained. He was surprised that he was picked because a lot of other people are more “politically inspired.” Through the mentorship program, Huffman hopes to glean information in three key areas. They include management
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intensive grazing, holistic ranch management and producing grass-raised bulls. “We have implemented some changes in the last few years, but I hope to do more,” he said. So far they have installed electric fences to manage grass by nudging cattle to graze rotationally. On a daily basis the cattle are moved to graze in a new area. “I don’t intend to do it on a large scale, but with the cows that I’m keeping at home and with some grass yearlings that we keep close by on irrigated pasture, we’re using a lot of electric fence.” Cattle are trained within a day not to touch an electric fence, he explained, adding it’s a mental barrier, not a physical barrier. “They’ll snap their nose on it once and realize they shouldn’t touch that again. They learn really quickly.” Holistic ranch management means trying to be in synch with nature, Huffman
explained. One example is to time calving with the timing that moose and deer calve, later in May and June. “We’re trying to get away from March more and more because it’s so labour intensive.” Traditionally ranchers attempt birthing earlier so they can gain weaning weights, but Huffman said what they miss out on is how expensive it is to get those weaning weights. “They have to build a barn, worry about keeping them warm. It’s a lot more work.” Grass-raised bulls would only eat forage to combat the fact that too many bulls in the past have arrived from the prairies “way over-fat.” When placed on range line conditions at Riske Creek, they fall apart and are really thin by fall, Huffman said. “It’s too hard on them for those fat bulls to come from elsewhere. They look nice when they’re full and fat but once they get put on the range
it does nothing for them.” Grass-raised bulls work better too, he said. “They are a big fermentation vat and their guts are trained to work with grass.” Ideally Huffman would like to produce 50 bulls a year. It’s not huge scale, but it’s a start. In this region the ratio is one bull to 25 cows, he said. There are challenges like the fact elk are moving in and can eat a lot of forage. Wolf problems also exist, and it’s on the summer ranges where most losses occur. Beef markets are always a challenge and while he said the present market is OK, it isn’t “spectacular.” The Huffmans sell calves in the fall, but other times they will “background,” which means high-forage ration their calves to sell them in the spring. At that rate the calves can gain one and half to two pounds a day.
Continued on Page 3
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Cattle Country 2013 Mentor in training
Continued From Page 2 Most of their sales go through B.C. Livestock, although they have used T.E.A.M., the electronic auction market, in the past. “We have seen higher prices in the last few years, but at the same time input costs are really high as well, so the margins are really slim. There’s not much room there because of tight markets.” Even at 31, he’s watched markets fluctuate through the decades, aware of how much beef was selling for. Recalling the BSE crisis in 2003, he said the impacts were felt up until 2010 before there was much recovery. Regardless, Huffman said he believes ranching is still a strong part of the region’s economy. “We have the resources to grow beef here.” In fact, over the years, the Huffmans have not bought a cow. “We’ve always selected
from our own herd and raised the type of cows we know work in our situation. Mostly Angus — red and black.” At the mentorship meeting in Ottawa, Huffman and the others met people who were finishing up a year of participating in the program. In its first year, the program is still fairly new, however Huffman thinks it will only get better and better. He knows two people from Kamloops who participated. He’s the first person chosen from the Cariboo. One of the conversations in Ottawa was a “real eyeopener.” It centred on how the ranching industry can tell its story. “There is so much negative media out there about the way we raise cattle, and so many misconceptions. As an industry it’s something we have to work on.” Positive media exists,
but that’s not always the big seller. “McDonald’s did a video in Alberta with a rancher, Bob Low. It was very basic. It showed cattle out in the field, what they are feeding them, a little bit about antibiotic use.” It was basic, but good, Huffman said. Hoffman doesn’t own a cell phone because he cannot get reception at the ranch, yet he knows social media has a big role to play in promoting ranching. “It’s hard because sometimes we’re not as tech savvy and up to date.” Without hesitating he said he loves everything about ranching. “It’s a great way of life and I love the business of it too. I think that’s something that’s overlooked a lot of the time.” Experience has taught him to make a living he has to make it a lifestyle. Besides, he adds, it’s a great place to raise children.
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Cattle Country 2013
Cattle Country 2013 Beef bonanza assists riding program
One of the ways Cariboo cattlemen give back to the community is with their delicious annual beef benefit dinner in which the star of the evening is beef, from the appetizer to the main meal. This year funds raised at the Cariboo Cattlemen’s sixth annual Beef Benefit Bonanza in May will help support a program for children with disabilities to ride horses. Jane Folka, through her Horse-M-Powered program works with the Child Development Centre to provide an innovative therapeutic program for children with disabilities called Horsin Around. The program runs for two weeks every summer in the Trail Riders Arena in the Stampede Grounds. With help from her assistants and volunteers Folka works one-on-one with children and the horses, giving the children all the support they need to help
them feel safe, while giving them the opportunity to interact with a horse. Some children in the program have autism while others may have other cognitive or physical disabilities. The children learn to lead a horse, saddle a horse, ride a horse, exercise on a horse and generally interact with the horses as they are able. The program helps children to build confidence, strength, communication skills and general enjoyment of life. The 2013 Beef Benefit Bonanza happens Tuesday, May 7 at Oliver Street Bar and Grill. The menu isn’t finalized yet but organizers say the main course will be prime rib. The evening includes appetizer, dinner, dessert, door prizes and live entertainment. Tickets are $45 each and include the gratuity. The event is sponsored
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As the fields turn green in springtime small treasures of the Cariboo can be seen all over the region taking comfort and sustenance from their mothers. LeRae Haynes photo
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Cattle Country 2013
Page 5
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Cattle Country 2013
Cattle Country 2013 Bayley Cail ‘steered’ in the right direction LeRae Haynes Special to The Tribune Bayley Cail from the Chimney Valley 4-H club has chosen her first club project based on her family background in both ranch-
ing and 4-H. Her father, Tim Cail was a 4-H ‘lifer,’ successfully completing steer projects for 10 years. Her grandfather, Don Brecknock, is a rancher at White Haven Farms in Innisfail, Alta.
She explained there are many choices for projects in 4-H, but said that choosing a steer was a natural choice. “My dad did it for so long, and my grandpa raises cows and steers and bulls so I thought I’d start
with a steer and go for one from Grandpa’s farm,” she said. Her steer, Steve, is a Red Angus Simmental. He is nearly a year old and arrived in Williams Lake in December, special delivery from Grandpa, who handpicked him as one of the
gentler animals. Bayley said she is looking forward to the 4-H show and sale week at the Williams Lake Stockyards in August, adding she has seen swine on parade and walked through the 4-H barns before the sale, and thought it was “pretty
cool.” “I’ve already been down to the stockyards with Steve for a weigh-in,” Bayley said, adding that he will be weighed again before the show in August.
Continued on Page 8
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Cattle Country 2013
Cattle Country 2013 First steer a new learning experience
Continued From Page 6 Looking after Steve keeps her busy: cleaning the stall and the barn, feeding and watering, brushing and walking. As part of her project, she also does a significant amount of recordkeeping. “You have to tell about your animal, take pictures of your animal, tell how they grow and tell how much you’re ‘graining’ them and how much hay they eat,” she explained. She said that when her grandpa brought Steve to Chimney Valley, there was some concern about her safety. “He was worried about me walking behind Steve because he was afraid he’d kick me,” she continued. “But Steve has never tried to kick.” When it came to naming her steer, she said she got the idea from a movie. “I watched Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and there was a monkey named
Steve. My grandpa got a bunch of steers and I asked for the name Steve but they were all heifers,” she said. “My grandpa said he’d find me a Steve and he did. All the other steers just have numbers and a letter, but Steve has his name on his ear tag.” Bayley noted that she has learned a lot, including how fast her steer would grow and how much he would eat. “One thing that really stood out for me was when my 4-H friends’ steers got out with their halters on and they were out in the woods for three days. They were from the Chimney Lake area and ended up out here in Chimney Valley,” she said. “They had to round them up with a helicopter. One was stuck in a tree for a while.” She has also had her first experience public speaking experience in February in front of the whole club: members, friends and fam-
ily. She said that her speech was about Valentine’s Day. Her mom added that Bayley scored very highly and that the family was extremely proud of her. “She was kind of nervous but the 4-H club is very warm and supportive,” Heather noted. “It’ll be easier next time.” The family, including Bayley’s younger sisters Claire and Darby, is planning to camp for the show and sale week at the stockyards. Bayley said she will be busy during that week. “Steve has to be shampooed, dried, fluffed and have his hooves shined,” she said. “I have to practice walking him and getting him to stand with all his feet lined up. “And in the show ring, to keep him calm, I just scratch his belly.” The 4-H Show and Sale will take place at the Williams Lake stockyards August.
Bayley Cail lovingly combs the tail of her 4-H steer Steve. Grooming and showing her steer are all part of the skills budding young ranchers learn in 4-H Club. LeRae Haynes photo
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Page 9
Cattle Country 2013 MOUNTAIN RACERS LEAD ESK’ETEMC WINTER FEST PARADE
Cariboo Memorial Complex
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Former Williams Lake Stampede Mountain racers, Bill Chelsea (far right) and Sandy Johnson (second from right) lead the 2013 Esk’etemc Winter Fest parade down Esket Drive in their hometown of Alkali Lake as the ‘theme’ of the 2013 – Winter Fest was the Cowboy Mountain Race. They are joined (front, left) by young rider, Travis Duncan. Many Esk’etemc community members, band employees, RCMP members, invited guests and professionals and Sxoxomic school children with their teachers follow the lead-trio on a route that circled the lower part of the reserve’s main street. Fittingly, for a winter-fest, it was snowing hard the entire length of the parade. Liz Twan photo
Indoor Rodeo action packed Looking for family fun and entertainment? Then mark your calendar for April 19-21 for the 23rd Annual Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo. This year the directors outdid themselves preparing an action-packed weekend of rodeo performances, new opening acts, special guests, vendors and great bands to dance to Friday and Saturday evening. Follow the rodeo action at each performance with Canadian Pro Rodeo (CPRA) announcer of the year, Brett Gardiner. And, be ready to laugh along to the antics of rodeo clown and barrel man, Dennis Halstead. “I want to do the best job I can do and that involves trying to get better every day,” said Gardiner,
an eight-year veteran in rodeo announcing. “So goals? Yeah, I have lots. And I hope one day I can accomplish them all.” And with spring in the air, C+ Rodeos guarantees to provide stock that will undoubtedly treat fans to an exciting performance. Cheer on our local Stampede royalty, special guest Miss Rodeo Canada Gillian Shields, the West Coast Thunder Drill Team for the grand entry each day and a great new opening act of trick riders called the Young Gunz. Watch the rodeo from the grandstands or come relax in the beer gardens and watch the rodeo on the big screen TV. Friday following the rodeo dance to the sound of Skid Marks. Saturday night
following the rodeo dance to Rockin Chair. Adventure Charters will offer safe rides home Friday and Saturday. The annual inductions to the B.C. Cowboy Hall of Fame take place during Sunday’s rodeo. This year inductees are Archie Williams of Cache Creek; Larry Ramstad of the Gang Ranch; the late John Dodd of Riske Creek; and Frank Teer of Houston. Stop by the rodeo office in the upper level of Boitanio Mall to pick up your rodeo tickets, barn dance tickets and check out the merchandise. The rodeo office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. The 2013 Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo is one you do not want to miss. Hope to see you there.
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Cattle Country 2013 Bull sale 76 years of lakecity history
Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer
The 2013 Williams Lake Bull Show and Sale April 18-19 will feature 154 bulls from ranches around the province. Ranchers will travel from as far away as Tlell on Haida Gwaii and the Fraser Valley to offer bulls for sale. Breeds in the show and sale include Gelbvieh, Shorthorn, Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, Angus and Hereford. “People come from as far away as Saskatchewan because of the bloodlines available in the bulls that are being sold,” Williams Lake Bull Sale Association secretary Pam Abrahamse said. “We’re known for our quality.” All of the bulls are registered pure bred quality bulls. Aside from the bulls,
there is a heifers show and sale, featuring four Red Angus from Quesnel, four Black Angus from Telkwa, and five Angus X from Vallee Creek. “It’s a chance to showcase some of the breeders and the Heifers that are open and ready to have a bull put to them,” Abrahamse explained. As a rule, breeders are expected to sift through and bring their best bulls, but just in case an independent sifting committee is in place at the show and sale to make sure the bulls meet quality expectations. This year’s sifting committee includes ranchers Cuyler Huffman and Larry Ramstad, along with veterinarian Dr. Russ Hawkes. As each bull is weighed and assessed, members of the committee will also inspect them filling in supplied selection sheets showing only the lot number and date of birth.
The Williams Lake Stockyards buzz with speculation and bidding at the 2012 bull sale.
Showing bulls at the 2012 annual bull sale takes some skill. Monica Lamb-Yorski photos
There are more bulls in the ring this year than last, although there may have been more bulls in the past. It’s one of the last bull sales in the province. The show and sale is in its 76th year, and people are encouraged to come and see a part of Williams Lake’s history. “It’s like adult 4-H and
lection committee. By 9 a.m. the Thursday morning, all of the bulls have to be signed up for showing because the show begins at 1 p.m. After each class of showing trophies are presented. The bull sale begins at 11 a.m. Friday, April 19. Part and parcel of the show and sale is the trade
shows a different side of the industry,” she said. Auctioneers include Larry Jordan, Wilf Smith, Wayne Jordan and Wayne Pincott. The judge is Phil Brown from Princeton. All of the bulls will be at the Williams Lake Stockyard barn by 10 a.m. April 17, ready for inspection by a veterinarian and the se-
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Cattle Country 2013
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Cattle Country 2013 Five year evolution to holistic ranching pays off LeRae Haynes Special to The Tribune Clint and Karen Thompson from San Jose Cattle Company on 144 Mile Ranch have been selling beef for 15 years. They run 200 cow/calf pairs on the ranch, and do some contract grazing of cattle in the summer months. Local residents can buy their products at the Cariboo Growers Market, during the summer at the farmer’s market and they also do farm-gate sales. Clint and Karen say that in the last three or four years, they’ve ‘got it right.’ Pursuing the goal of running their ranch as a business and not merely a lifestyle, they attended courses, and have taken a more ‘holistic’ approach to ranching. Changes they have made include quitting calving in the winter, quitting haying,
Karen and Clint Thompson at San Jose Cattle Company do a daily check of their cows during calving season. They are producing smaller calves these days to reduce shipping costs and calving later in the spring to avoid the higher costs associated with winter calving. LeRae Haynes photo harrowing, burning their fields in the spring, fertilizing and applying pesti-
cides. They let the birds do the harrowing, use ‘managed
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intensive grazing’ which means using electric fencing to contain the cattle in
a small area and moving them quickly through the fields. “We don’t burn our fields in the spring because we stockpile the grass the year before, so the cows have nutritious feed to eat when the snow leaves a month or more before green grass is here,” Clint explained. “This shortens the feeding time, and the leftover returns nutrition to the soil and it holds more water. We don’t worry about weeds anymore; we manage for what we want, which is healthy pastures. Into our fifth year of holistic management, we’re seeing so much more diversity in the plant life.” Purchasing hay and having the cattle bale-graze it on land where nothing grew before, adds nutrition and fertility to the land, and through this process they are building nutrientrich soil, adds Karen. “We stockpile grass in the summer for winter
grazing which shortens the winter hay feeding season considerably,” Karen said. “When you can take feeding from five to two months in the winter, that’s a significant savings.” Clint noted that they are working on developing a herd of cattle that are smaller in size, helping them to reduce costs. “It is about how much money you keep in your pocket, not how much money you get for an individual animal,” he said. “We are now in our fifth year of drastic changes. We’ve learned that the closer you get to nature the better off you are,” he explained. “One of the hardest things about taking on a new idea is giving up the old one. These changes were difficult to make, but the results are completely satisfying.” For more information visit www.sanjosecattle. com.
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Cattle Country 2013
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