Friday, July 9, 2010 - PRAIRIE POST - 19 Alberta columnist’s stories get refreshed by widow
BY RIC SWIHART ALBERTA
When Hank Pallister passed away, his computer became a living story of the western cattle industry, the people who lived that industry, and his own world in that industry as supervisor of Alberta’s brand inspection system.
When his widow Joyce Pallister turned on that computer, she quickly realized the wealth of history and stories of the lives of the men and women who paved the way for future generations. Will Verboven of Calgary, at one time editor of Alberta Beef Magazine and now running the day-to-day operations of Alberta Farmer Express newspaper, remembers all the columns Pallister wrote of the history of the west and the cattle industry.
“Hank knew just how to make it glorious, evocative and personal,” said Verboven. His column Smoke from the Branding
Fire was chosen by his wife as title for the first book. It recounts the stories of many early giants in the cattle industry, personal memories including his own biography. With Smoke from the Branding Fire off the press, Joyce Pallister decided there were more than enough stories for a second book. With a little help from the army of brand inspectors and related people who lived the industry and era with Pallister and after, came Bulls, Brands and B.S. The other big change came in Joyce’s life. She married Brooks-area farmer Edwin Bronsch.
She dedicates the newest book to Alberta brand inspectors in the livestock identification service, and to the office staff in the brand offices in Stettler and Edmonton who unknowingly recorded the history of Alberta while keeping records to protect the livestock industry. It comes full of history, and with only slight editing by Joyce and carries the same personal touch Pallister carved with his pen and computer in those moments of creative thought. There is hardly a part of Alberta that isn’t mentioned in Bulls, Brands and B.S., including a poem written by then-brand inspection newcomer Jake Marshall who trained at the Calgary Brand Office. Marshall was the first brand inspector in the Lethbridge offices after his training was complete. That poem was found in Pallister’s file of memoirs after his death. From there, the book ranges from a look at Alberta auction markets, the whisky trade in southern Alberta to the more modern-day Western Stock Growers Centennial Cattle Drive in 1996. He provides a personal insight in to many of the names in the cattle industry that are carved into the history of the province, names such as George Lane, the Bar U Ranch in the era when it
was owned by Pat Burns Ranches, and a follow up on the purchase of the Bar U Ranch by Parks Canada. The last quarter of the book are stories compiled mostly from brand inspectors and their life at work.
Ron Gschaid of Lethbridge had the job of writing about the Lethbridge Brand Office starting in 1950 when it opened. Gschaid worked under the early leaders in that office. He was hired as deputy inspector part-time in 1968, going full time in 1980. He was made area supervisor and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2005. Gschaid has his own story, an assignment with fellow inspectors Chuck Thompson and Wade Worthington, accompanied by Const. Bruce James of the RCMP.
They found about 70 cow-calf pairs owned by cattle producers which had strayed into crops on the east end of the Blood Reserve not far from the original Fort Whoop-Up. With the cattle rounded up and settled down, the crew waited for the Blood Band Police. When they didn’t show, Gschaid and the crew drove the cattle on
Medicine Hatedicine H All Breed Horse Show
Equine Hippique
July 23, 24, & 25, 2010 Medicine Hat Exhibition
Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede
July 23, 24, & 25, 2010 & Stampede
& presentpresent
Ranch Horse Competition & Sale Friday, July 30th, 2010
Offi ce:
anch Horse Competition & Sale Friday, July 30th, 2010
Competition at 11:00 AM SALE at 4:00 PM
Competition at 11:00 AM SALE at 4:00 PM For details & rules go to:
For details & rules go to:
www.mhstampede.com
www.mhstampede.com Offi ce:
(403) 527-1234(403) 527-1234 Fax:Fax: (403) 529-6553 (403) 529-6553
610 Cheadle St W • Swift Current, SK Farm Auction
Neufeld Auctions Machinery – Tack – Household – Shop
Saturday July 17, 2010 @ 10:30am Location: Hankins Farm Directions: From Swift Current – North on #32 Highway to #332 (Hazlet) – West to #37 Highway – North to Panarama School (approx. 6 miles) – West 3 miles to Dead End – North 3 miles; Watch for signs Lunch Available Machinery & Lawn Tractor
JD 3020 – Gas Synchro Shift - #148 FEL – 1841 hours Showing – Good Rubber Ser #TIIIR 123044R/ JD Model 100 24’ Cultivator c/w sprikes/ 8 1/2’ Dozer Blade (Fits 3020)/ Front Mount Post Pounder (Fits 3020)/ 3020 Tractor Cab/ 2 Hay Wagons/ Diamond Harrows/ JD #205 Rotary Cutter/ JD L120 Auto Riding Lawn Mower approx 205 hours 20hp Vtwin Vehicles – RV’s
1985 Ford Cougar (not running)/1985 Chev Silverado 4x4 (Rebuilt 350)(Blown Transmission) AC, C, T, P.W., P.L/ 1987 Chev Suburban 4x4/ 1998 Chev Suburban 2WD/ 8’ Truck Camper/ Yamaha 250cc Timerwolf Quad Runner/ 1979 Chev Raised Roof Camper Van Tack
2 Sets Medium size Show Harness (like new)/15” McIntyre Roping Saddle/ 15” Hereford Brand Roping Saddle/ 15” Big Horn Roping Saddle/ Breaking Harness/ Single Harness/ Halters/ Bridles/ Harness Bells/ Outback Slickers/ Animal Clippers/ Running Gear for Wagon (On Rubber)/ 8 bags Alfalfa Cubes Shop
Benches/ Grinder on stand/ Pipe Bender/ Metal Press/ Forney C-6 Welder/ Makita 14” Cut off Saw/ Shop Vac/ Port. Air Compressor/ Floor Model Drill Press/ Hobby Table Saw/ 8” Dewalt Radial Arm/ Hand tools/ 7.6v Drill/ 1 1/2” Ratchet Straps/ Skill Saw/ Butterfield Tap & Die Set/ Router/ Jig Saw/ Sander/ Tool Boxes/ Slide in Hitches/ Chain Hoists/ Butchering Spreaders/ Tow Ropes/ Chains/ Truck Roll Bar Household & MIsc.
Dog House/ Kennels/ Goose Racks/ 5 – 39” Beds/ Pool Table/ Misc. Tables/ Weight Set/ Cookware/ Bakeware/ Dressers/ Misc. Cupboards/ Loveseat/ China Cabinet/ Gun Cases/ File Box/ Kitchen Appliances • Ducks Unlimited Prints – Bernie Brown – Other Collectibles Also Selling
1991 Royal 16’ Goose Neck Stock Trailer Visit our website
www.neufeldauctions.ca
PJ TRUCK BEDS Channel crossmembers, channel
frame, diamond plate deck, and rock solid welds make our beds tough as nails. Fits Chevrolet, Ford, & Dodge. Powder coat paint. Call for prices
PJ UTILITY TRAILERS • 77”x10’, 1-3500# axle, 4’ gate $1900 • 83”x14’, 1-3500# axle, 4’ gate, removable side rail ramps $2400 • 83”x16’ or with 2-3500# axles, 4’ fold up gate, side mount ATV ramps, powder coat paint $3599 • 2007 Polaris Predator 500 $5199
2006 SUZUKI DR-Z250 Versatile 250cc 4-stroke off-road model with performance and features suitable for a wide range of riders.
$3,100 20’ & 40’ USED
STORAGE CONTAINERS Rain Proof!
Need we say more! $3,500 PJ GOOSENECK FLATDECK 2004 International Silage Truck
C-15 Cat Engine, 10 Speed Eaton Autoshift transmission.New 19’x 64”CANCADE silage box (tapered), “Stealth”hydraulic endgate,Michel’s Load-Loc (easy off) tarp.
horseback across the St. Mary River to and back to the cattle producers. Gschaid said it reminded him of all the old western movies of herds crossing the Rio Grande River between Texas and Mexico.
The Blood Band Police showed up, happy with the decision to get the cattle off the reserve.
The Pallister team — Hank through his computer and Joyce through her active life and writing talent and flare for poetry — combined on the latest book Lingo and Lines from a Cowboy’s Life and a Cowboy’s Wife. It features contributions of what is likely defined as cowboy poetry, with contributions from several poets, and many tidbits of advice. She concludes the book with life lines from her own scrapbook.
While the first two books are sprinkled with era photographs, Twin Butte western artist Don Brestler has a generous collection of his illustrations in Bulls, Brands and B.S. and Lingo and Lines. Brestler broke into southern Alberta as a ranchhand at the Knight Ranch and later McIntyre Ranch south of Magrath before joining the Calgary Police
Joyce Pallister-Bronsch with her bevy of books prepared mostly from manuscripts written by her late husband Hank Pallister who headed up the brands department of the provincial livestock inspection service.
Force.
His favourite subject is old-time west. All three books are available at Chapters, Save-On Foods and Drugs and the Galt Museum in Lethbridge.
SEVEN PERSONS,AB
CALL ABOUT THESE OTHER FINE UNITS
• International and Freightliner Autoshift and Ultrashift Trucks
• Grain and Silage Boxes • Cat,Cummins and Detroit Engines
• Self Loading Bale Deck Trucks • DAKOTA Aluminum Grain Hoppers Trailers
3. Reid Rowan
Phone: (403) 977-1624 or (403) 832-2600
www.automatictruck.com
Email:
rawlyn@automatictruck.com
26’ 3-7k axles, 5’ pop up dove, 2 flip over ramps,
powder coat paint. Now only $9,899
30’ 2-10k axles, tandem dual,
5’ pop up dove, 2 flip over ramps, powder coat paint. Now only
$11,699
BOW ISLAND, AB. (403) 545-2555
1-877-866-2555 REDCLIFF, AB.
(403) 548-2290
52067700•07/09/10
53986500•07/09/10
41026071•07/09/10 53986900•07/09/10
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32