The six sons of Lachlan McKinnon were caught together at the McKinnon Picnic. Left to right: Charles, Angus, Arthur, Don, Fred and Edwin.

History: Alberta’s Clan McKinnon

Reprinted from the September 1953 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Alberta’s Clan McKinnon By Grant MacEwan Barbecue beef is tops in good eating at any time but it never tasted better than when 1,000 friends and guests consumed over 500 pounds of it and picked the bones at the annual McKinnon Family Picnic at the beginning of August. Of the 12 children of Mrs. McKinnon […] Read more

History: Cosley, Trapper and Guide Extraordinary, Pt. 2

Reprinted from the September 1953 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Cosley, Trapper and Guide Extraordinary, Pt. 2By Julia Nelson, Mountain View, Alberta ‘Joe must have been unusually impressed with the man, even to the point of imitation fo Joe himself is well remembered with a rose-decorated buckskin hat like the one he said Kootenai wore, and an early picture records him wearing, also, a fringed […] Read more


History: Progeny Testing

Reprinted from the August 1953 edition of Canadian Cattlemen

Progeny TestingBy Dick Beamish, Lethbridge, Alta. ‘First year of a test designed to help stockmen weed inefficient units from their production lines was completed in July at Lethbridge’s Dominion Experimental Station. Results of the performance testing experiment were given at a field day on the station July 16 attended by 200 stockmen, scientists and journalists […] Read more

History: Horned Cow Herds on the Range

Reprinted from the June 1953 edition of Canadian Cattlemen

Horned Cow Herds on the Range By Bert Sheppard, Longview, Alberta Two major influences from different parts of the earth converged to form and mould the pioneer beef cattle industry in Alberta. Our horsemanship, riding gear and methods of handling cattle were the first to arrive, originating in Mexico, spreading into Texas and ever northward […] Read more


History: Cosley, Trapper and Guide Extraordinary, Pt. 1

Reprinted from the August 1953 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Cosley, Trapper and Guide Extraordinary, Pt. 1By Julia Nelson, Mountain View, Alberta ‘After an eight-day search through the northern wilds of Saskatchewan, Constable J. McLeod and his Indian guide entered a trappers’ log cabin 400 miles north of Prince Albert. This was on October 12, 1944. They found that Joe Clarence Cosley had dramatized his […] Read more

History: Pulling Horses

Reprinted from the July 1953 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Pulling HorsesBy N.G. Stanford, Rosemary, Alta. ‘Whenever “pulling horses” are mentioned I recall with some nostalgia my first experience with horses drawing heavy loads. First, because of the remorse I felt at the time and second, because my father’s admonition to me was worthy of the wisdom of Confucius and may help many young people, […] Read more


History: New grazing lease policies discussed at SSGA convention

Reprinted from the July 1953 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Saskatchewan Stock Growers Hold Annual ConventionBy Grant MacEwan ‘In the final moments of the Fortieth Annual Convention, Saskatchewan Stock Growers’ Association, held at Shaunavon, James Michell, Battle Creek, was elected president to succeed F. L. Bettis, Maple Creek, who presided at the recent meetings. Ben Jahnke, Main Centre, became the first vice-president and John Minor, […] Read more

History: Arabian Horses Win Friends in Canada

Reprinted from the May 1953 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Arabian Horses Win Friends in Canada By Lenore Wilson In 1829, the number of horses in Arabia did not exceed 50,000, according to the writings of Burckhardt, an early authority. Sir Austin H. Layard, during his second expedition to Arabia in 1853, undertaken for the Trustees of the British Museum, commented this noble race of […] Read more


History: Horse Breeds Rise and Fall

Reprinted from the May 1953 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Horse Breeds Rise and FallBy Grant MacEwan ‘Horse breeds, like political doctrines and women’s clothes, feel all the fickle whims of public fancy. The draft breed with the largest number of registrations for all Canada in 1935 had the smallest number of registrations in 1952 and some breeds like Shire and Suffolk, that were still […] Read more