1930s ranching
Modern-day ranching
These two photos are a good comparison of the 1930’s ranching to modern day.
First the country is quite different. Miles City, Montana is the setting for the old photo and Red Deer, Alberta is where the present day photo was taken.
It is also evident the genetics of cattle and horses have really improved in the last eighty years.
The skills the western range cowboy needs have not changed much in the past century. Good horsemanship and stockmanship, as well as skill with a rope, are still essential.
We had roped this steer and laid him down as low stress as possible. If things were to stressful I don’t think those other steers would be hanging around.
I saw a bumper sticker in Nebraska that said, “The West as not won on salad.” It was won with good stockmen raising beef. I think it is great to have all the technology, yet the skills of the cowboy are just as important as they were 100 years ago.
Curt Pate Stockmanship 