Yellowbird Soars to Juno Nomination
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| Photo courtesy of Jenna Berreth Shane Yellowbird nominated for Juno Award |
Shane Yellowbird’s album Life is Calling My Name is nominated for a Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year.
“I’m thrilled with the nomination. We’ve put a lot of work into the album and it’s great to have it recognized by the industry in this way,” commented Yellowbird on the news.
Yellowbird’s debut album has placed him among Canada’s hottest new artists earning him recognition for Canadian chart topping singles such as Pick Up Truck, and his latest, I Remember The Music.
The nominations come on the heels of Yellowbird’s other major national awards including Best Male Artist, Best Country Album and Best Album of the Year at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards as well as Rising Star Award at the Canadian Country Music Awards.
The 2008 Junos will take place in Calgary on Sunday, April 6th.
New Reign Length for Miss Rodeo Canada
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| Photo courtesy of Jenna Berreth 2008 Miss Rodeo Canada Jenna Berreth and 2005 World Champion Steer Wrestler Lee Graves at WNFR in Las Vegas |
Three weeks after being crowned Miss Rodeo Canada on November 9, 2007 at the Canadian Finals Rodeo, Jenna left for the bright lights of Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “Not only did I enjoy every moment of everything I did,” enthused Jenna, “but I also could have not been more proud to represent Canada in a year when all of our representatives made their mark.”
She was busy carrying the Maple Leaf in grand entries as well as many autograph signings and buckle presentations nightly after the rodeo. She also enjoyed taking in the Miss Rodeo America pageant.
After spending the holidays at home, Jenna was back on a plane to the Mile High City of Denver for the WESA Market and the Denver Stock Show and Rodeo in early January. Between local events and a few trips back to Jasper, she’s had great opportunities to meet many unforgettable people.
This year, there are changes to the length of the reign of Miss Rodeo Canada, which will now follow the calendar year – from January 1 until December 31. While the crowning of the new MRC will still take place during Canadian Finals Rodeo, the crown will not change hands (heads?) until the end of December. Until then, the freshly crowned 2009 Miss Rodeo Canada will be a “lady in waiting” and will attend the rest of the CFR as well as the WNFR with Jenna.
Empty Saddles
Donald Stuart Montjoy
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| Photo by Joe Mazzutto |
February 1, 1947 – December 12, 2007
Veteran horse logger Don Montjoy of Lillooet, B.C. was killed in a tragic fire in B.C. Don was best known as a successful horse logger and master log builder who not only built his own log house, but professional buildings as well, including the Lillooet Friendship Centre and the Siska Gallery in the Fraser Canyon. Don and his Percherons were regulars at different interior heavy horse meets, winning many awards. Don was featured in the Oct/Nov 2004 issue (Love of the Land) written by his long time friend, Ann Chandler.
Don is survived by two sons, five grandchildren and a wealth of friends.
Ugly Ranch Horse Competition
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| Photo courtesy of Jenna Berreth Young Jake and Aaron (Toad) Cunningham, Robyn Neufeld and Chelsea Cunningham |
The Cowboy Trail Church of Cochrane held their annual Ugly Ranch Horse Competition plus a clinic conducted by the always colourfully shod Ron Anderson January 26 at the Bearspaw Arena.
Bernie Schellenberg won the Open competition and Robyn Neufeld won the Amateur; each receiving a silver buckle donated by Aaron (aka Toad) and Chelsea Cunningham of Cunningham Farrier Service. Bernie was also awarded a customized Ben Crane Ichabod print. Randy Marshall was given a plaque for the Cowboy Up award, donated by Heather Seitz.
Chief Mountain Study Benefit Concert
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| Photo by Kristie Romanow Chief Mountain Study Benefit Concert, from left: Larry Frith, Liz Bectell, Jeff Bectell, Dave Bairnes, Patty Lund, Corb Lund, Shane Hansen, Kristie Romanow and Tim Romanow. The concert by Corb and the Hurtin’ Albertans raised about $20,000. |
A concerned group in the Cardston and Pincher Creek region banded together and commissioned a study to examine the effects of cumulative land-use trends in that area.
Using a computer model, the Chief Mountain Study will compile data on current land use, including acreage development, recreational uses and the footprint of oil and wind power extraction to create an accurate forecast of the impact on land and water resources. The model can then be projected across several decades.
An example of the effect of one land use decision affecting other resources has been developing for decades. The boom of Calgary has created a demand for rural acreages in southern Alberta – which places greater demands on water resources. The number of applications received by the County of Cardston for owners and investors to subdivide parcels of land has grown exponentially over the last five years, says Murray Milward, county administrator for Cardston County. “If we allow a lot of growth in the southeastern slopes, how will the water supply hold up?”
The Chief Mountain Study area covers roughly 925,000 hectares (2.28 million acres) and is predominantly cultivated agriculture (43% of study area), native origin grasslands (30% of study area) and forests (18% of study area). Human footprint currently covers about 2% of the study area.
For more information about the disturbing findings of the Chief Mountain Study, visit www.salts-landtrust.org/cms.
Where in the World is Canadian Cowboy?
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| Photo by Dennis Cartwright Un Monument a la Gloire du Chaval (A Monument to the Glory of the Horse) |
The lovely and statuesque Colleen Wudel jetted off on an exciting homecoming trip to the Normandy region of France, where she visited Haras du Pin. With typical aplomb, Colleen convinced 36-year veteran Percheron stallion handler Mr. Dudouit, to pose with her and the Percheron stallion Kevine 16 in front of the stables. (Yes, that is the stable!)
Established in 1665 by Louis XIV to improve horse breeds, Haras du Pin was built between 1715 and 1730. The main gate is decorated with a gilt bee, symbol of Napoleon III, to commemorate his visit to Le Pin. Today, the National Haras du Pin is the oldest stud farm in France and features over a dozen breeds. One of the missions of Le Pin is to preserve the draft horse genotype, so they keep stud fees very attractive to promote local breeds such as the Cob Normand and Percheron.
The farm was occupied by the Prussians in 1871, the Germans in 1940 and was at the heart of the Battle of Normandy near the Falaise pocket, without suffering any damage. In 1989, Haras du Pin hosted the Percheron World Congress.