WELCOME  TO
CRAIN'S RANCHING PAGES

 

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
No, it's not Colorado, Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming. It's even better! It's Alberta, Canada! Rocking "Are" Ranch is located in west-central Alberta, 17 miles southwest of the Town of Rocky Mountain House, in Clearwater County, approximately 150 miles northwest of Calgary and 1100 miles north of Denver. Rocky is located at the intersection of Highways 11 (David Thompson Highway) and Highway 22 (Cowboy Trail), a hub of activity for the oil and gas, forestry, agricultural, and tourism industries.

 

THE RANCH HOUSE
The modern, energy-efficient open-beam ranch home (1300 sq ft), built in 2002, is finished in pine log siding over structural insulated panel walls and roof. An attached two car garage, constructed from milled logs in 1980, has an immaculate one-bedroom guest suite above (730 sq ft), with full bath, kitchenette and large living room. Both overlook pristine woods and pasture land in front and the stream behind. In addition, a 330 sq ft screened porch "summer kitchen" with BBQ augments the recreational space.

Ranch house with our cow herd in the front pasture 2004

Solar panels and a natural-gas-powered generator with inverter and batteries provide reliable "off-the-grid" independence. Ample clear water comes easily from a 100 foot drilled well.

Green grass lawns and  a rock garden, complete with garden railway, complement the finish of the ranch house. Massive spruce, pine, and aspen trees shelter the home from the weather on three sides, giving an unobstructed view to the south.

View of rock garden, garden railway,  and large screened porch on west side of ranch house.

THE LAND
There are 160 acres deeded and 100 acres lease land, 2/3 of which are tame pasture, all accessible by high grade roads. Extensive cross-fencing, with high-grade galvanized steel gates, affords excellent control for rotational grazing. Carrying capacity is 50 to 70 cow-calf pairs summer grazing (winter feed purchased).

Aerial view of deeded quarter and a portion of the grazing lease (foreground) looking a little
 East of North, North Saskatchewan River in background, Cowtown at center of photo.

Surrounded on all sides by government land, this property is an oasis in the wilderness. A year-round stream, 80 foot pine, spruce and aspen shelterbelts, and ample tame pastures make this a practical working cattle or horse ranch, personal retreat, rural residence, private hunting lodge, or all of these.

The ranch sits just 1/2 mile from the North Saskatchewan River and two miles from the largest Forest Reserve in North America. Hunting, fishing, hiking, and recreational travel are only yards from the front door. World-famous Banff and Jasper National Parks are 110 miles from Rocky Mountain House, offering skiing, hiking, and the spectacular Canadian Rockies scenery.


THE FACILITIES
Cattle handling facilities are modern and in good repair, consisting of a large hay barn with attached calving pens, heated maternity barn with bunkhouse, kitchen and office, plus numerous smaller outbuildings and corrals. A covered shelter over the working chute, weigh scales, and squeeze keeps the cowboys dry while processing cows or calves. This area, known as Cowtown, is the envy of the community and praised by all the vets who have used it to treat a sick animal.

Cowtown buildings looking West.

RANCH BACKGROUND
From 1979 to 2005, we raised purebred Hereford bulls and replacement females for commercial ranchers and other purebred breeders. 

We were told that our stock was "one of the best kept secrets in the Hereford industry". Our bulls were Maternal Trait Leaders and 10% of our cows showed up on the Top Producing Female list most years.

In 2005, the heart of our herd was sold to the Bohnet family of High River and the younger bred cows were dispersed through Innisfail Auction. The bred heifers, yearling bulls, and 2-year old bulls were sold in 2006. There are still cows at Rocking "Are" - now we run grassers in the summer and lease some grass to keep the pastures in good condition. 

We put a lot of time and effort into our Herefords, not to mention love and affection for the cows, their calves, and our great bull power. We miss their peaceful nature and truly mourn the loss of our “family” .

  

Read more about the herd and our bulls at Rocking "Are" Herd History.
 

PHOTO ALBUM #1 - RANCH

Completely off the grid with solar power and natural gas heat.


Meadow foxtail makes good grass, and in turn makes for healthy critters.


View of south pasture from the front window of the ranch house - pastoral and peaceful.


Raking hay in south pasture, as seen from living room.


All baled and ready to go. We upgraded to a stackmaker the following year.


How's that for nonchalance - breadloaf stacks were made with a Hesston stackmaker.


Fall colour spectacular - harvest is in the barn.

Moonrise after fall harvest
Click here to see photo showing craters and stars from handheld shot (1.6 Mb)


Frost on the trees at sunrise - calving season coming next.


The spring-fed creek runs all winter -  a rare sight in Alberta. This view
was taken from the side lawn.


Spring has sprung - here's the creek again, viewed from the side lawn.

Aerial photo of NE 24-39-9W5 showing internal roads, creek, drainage, buildings, and pastures.

Rocking "Are" Herd History        Rocking “Are” Photo Album #2