There’s something about this land that gets into your bones. Maybe it’s the way the wind moves through the grass, or how the horizon stretches wider than your thoughts. Maybe it’s the silence at night, broken only by the soft breath of a horse or the coyote’s call. Whatever it is, it has a way of staying with you.
There’s something about this land that gets into your bones. Maybe it’s the way the wind moves through the grass, or how the horizon stretches wider than your thoughts. Maybe it’s the silence at night, broken only by the soft breath of a horse or the coyote’s call. Whatever it is, it has a way of staying with you.
My family has been in the agriculture industry in this area for 5 generations now. We currently produce purebred Black Angus and Hereford cattle. I grew up listening to stories of the homesteaders in the area and the hardships they went through coming to this country, some of them by boat from Europe, some of them in covered wagons from the states and many of them by train from Eastern Canada.
Some of them brought families with them but most came on their own looking for work and a fresh start and a dream of having something to call their own. They started businesses along the railway to form towns and many acquired land and invested in cattle, building up their herd and pasture land over the years. I’ve heard of how they endured hard winters, drought, poor prices for grain and cattle, and family illness.
Each story ends different. Some broke up the land when the price of grain outweighed the cost of producing cattle, some left for better work somewhere else and then returned to the area later and some never did come back. And then there were those that stayed through it all, taking the bad with the good through the generations, using every circumstance as an opportunity to better their strong management skills.
Often these stories were told during the holidays with friends and family strolling down memory lane in appreciation of what others did before we came along. Stories were shared when gathering with neighbours to work cattle together as they remembered comical events of the past, and then again as a learning tool from a parent to teach us young kids a thing or two about what real hard work was like and how to do things properly the first time instead of learning the hard way! And many of these stories were told to my husband and I from our grandparents as they reflected on the good ol’ days.
To earn a living, we’ve worked away from agriculture over the years pursuing other interests as well, but manage to incorporate agriculture and living off the land the best we can. Today, we choose a lifestyle of work and play outdoors with cattle, horses, hunting, and whatever other adventures arise and sharing those interests with others.
When you ride with us, you’re stepping into the everyday life of the land. The horses are seasoned, the trails are open range, and the skies, well, they speak for themselves. You’ll see the land the way we see it: as something alive, humbling, and full of stories. Whether you’re out for a ride, staying in the bunkhouse, or watching the stars settle in for the night, there’s a kind of peace here that’s hard to find elsewhere.
We believe in carrying on our ranching and outdoor heritage for generations to come as we continue to make time together working, practicing excellent stewardship of the land, just like the generations did before we came along.
I’m blessed to have a team of guides who are not just skilled riders—they’re kind, thoughtful people who care deeply about this place and the people who come to visit. They bring their full hearts to every ride and every guest, and I’m proud to have them as part of the Heritage Outfitting family.
The folks in this area have a common bond. They all call the Grasslands Area and Frenchman River Valley home. There is a culture and connection with place in this area like no other. It’s what has kept ranchers here for generations. It is what draws newcomers. It is what brings others back home. It’s our privilege to share it with you.