December 2-3, 2011

Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef will be set up in the old Fields Store, Ranchland Mall in Pincher Creek, Alberta Friday, December 2 (3-8pm) and Saturday, December 3 (10am to 5pm). Stop by, taste some samples of our smokies, jerky stix and garlic sausage and stock up for the holidays!

We'll Be At The Ranchland Mall November 18-19, 2011

Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef will be set up at the Ranchland Mall in Pincher Creek, Alberta November 18 (3-8pm) and November 19 (10am-5pm).
 This is your chance to come by and stock up on something different for your Christmas entertaining this year - yak-cross beef! 

Try our newest "Yak Snak"...garlic sausage!

A Yak Mascot From Yahk, B.C.

A friend of mine spotted this little guy at a garage sale and bought it for us. Since then, he's become our mascot at Farmer's Market.

We added the Springridge Ranch sign and if you peel it away, underneath it says "Yahk, BC". Which got me wondering, how did Yahk, BC get it's name? And why did they add the "h"? So far, I've only been able to find a brief history of Yahk on the bottom half of this webpage, but it didn't explain the naming of this town. If anyone out there knows, please drop me a note!

Time For Another Cattle-Yak Drive

"Cattle Drive" has always been an interesting term to me. After all, cattle don't drive, you gather them up and move them down the road or across pastures to their new feeding grounds.

First, there's the gather.

Then the herd has a tendency to rush out the gate and head

down the road in a hurry...

...until they settle down to a steady pace.

Depending where you travel, there can be a few obstacles along the way. The older cows have been down this road at least yearly and they barely blink an eye at their surroundings. Here's a bridge that a few of them have crossed several times in their life. It makes a different noise under their hooves than being on gravel, so the calves and even new horses can balk at the strange sound it makes. In those cases, it's wise to get off your horse and lead it across the first time or two!

Vehicles are a common sight.

And there are a few railway crossings.

This day, some of the younger cows were leading the pack and it took a little convincing to get them to cross the tracks. However, with some persistence, one finally ventured out and took those first steps...

...and the others soon followed.

As they all settled into their new digs, there was a chance to get a good look at some of the calves and see how they've grown. You may remember little raccoon eyes. Well, he isn't so little anymore!

It's alway satisfying to head home after a great morning ride

and a job well done.