News
On the road with the Conservation Caravan
In mid-June, the Conservation Caravan rolled out of Edmonton bright and early en route to Alberta’s Grassland Natural Region. We had an ambitious schedule—filming 5 ranches in 3 days, stretching from Coronation to Taber. With a fantastic film crew and host, we captured stories of the “real life” on the prairie, including the behind-the-scenes habitat stewardship that Alberta ranchers do that many consumers don’t always think about or may not even know about. Read on for a snapshot of those stories.
The Biggs
We began our tour at TK Ranch near Coronation, Alberta, to chat with Colleen and Dylan Biggs. TK Ranch has been in operation for over 50 years, and the Biggs have been marketing their grass-fed beef and lamb directly to customers for almost 20.
Not only has TK Ranch been the recipient of numerous accolades for animal health and welfare (including being the only ranch in Alberta to be “Animal-Welfare Approved”), the Biggs are keenly aware of how to run their operation within the existing ecosystem, using their grazers as a tool to maintain and enhance existing biodiversity and landscape health.
We conducted much of the interview right out in their pasture, in the middle of roaming cattle under gorgeous big skies. It doesn’t get much better than that!
The Beasleys
Continuing south of Youngstown, we arrived at the ranch of John and Kelsey Beasley of Integrity Ranching. Arriving just in time to bring some sheep in, we scarcely had time to exchange pleasantries before hopping back into the van to seek out the sheep.
The sun was starting to sink low in the sky, making for quite the picturesque scene out on the pasture. Kelsey spoke with us about their operation while her border collies kept a sharp eye on the sheep—they were ready to work!
Like the Biggs, the Beasleys put an emphasis on their use and maintenance of the landscape. The health of their pastures is integral to the health of their livestock and the sustainability of their operation.
Calvin Raessler
Bright and early the next morning, we drove to a spot just east of Drumheller to meet with Calvin Raessler of Top Grass Beef. Raessler is relatively “new” to the business compared to some of our long-time OGC members, but has already dove head first into his operation, including seeking out ways to integrate ranching practices that are compatible with wildlife. He has already been reseeding to native prairie, and plans to implement other practices to make his operation thrive within the existing ecosystem.
As far as the health of his landscape? I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Jerry Holtman
Jerry was a pleasure to work with during the filming process. His interest and knowledge of wildlife is expansive, and he is keen to ensure the success of species at risk on the grassland landscape through smart grazing decisions.
As a longtime OGC member, Jerry has been involved with our program since 1990, from fencing dugouts to participating in our annual wildlife census.
Max Tateson
Max Tateson of Three Triangle Ranch in Tilley, AB was our last (but certainly not our least enjoyable) stop on the Caravan tour. Max’s business card states: “Performance horses and too many cows”—a professional but clever sentiment that reflects the hard-working yet fun-loving Tateson family.
Like our other interviewees, Max has a deep interest in and respect for wildlife and has been an OGC member since 2010. A member of the local school board, Max is also involved with education and has suggested outlets for OGC’s future plans to integrate more public outreach and youth education.
Our five Conservation Caravan ranches are just a sample of the individuals that OGC works with. Although they range from well-established, multi-generational ranches to brand-new enterprises, from conventional operations to grass-finished and direct marketed, our 300+ membership has this in common: they not only respect and value the landscape and wildlife it supports, but they steward that land and wildlife as well. And this stewardship is not just limited to OGC members—many many ranches in the grassland region of Alberta operate within the bounds of the existing ecosystem, using their cattle as a tool to not only serve as their livelihood, but also to manage and maintain the health of the landscape. Not often thought about is the fact that the native species in that landscape have evolved WITHIN a system of grazing. In fact, ranching may be the best bet for success and recovery of many grassland species in trouble.
Stay tuned for more Conservation Caravan updates, and the launch of the film itself in mid-September 2013.