A great time of year...Denver & Calving

 08-01-12

Happy New Year!

What a great time of year. The weather in our area has been magnificent for the last month. This weather is ideal considering we have been busy preparing for calving and the National Western Stock Show.

In early December we had our annual cattle drive where a few cowboys and cowgirls jump on their favourite horses to bring the pregnant females home for the calving season. This is always fun time but this year was very chilly, as you can imagine we were glad to see the home yard come into sight!

A Year's worth of planning and hard work will now come to light as our females begin delivering their calves. The first round of ET(Embryo Transplant) calves are hitting the ground as well as the Simmentals. Traditionally we calve our Simmentals a bit earlier than the two other breeds but this year we are also expecting early Hereford calves in preparation for the World Hereford Congress (www. Hereford.ca ) to be held in Olds this July.



Denver time! We selected five head to exhibit in Denver this year. Denver has been good to us in the past....2011 – Reserve Sr. Bull Calf Champion, 2010 – Reserve Sr.Champion Bull, 2009- Reserve Jr. Champion Bull..... keep posted for results in a week’s time. Please drop by the stall for a visit! Stay tuned for future posts along the cattle trail...Thank you to our shavings sponsor ABM “Simply The Best”

Written by Jill Harvie

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A Winter Wonderland Wedding

15-12-11

On December 10th, second oldest son Scott Harvie married Kerrie Bennett an agronomist from Calgary Alberta. Scott & Kerrie Harvie ordered good weather from mother nature for their wedding day, and to their delight ended up with a gorgeous winter day of above normal temperature. Kerrie's cousin Heather, a florist and wedding decor designer "made it snow" with all her little helpers in the Olds Alumni Center - it was breath taking! The day was filled with precious moments with friends and family.

Scott & Kerrie live on the west farm where they plan to start a family and build a loving life together for many years to come. Congratulations! For more pictures go to www.ruralroutecreations.com.

Written by Jill Harvie

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It's all in the name "Shake me down"

01-12-11

Hosting visitors is always an enjoyable day at the ranch. During a tour, it is extremely rewarding to
hear which animal catches a fellow breeders' eye. Not only is it important that a calf catches their
attention but that this animal lives up to it's name. Well, this year the calf turning heads in the pasture is
Harvie Shake Me Down 98Y. This white bull walks like a cat, he is super cool fronted and has an explosion of natural muscling. He certainly stands out...because he is incredibly smooth.

We have big plans for this calf, he will be our 2012 Charolais herdsire. His sire is Pleasant Dawn Spawn 765W (2010 National Reserve Jr. Champion Bull) & dam Harvie Miss Anastasia 2S (daughter of the 2003 National Champion Female).

Written by Jill Harvie

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Hitting the show road

14-11-11

It's that time of year again! Excitement builds as we prepare our strings for the show road. This year we decided to head back to FarmFair International in Edmonton Alberta (Nov 6-12) after being away from the show for a few years. To our delight the show was very worthwhile. We had a chance to visit with fellow breeders of all breeds and connect with friends and neighbours visiting the show and CFR ( Canadian Finals Rodeo ). To cap it all off, we won a new blower in the Jr. Simmental draw!

Jack the Supervisor

Mini Pete

Lots of hay to eat and straw for comfort

Our new mini Pete being put to work for it' 1st show season!

We brought a small string of Herefords and a couple Simmentals. In the Hereford show ( Polled & Horned showed together) we came away with the following; Heifer Calf Champion, Junior Champion female, Reserve Champion Female, Reserve Champion Bull & Champion Breeders Herd. In the National Simmental show our two bull calves had a respectable second & third behind the reserve bull calf champion. In the legends of the fall we had mixed breeds Reserve Champion Bull & Female. Pictures can be found on www.grantspixs.com . Now it's time to concentrate on the Agribition show string (14 head), as we make the trip to Regina Saskatchewan. After that we plan to head to Denver in January. Perhaps we will see you on the show road!

Written by Jill Harvie

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The cattle business, isn't it a small world?

3-11-11

At the beginning of September, Ian and Marlene traveled to Europe. Ian was asked to judge the National Polled Hereford show in Moreton-in-Marsh, England. Their trip continued through Denmark and Germany. They enjoyed many great meals and cattle tours but one event stood out while visiting Heike & Jens Reimer Hereford farm/Bed and Breakfast in Brodersby, Germany (to visit click here www.gut-royum.de urlaub@gut-royum.de). While walking through their home, Ian was surprised to see a familiar image on the wall. It was a sketch created by Tina (Heike & Jens daughter) many years ago. She was inspired by a CHA note card of a cowboy, baby calf and his horse. In 98' the CHA asked Ian to be a model and commissioned Dawn Dickinson to draw him, his horse and a baby calf. Ian was thrilled to see the picture on their wall and they invited him to sign the back when they found out he was the model.

Written by Jill Harvie

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Hats off to a great pal  

23-10-11

When working cattle on the prairies there are some essential partners needed to make everyday tasks that much more enjoyable and productive. Every day Harry (German Long Haired Pointer – hunting dog), Tank (Border Collie-working dog) and Jack ( Jack Russell-keep my wife happy dog) happily greet us looking for breakfast and a full day’s work. Jack jumps in the front seat on the feed truck to keep an eye on all the action while Tank enjoys the breeze in the truck bed ready to move cattle when he hears his signal called ‘away’.  A couple of months ago a new addition called Pete  (Border Collie) joined the team and we hope he will be as good or better than his sire (Tank) at working cattle. Pete even made an appearance at Olds Fall Classic this fall and was a favourite amongst the juniors at the show!

Harry	Tank	Jack	Pete

Harry the hunting dog stays in the yard greeting visitors, laying around and most importantly roaming the perimeter of the ranch protecting the Jack Russell (who likes to get in trouble) and in the winter ensuring the coyotes and other predators are kept away from new calves. No matter how chilly outside during calving night checks, Harry is a couple feet behind us. Ian, Will, Cole & Scott enjoy pheasant hunting at a club nearby and that's where Harry works his magic. He is extremely talented when it comes to pointing out where the birds lay and land. He is an essential part of Scott's annual southern Alberta and the Dakota's hunting trip with the boys.  Harry was getting on in age and passed a couple weeks ago, he will be missed but mostly remembered as one fantastic dog with many talents. So hats off to our pal Harry.

Stay tuned for future posts along the cattle trail...

Written by Jill Harvie
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