History: Dwarfism Is a Breeder’s Problem

Reprinted from the February 1953 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Dwarfism Is a Breeder’s Problem By Grant MacEwan ‘Dwarf calves are creating headaches for cattle breeders and the criticism has been advanced that not enough is being done to rid the breeds of this menace. Unfortunately, there is tendency on the part of some breeders to say as little as possible about dwarfs and do […] Read more

History: With the Junior Cattlemen

Reprinted from the January 1953 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

With the Junior Cattlemen By Grant MacEwan ‘Question for today: Who was Robert Bakewell? If the question was about Thomas A. Edison, every young person would have the answer, “one of the world’s foremost inventors, the inventor of the phonograph”. If it were about George Stephenson, the equally ready answer would be, “an English engineer […] Read more


History: Historical Tales

Reprinted from the February 1953 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Historical Tales By Senator F. W. Gershaw ‘The Longhorns – According to the records of Lee Brown, the Spaniards brought cattle to Mexico first when they were making a mad search for gold in that newly discovered country. The first bunch consisted of 6 sharp-horned heifers and one young bull. They landed in 1521 and […] Read more

History: Memories One Hundred Years Old

Reprinted from the January 1953 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Memories One Hundred Years Old By Anne L Gaetz She was very, very old, this woman of whom I write, for she had seen 101 winters come and go. Her eyes were dim from looking down the years; but her mind was a rich storehouse of memories — memories of unusual experiences that were known […] Read more



History: Early Days in Southern Alberta

Reprinted from the January 1953 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Early Days in Southern Alberta By Dallas Banister Wright ‘I was eleven years old when I sailed for the North West Territories with my father, A. E. Banister, and my three older brothers, leaving mother and eight younger children in Bridport, England, to await instructions to join us when we had found a home for […] Read more


This photo, taken about three miles from the site of the tragedy, shows the lack of cover for man or beast.

Scapa-area ranchers memorialize victims of 1906 blizzard

Lee Brainard overestimated the frequency of chinooks in the area he settled with his son and hired hand, leaving them ill-prepared for an Alberta winter

Located 28 km north of Hanna, Alta., Scapa’s claim to fame is one of tragedy. On January 29, 1907, a fierce blizzard struck. When it ended a few days later, two men were dead, about 550 head of beef cattle and horses perished, and only one man survived — and just barely. Montana rancher Lee […] Read more

“Off to the Feast”: Christmas guests at the Bighorn Reserve.

History: O’-da-wa-ta-be Umbah (Christmas)

Reprinted from the January 1953 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

O’-da-wa-ta-be Umbah (Christmas) By John Laurie ‘I left the train at Nordegg. In fact, I practically fell off and, with my blankets, skidded down the icy grade into the arms of my friends. Shouts of “Oh-ha-zthee-skan” came from a dozen throats as the boys took my blankets, my pack sack, and crowded around to shake […] Read more


Mrs. J. Hogge.

History: Mrs. Joseph Hogge

Reprinted from the December 1952 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Mrs. Joseph Hogge By Dallas Banister Wright Mrs. Catherine Matilda (“Cassie”) Hogge of Okotoks, Alberta, who knew this province seventy years ago, recently took me back with her to those early days when as a little girl, she travelled with her parents, the late Maurice and Agnes Stewart, from Clarenceville, Quebec, to the Western Prairies. […] Read more

Rich Hobson on ridge overlooking Rimrock Ranch and Green Creek.

History: Rancher-Writer of the Cariboo

Reprinted from the December 1952 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Rancher-Writer of the Cariboo By Lyn Harrington ‘Richmond P. Hobson, Jr., author of GRASS BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS, says, “Roads keep gumming me up.” Soon as he finds a spot far from town somebody builds a road, and there’s his isolation gone. That actual truth is that Rich Hobson would beat out a trail no matter […] Read more