VOL. 26 I NO. 1 JULY 2011

Price $3.50

!"#$%!&'!()*+++,('-)$./0#1+2-)$.

%

!"#$%!&'!()*+++,

Lynn Jackson & Harry Hooke

Fort St. James

!"#$"%&'((%)!'*+%

FEATURE | Environmental Stewardship Award

32 | July / August 2011 www.beefinbc.ca

is the 2011 recipient of the BC Cattlemen’s

Association annual Environmental Stewardship

Award. Lynn Jackson & Harry Hooke were

nominated by fellow ranchers, Charly and

Lucille Belsham, for being an established ranch

that has made environmental sustainability its

main priority.

Harry and Lynn were both raised on farms,

but each pursued other careers before returning

to the ranching life 15 years ago to raise their

two sons, Jackson and Harrison. The 2000 acre

ranch is located along the Stuart and Necoslie

Rivers in Fort St. James. The ranch is within

the high elevation sub-boreal spruce zone,

which offers a short growing and grazing

seasons. The ranch was started from raw land

that had mostly been logged in the previous

decades. Today the ranch is . The ranch is self-

sufficient comprised of private and leased

lands, along with three woodlots. Canyon Tree

Farms is able to grow all of their own feed on

the 350 acres of crop and pasture land.

Canyon Tree Farms ran Angus cross

commercial cattle for the first four years, and is

now a purebred Angus breeder. Harry and

Lynn pride themselves on the type and quality

of cattle they raise, which is evidenced by an

increasing demand for their purebred bulls and

replacement heifers as well as their consistent

production of AAA carcasses. Recently, Lynn

and Harry have diversified and established a

successful local meat sales enterprise, selling

directly and through the local farmers market.

In addition to the cattle, Lynn and Harry also

have a small herd of paint horses which are

used extensively for working cattle.

The BC Cattlemen’s Association

recognizes Canyon Tree Farms for

implementing environmentally sustainable

management practices on their successful

diversified ranch operation.

!"#$%!&'!()*+++,('-)$./0#1+2-)$.+

!"#$"%&'((%)!'*+%%

%

!"#$%!&'!()*+++,

!"#$"%&'((%)!'*+%

Environmental Stewardship Award | FEATURE

www.beefinbc.ca July /August 2011 | 33

FEATURE | Environmental Stewardship Award

34 | July / August 2011 www.beefinbc.ca

GRAZING MANAGEMENT

Canyon Tree’s grazing management plan has a focus of environmental sustainability. To

achieve this, the grazing systems are a combination of strip grazing and rest-rotational

grazing. On the ranch, miles of electric fencing and solar powered electric fencers have been

installed. The overall goal is to protect the natural ecosystems while improving grass

production and decreasing input costs. Lynn and Harry have found this method leads to better

utilization of forage and builds soil health without the use of commercial fertilizers. The

grazing method has also helped control invasive plants, such as buttercup and thistle, are

almost eliminated from the pastures. Hay fields are not grazed in order to ensure maximum

crop yield. Cattle are winter fed on fields that are either scheduled for restoration or need the

extra natural fertilizer. In the winter, the ranch uses bale feeders to minimize feed waste.

The BC Cattlemen’s Association congratulates Lynn Jackson and Harry Hooke

CLEARING LAND

To reach their goal of environmental

sustainability, Lynn & Harry use an

“integrated resource management plan

with the underlying principle that every

hectare of ground is utilized for what it

is best suited.”

Today most of the land is treed to

some extent with small openings

created through harvesting. These

openings in the forest canopy serve as

hubs where cattle graze and provide

brush control.

4) Finished fields

3) Cleared land ready for seed

CERTIFICATION

Lynn and Harry are keen to adopt new ideas and

certify their ranch and beef products through

available programs. The ranch registered in the

Verified Beef Production program which requires

audits of record keeping for animal health and food

safety protocols. The ranch was the first in their area

to have a completed Environmental Farm Plan. As

part of their commitment to stewardship, the ranch

continues to use their integrated resource

management plan.

2) Cleared land

1) Raw land

Electric fence used for strip grazing

Solar panel for electric fence

!"#$%#&'())*+#$!)&,))#-$).!&/$))%"//&#/$'#)

0)1)

Environmental Stewardship Award | FEATURE

www.beefinbc.ca July / August 2011 | 35

1)

WATER & RIPARIAN MANAGEMENT

Water quality and sustainability are at the heart of ranch management strategies and are showcased in the

environmental projects completed to date. To Lynn and Harry “protecting the water resources is the prime

commitment and everything else falls into place around that.” Because livestock access to riparian areas has been

eliminated or severely restricted a water distribution system has been installed with solar waterers and frost-free

nose pumps.

Lynn and Harry’s biggest environmental challenge is trying to establish channel stability on the Necoslie

River. This river has extreme flow cycles, ranging from virtually dry to a raging torrent. A crossing was installed

but extraordinary river conditions washed it out. Lynn and Harry will continue to install sweeper trees and rip rap

as a means to stabilize the banks. The crossing will be reinstalled to minimize cattle

impacts on the waterway. The Stuart River flows adjacent to the property.

WILDLIFE

The two river systems running through the ranch enhance the biodiversity

already found in the numerous riparian areas. A wide variety of wildlife

including blue and red listed species and migratory birds are seen in the spring

and fall. Endemic populations of moose, deer, and black bears are a common

sight with an occasional visit from a wandering grizzly bear. The numerous

salmon runs enhance habitats for eagles and ospreys which feed and nest along

the rivers, and geese, beavers, fishers, and muskrats make their home in the

waterways. In the winter Trumpeter swans, kept company by a host of ducks,

are seen on the open waters of the Stuart River.

THE FUTURE

Lynn & Harry were one of the first operations in their area

to complete and implement their Environmental Farm

Plan. Their future stewardship plans include: stabilizing

the banks of the Necoslie River, adding more safe watering

sites for cattle and increase strip grazing areas. Jackson and

Hooke are always looking for opportunities to offer value-

added products and increase market share. The family are

active members of the community, involved in their local

and regional cattlemen’s associations, as well as 4-H, and

the Angus Associations.

BEFORE:

Necoslie River banks annual erosion

AFTER:

Stabilization with rip-rap and logs

(frozen Necoslie R. in foreground)

Restricted livestock access to riparian area with

a nose pump waterer

W R

ay

W R

ay

of Fort St. James on receiving the 2011 Environmental Stewardship Award

Home Ranch — Fort St. James

FEATURE | Environmental Stewardship Award

36 | July / August 2011 www.beefinbc.ca

1-877-765-33371-877-857-1268

!"#$! !%&'()!*(+,-.

$299

TAKE YOUR PICK OF THE

FOLLOWING 2 VALUE-

PACKED MODELS

31.4 HP 30 HP

JOHN DEERE CHOOSE YOUR TRACTOR SALE!

0% for 60 Months!*

SMALL CHASIS MODEL

!"#$! !%&'()!*(+,-.

ONLY MONTH MID CHASIS MODEL

/0,!123!343,1!123!5)+,!6)3-!7,1)!'38+951:!123!;2+(63!8)(!+<)9,1-!=+-1!'93!7-!>"?!@AB.!Taxes, set-up, delivery, freight, and preparation charges not included and may increase price or monthly payment(s). Additional fees may.be

required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

PDI not included

Offer Expires

July 31, 2011

THANK YOU FROM LYNN & HARRY

We hope that our two sons will recognize that there are rewards for doing a good job,

and in this case the Environmental Stewardship Award is a great honour. We would like

to thank the Environmental Farm Plan program and the Verified Beef Program for

helping us to put into practice many of our plans and ideas. We would also like to thank

the breeders and cattlemen for helping work together through some very tough times.

We would especially like to thank Charly and Lucille Belsham for their on-going

encouragement, support and pearls of wisdom. And finally, we’d like to thank the

community of Fort St. James for their continuing support of the farm gate sales and the

great quality of life we enjoy here.

THANK YOU TO OUR JUDGES & SPONSORS

This award is made possible through the generous financial contributions of our

sponsors: BMO Bank of Montreal, Beef Cattle Industry Development Fund & Check-off

levy, the BC Wildlife Federation and Doug Haughton’s Black Angus Natural Beef.

NOMINEES

Two strong nominations were received for the award this year and the selection

committee found it difficult to chose one over the other. BCCA appreciates the time

given by the selection committee members: Doug Fossen (BC Cattlemen), Barbara John

(Environment), Jim Forbes (Agriculture), and Don Tretheway (Conservation) in

evaluating this year’s nominees. BC Wildlife Federation generously donated a large

framed wildlife print for our other nominee, Agnes Jackson of Napier Lake Ranch in

Kamloops. The BC Cattlemen’s Association acknowledges Agnes and her late husband

Roy for their outstanding stewardship and commitment to the cattle industry.

Stewardship award winners with sponsors. Doug Haughton, Amos Rossworm (BMO),

Harry Hooke, Lynn Jackson, sons Harrison and Jackson, and Doug Fossen (BCCA).

Agnes with her grandchildren