This week you’ll hear a meaningful collection of beautiful songs about ranch wives, cow girls and ranching couples.  You’ll also hear the real life ranching adventures of Richard and Charlotte Preston from Alberta’s shortgrass country. The latest on new CFIA livestock traceability regulations on the rangeland news and when applying discipline is the wrong thing to do with a horse.

This week, there’s more to commemorate the 34th anniversary of The SPIRIT OF THE WEST, AND THE 30TH Anniversary of Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine.  Terry Mason recalls how Hugh helped her get the editors job many years ago, and there are more behind the scenes  stories. A fine music line up, horse training help and good cowboy poetry round out another memorable episode.

An inspiriting combination of wise words from the Calf Roping psychologist Dr. Michael Johnson, and some pure and memorable songs of the west along with some information on how much horses understand what we say.  A look at making sure your ground beef is safely cooked and it all wraps up with a memorable piece of Cowboy Poetry.

Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine is celebrating 30years of publication and this week long time Editor Terri Mason joins Hugh to talk about the many joint projects the magazine and the Spirit of the West have worked together on.  You’ll also hear a long lost recording of Terri and an all star band doing a song she wrote live on stage.

You Tube Link: 

https://youtu.be/8ZiIJ4iTZc0 

More adventures in ranching and in life as Mark and Kathy McMillan join Gordon Feidlley and Kathy McDermid for a great conversation about cattle, horses, crops, machinery and much more. The Irvine saddles and Western Wear Horse Training File looks at the sometimes confusing subject of leads, Some country music legends perform one of the TOP 100 Country and western songs of all time, and it wraps up with a masterpiece of Cowboy Poetry.

 Branding stories from the folks who were part of them, make up much of the conversation this week. Curt Pate joins Hugh to talk about colts that buck on the Horse Training File, you’ll hear more great new western music, and Reg Steward shares his poem about an infamous incident at a Mclennan Ranch  branding.

 The true adventures of this ranch couple will have you spellbound and laughing and nodding your head.  Betty and Don Peterson tell our support crew about their many years of ranching raising cattle and kids and still loving the life. The Rangeland news looks at the effects of the war in Iran on input prices for ranchers and farmers, there;s some terrific music and a fine piece of Cowboy poetry.

:  A long time Ranching couple join our support crew, Mark and Kathy McMillan to talk about their experiences hosting international students for all over the world.  They had great times, and stressful times, but it gave them wonderful memories.  The Rangeland News looks at how more producer groups are lining up in opposition to the CFIA’ proposed new rules, and a fine selection of music and poetry.

Sometimes a good working cow dog can be a cowboy’s next best friend after his horse and this week you’ll hear some fascinating insight into the working of a dogs mind, and how it compares to the way horses respond.  The rangeland news has more about the backlash over the CFIA’s proposed new livestock moving rules, The horse training file, tells you when it’s time to move young horse out of his comfort zone.  As always a great list of pure western music, and a fine piece of cowboy poetry.

The working cowboy and cowboy singer Matt Robertson joins the conversation this week with some amazing stories including some spectacular wrecks. Mel Brown has a hilarious poem about Cowboys on the Golf Course, The Irvine’s saddles and Western Wear Horse training looks at a young who suddenly got very aggressive towards his owner. All this and some pure clean music of the west.