First-of-its-kind multi-purpose plane that can battle blazes ready for take off
A Birtle-area crop-duster is getting into the firefighting business. Randy and Janet Sandstrom have expanded their crop-dusting business to now offer aerial firefighting assistance to local fire departments. They are the proud owners of a serial No. 1 from Thrush Aircraft, a single cockpit plane with a switchback fire gate, the first-of-its-kind, multi-purpose aircraft capable […] Read more
Former Richardson employee works with the company to donate surplus machines to high school graduates
Thirty high school students from Shoal Lake and Strathclair each recently received a refurbished laptop thanks to a joint initiative by Shoal Lake School alumna Jennifer Stefansson and Richardson International Limited. The new program is for high school graduates who have contributed to their community but do not have a laptop and intend to pursue […] Read more
Shane and Lonnie Brown like nothing more than teaching a greenhorn to handle a rope
Shane and Lonnie Brown, of Virden, believe in sharing ranch traditions with anyone who is interested. Putting that in action has become an annual event at their team roping clinic where they share their passion for roping and horsemanship skills with youth. April 13 and 14 saw 24 eager participants, ranging from age five to […] Read more
The organization says it remains committed to the iconic event
The Provincial Exhibition is beginning the process of rebuilding the heavy horse show at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair after just two hitches competed this year. A meeting held during the fair in late March saw concerns brought forward by 50 exhibitors and draft horse enthusiasts. The goal of the discussion was to come away […] Read more
The sector says it’s going to do all it can to raise the ‘PROFYLE’ of the fight against childhood cancer
A recent auction at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair worked overtime — or perhaps more accurately, double time — to raise funds for children’s cancer research. In the end the event raised over $32,000 for this cause, and how that figure was raised is a testament to the charitable generosity of the sector. An Angus […] Read more
The industry remains a shrinking shadow of its former self
Equine ranchers serving the hormone replacement therapy industry are seeing another round of cuts. The news came March 29, in an official statement from Pfizer Canada and affects a total of five operations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It results in a 17 per cent reduction in production, which equals 33,000 grams of estrogen. Producers are […] Read more
The RMWF’s iconic heavy horse show is in serious decline
Just 15 years ago the heavy horse show at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair was so popular that there had to be a draw to determine who would be awarded one of the 16 coveted show slots. Last year however, just eight teams participated in the show. This year there could be even fewer, disappointing […] Read more
Perhaps one of Rollie’s favourite and most valuable pieces in the collection, is the horse-drawn First World War ambulance. It was while restoring the buggy his wife Gladys had driven shortly after they married in the 1940s that rekindled Roland Clegg’s interest in horse-drawn vehicles. He took on that project for his granddaughter in 1975. […] Read more
“We would get home after one of the fairs, and say we weren’t going to go the next day, and the next day would come and off we’d go to the next show. It just didn’t seem right not to go. We were devastated if we didn’t get to them all.” BERTHA BROWN Some folklorists […] Read more
“Competing in the show ring doesn’t build character, it reveals character.” – LINDA BANGA It takes drive for a woman to compete in the heavy horse world. Just ask Janice Rutherford, a Grosse Isle Manitoba farmer who got hooked on Percherons after marrying into agriculture and moving to the country. “I did not start showing […] Read more
