By Abbey
From Dawn Farm's January, 2025 monthly newsletter.
In 2020, I worked on several farms across Canada, including Quebec, Saskatchewan, and BC. Between SK and BC, I s
pent two weeks making a roundabout journey of visiting friends, schools, and some ranches.
In Vermilion, AB, I was given a great tour of Lakeland College by the Dean, Josie. I instantly admired her - she was the dean of this agricultural college, also ranched with her family, and she wore her cowboy boots for the tour. Josie told me they would be preg-checking cows (a vet comes out to check if the cows are carrying a calf) the next day and invited me to come join in and experience a day on a true working Alberta ranch that still uses horses.
Obviously, I did not turn down that offer! I showed up the next morning on a cold Alberta day. I was dressed in my warmest clothes, but Josie still took one look at me and brought me into the house for an extra vest and a “wild rag.” She explained to me that the wild rag is a piece of Alberta history and traditional clothing. They are made of silk, which kept the necks of cowboys warm in the winter, and in the summer kept the dust off while staying cool. Josie loaned me one of hers to wear for the day.

And so, the preg-checking day began! I forget exactly, but I think there were about 2-300 cows to be checked. The cows had to be rounded up from a nearby pasture, and each one run through a chute system so the vet could use an ultrasound to check if she was carrying a calf. Josie and others were on horseback, bringing groups of cattle into the corral. From there they were moved into the chute. Several of us were stationed along the chute, making sure the cows kept moving along. There were lots of cows to get through, so we never wanted the vet to be waiting for the next cow to move up.

It was a very exciting and memorable day for me. I felt so honoured to be able to help out and learn. It was incredible to see the skills of the riders on horseback and everyone’s care to minimize the stress for the cattle. The plywood hung on the chute also made it easier on the cattle - blocking off the sides makes it less scary for them.

When all the cows had been checked, the riders moved the cows to a different pasture and some of us went ahead to open gates. Then, we all had a big dinner together!

As I was leaving, I thanked Josie for letting me take part in such a cool experience. She thanked me for my help and gave me the wild rag to keep.

The wild rag came with me to BC, home to Ontario, back out to BC and Alberta, then home again. It is truly a cherished possession. I now have three of them in total, but this one has special meaning woven into it. Every time I wear it, I think of Josie’s generosity, not just in giving it to me, but in bringing me out to join in on her ranch at a time when I was so desperate to learn anything and everything I could about cattle, to play some small part in it all.
I have wanted to write about this story for a while now. It may not seem directly linked to my business, but I always wanted to tell it because every time I see the wild rag, I wish there was some way Josie could know how much that day meant to me. Words don’t seem to be enough.
It really makes me think about generosity in general. About gifts I’ve given and received in the past. Sometimes we give a gift and forget about it. Whenever we put some kindness out into the world, we have no way of knowing how much it might mean to someone else, or how long they might treasure it, long after we’ve forgotten.
I suppose the real goal of this story is to let you all know that your generosity goes a long way for me too. I do not forget the kind words so many of you share with me, encouraging me to keep going. I do not forget that you are choosing my business over the convenience of the grocery store. I notice the gifts you share with me, in various forms, be it a Christmas card, a kind word, a little extra tip, driving out of your way to buy from me. I appreciate these gifts. Thank you.
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