Rodgers Red Angus - Lone Tree Ranching History Page

History Genetics

History

Come on in and let me tell you about us. Ellamae and I, our son Shawn and his family are 3rd, 4th and 5th generation raising cattle in southern Alberta. I took over the management of our herd at Millarville in the mid sixties. In 1969 we purchased our first Red Angus bull from Gary Conrad hoping to increase the performance and eliminate the chapped teat problems in our predominately Hereford cow herd. After much discussion and research we decided Red Angus was the breed of the future (over the past 40 years I have had no reason to change my mind).

In the spring of 1971, I along with Dave Glaister, Dave Wildman and Earl Watson toured Idaho, Washington and Oregon visiting Red Angus herds. We arrived home a week later much the worse for wear but the proud owners of the very good foundation for four new Red Angus herds in Canada.

In September of 1972, along with other interested Red Angus enthusiasts, a field day was held at Valley Cattle Co. followed by what turned out to be the inaugural meeting of the yet unnamed Canadian promotion society. As it was held in our living room I had the honor of being nominated president.

Fall 1973 the Millarville Red Angus breeders started the first breeder group operated yearling bull performance test. This test evolved into the Red Angus breeders of Canada test which at one time had 32 consignors and held 4 bull sales in Alberta and 1 in Kamloops.

Spring 1975 Dave Glaister, Sibbald bros., Joe Lukacs and I purchased a red gene black bull Dynamite 561 from Jim Leachman which led to the formation of the Canadian Dynamite Breeders group. While we all had our own herds each of us maintained a portion of the Dynamite herd built through purchases such as Larkabell, a red gene carrying half sister to Dynamite and grand champion at Agribition 1975 and the natural increase. The proceeds of this herd which at times numbered over 25 were used to promote our herds as well as Red Angus in general. In 1982 dynamite breeders had the numbers to have our own test and a sale in High River expanding to another sale in Brooks in 1987 with Gleddie ranches.

1993 saw a huge change in our lives with the sale of our Millarville property and the purchase of a ranch in the short grass (and treeless) country east of Warner, giving us the opportunity to have Shawn join us as a full partner. Our move south along with Dave and his families move to Waterton the year before saw the dissolution of our Dynamite group with John and Wayne taking over the High River sale, and Dave having his own sale at the ranch. We were partnered with Lyle Gleddie until 2002 then with Lyle’s son-in-laws, Kerry Kurtzweg and Jerry Steeves until 2007. Both Kerry and Jerry have since sold their cattle and are pursuing other interests. It was truly an honor working with these gentlemen!

We continue to have our annual sale on the 2nd Tuesday in April at Bow Slope Shipping in Brooks, Alberta.

Our goals remain the same, to produce seed stock that are “Range Raised for Range Use”. Our cow herd are run like commercials, once calved they are turned back out on grass and allowed to develop on their own. We DO NOT creep feed because we feel we get a more accurate WPDA. These bulls HAVE NOT had their hooves trimmed, allowing you to observe their hooves in their natural condition. We feel it is very important to cull hard allowing you to choose from the best genetics possible in our herd.