This week, Strayhorn travels to the Great White North to meet trailblazer Wade Clifton. The Clifton family first settled in the southern part of British Columbia in 1913 when Ivan Clifton became the local station manager of the Canadian Great Northern Railroad and purchased a farm property and started raising cattle. Ivan’s son, Wilson Clifton, shared his love of ranching and together with his wife, June, and their two sons, Brad and Wade, they purchased the home property that Clifton Ranch still operates on today.

Wade Clifton now runs the ranch, after the passing of his father and brother, raising a herd of 500 cow-calf pairs grazing on 70,000 acres of range land and operating a feedlot for finishing cattle to direct market Homegrown beef to local consumers. The beef sold off Clifton Ranch is 100% homegrown: born, raised, and sold on their location, raised without the use of hormone implants, and is Verified Beef Production Plus Certified. Being able to raise a product from start to finish is something that the Clifton family takes great pride in.

The family-run operation in Keremeos, British Columbia has garnered national attention for the long-term partnership with The Nature Trust of British Columbia, working together now for over three decades. The partnership focuses on improving environmental management practices while still maintaining an economically viable ranching operation operating. Areas of focus include improved water management, rotational grazing schedules, wildlife friendly fencing, protection of riparian areas, and supporting the 50+ species at risk that call the land home. The cattle have been integrated into the ecosystem in the area for over a century and removing them would be more detrimental than beneficial to the land. Managing the cattle on the grasslands allows the cattle to continue to be integrated in the diversified ecosystems to stimulate new grass growth while supporting the species at risk.