Ranch Legacy S.R.M. Lethbridge, Oct. 28, 2011

• A.H. Lynch-Staunton ….Fort Macleod etc• Partnership cows milk etc• 1885 Richard Lynch-Staunton arrived to join

his brother• Open range, minimal land…..no significant

leases• Longhorns• Butcher shops• Broke at least once• Partnership split and Richard to North Fork• A.H. to Pincher creek

• I.G Baker

• Hard way

• Share of hardships, heartbreak and good fortune. 1918 and next year!

• Cattle buying

• Forestry grazing

• Winter grazing

• April…Dying month

• Farming…..soil erosion

• Bison and elk

• One saddle

• Liverpool

• Great life for men

Dad

• Rode 5 miles to school• Met Mom at U of A….Married and

returned in 1929.• Hardship, hard work , drought and

severe winters• Shipped cows by rail to Picture Butte• One spring killed cows born too weak

cows

• Army reserves• Regular supporter of P.C. Party and

W.S.G.A.• Somehow was able to travel and send

my sisters and I to university• Supported S.R.M.• Expanded the ranch• M.D. councilor• Lt. Governor

Next generation

• Wife and I met at U of A• Home in 1967• Expanded ranch with father and with my

sons• Four children have collected 6 university

degrees• Active in cattle politics• S.R.M.

Next-next generation

• U of T

• Job of his life…Could not work indoors and returned in 1999

• Wife has masters in engineering and they have two children

Technical and Grass

• Open range with no winter feeding did not always work

• Dad grazed lightly but for all season

• Bigger herds and move more often

• Try to graze different species at different times

• Feed analysis is a must…native?

• Genetics…Longhorns to herefords to highly tested hybrids

• D.N.A. and gene mapping

• Handling systems and technique

• Rotational grazing…

Economics

• Low margin business and always has been

• Native range…Keep in perspective• The longer the abuse the longer the

recovery• Balance• Understand not only your ranch but your

business

• You might be better to rent than to buy

• Understand your customers

• Plan for succession……Fair vs. equal

Traits that might contribute to success

• Love of the land

• Run your outfit as a business

• Do not let conventional wisdom get you down

• Get Real! Try to see things as they are

• A good education that will qualify you for something else

Closing

• Hope some of these ideas are helpful

• Good luck in marriage, to live in Alberta and the good luck to make enough good decisions to overpower the bad ones