Oldest cattle ranch in B.C. sold to Douglas Lake Cattle Company

April 03, 2008

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A view of the Alkali valley and home ranch buildings of the oldest cattle ranch in British Columbia; the Alkali Lake Ranch. A few days ago the ranch became a part of the Douglas Lake Cattle Company.

Liz Twan photo

“The more things change, the more they remain the same.” Alphonse Carr.

“Just because everything is different doesn’t mean anything has changed.” Irene Peter.

You’re probably wondering what on earth this is all about by now. For the past few months I’ve been telling you that the cattle industry is in some distress, and believe me, it is.

I’ve also mentioned, numerous times, that the majority of the ranch owners are at very least of baby boomer-age and for the most part; already past retirement-age. These are some of the people making the difficult and often heart-wrenching decision to sell the family ranch that, in some cases, has been in the same family for two or three, or more generations. The children don’t want to take up where their parents have left off; they have seen how hard the older generation had to work for most of the days in a year.

They know what it is to ‘go without’ and they don’t envision that kind of a future for themselves and their offspring.

Those who might want to take over the family farm can’t usually afford to buy out their folks and other siblings. Selling is the only way the older generation can attain a comfortable retirement lifestyle.

This week I am not speaking in general terms; I am talking about something very close to home.

In the past few days Alkali Lake Ranch has undergone a change in ownership.

Doug and Marie Mervyn have been considering retirement; and in the end selling the place was the best option that presented itself. It wasn’t necessarily their first choice, and it made for a stressful year, a lot of soul-searching and many wakeful nights. It was, when it came time to decide; a very difficult decision.

But “to change one thing, you must change another then the new change will make other changes. Change is continuous and repetitive, the side effects or consequences are inevitable” — source unknown.

Douglas Lake Cattle Company is the new owner of the oldest cattle ranch in British Columbia. The transaction, made privately between the two parties, has been in the works for a while.

See DOUG, page A2

Continued from front

Douglas Lake Ranch was looking to expand their cattle operation and the Alkali Lake Ranch, well known in the cattle industry for many years as a ‘well-run, efficient operation’ is a good fit for the Company.

Joe Gardner, general manager of Douglas Lake says, “We see this deal as a historic union of two old grassland cattle ranches. We look forward to ensuring its long-term future.”

The Mervyns will continue to reside in their home on the Alkali Lake Ranch and have retained some acreage along the river. Bronc Twan will remain as ranch manger; now working for the Douglas Lake Cattle Company under their General Manager, Joe Gardner, along with Douglas Lake cowboss, Stan Jacobs.

This transaction ensures the future of Alkali Lake Ranch as a cattle operation with owners who are responsible ‘stewards of the land’; people who care about the grasslands, the preservation of the ‘cowboy lifestyle’ and the heritage of the ‘oldest cattle ranch in BC’.

About the sale, from Doug and Marie Mervyn, “We love the ranch and felt it was important to maintain and protect the ecology and history of it. Our lives and the lives of our family have been enriched by almost thirty-one years here and we look forward to continuing to live here while having more time for new adventures, family and for each other.”

Many thanks to Doug and Marie Mervyn for 30 plus years of commitment and dedication to the cattle business, 30 plus years of endless hours of volunteerism on behalf of the industry (that will continue) and 30 plus years of excellent stewardship of the grasslands.

Congratulations on your retirement!

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Oldest cattle ranch in B.C. sold to Douglas Lake Cattle Company

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