Butcher Creek Grazing Co-op celebrates 50 years

Cecil Blackburn with Peter Argument of Shell Canada
 Eileen McGlynn photos

Toni Lucas and Eileen McGlynn

Butcher Creek Grazing Co-op held a 50th celebration supper at Twin Butte Community Hall Wednesday, October 29. Approximately 70 members, former members, and guests attended. The co-op was originally formed in 1964 to acquire, operate, and maintain grazing facilities and the care and feeding of livestock. This mandate has not changed in 50 years. They started with 592 acres of deeded land and government leased land consisted of 1432 acres, and the co-op continues to obtain land by buying or renting. Two of the original signing members remain - Norma Bird, and Alyre Therriault. Bob Toney, another original member, passed on days before the celebration.

Brent McGlynn and UFA Brant Irwin

Membership of the Co-op is restricted to 10 members at any given time. One of the other restrictions that was originally in place still exists: it is open to farmers and ranchers who are residents of the MD of Pincher Creek. Originally each member contributed 20 cow calf pairs and a bull. Now the members have increased this to 40 cow calf pairs and the co-op buys the bulls. Work is done through a shared schedule that includes every member taking turns at certain tasks, and group work initiatives.

BCGC Chair Norm McNeil

The dinner was prime rib feast, and then the Schoening family provided entertainment with Jackie Theriault accompanying them on accordion. Cecil Blackburn gave a short history of the co-op and provided a booklet for all the families to take home.

Original members Jackie and Alyre Therriault

This is a great year for the Grazing Co-op; They celebrate 50 years and the recently won the Environmental Stewardship Award at the Pincher Creek Chamber of Commerce Awards. At the awards ceremony they were praised for their excellent stewardship of the land, weed control programs, erosion control, rotational grazing practices, and environmental creek bank health.

Sarah and Suzanne Kirby

The Butcher Creek Grazing Co-op would like to thank:

The dinner volunteer committee: 

Cecil Blackburn, Clay Peters, and Dierdre Schoening for putting on a great event.

C&D Floral - Decorations

Twin Butte Country General Store - Dinner

Tony Bruder - Dinner

United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) - Signs

Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) - Door prizes

Shell Waterton - For their continued support