Muir Family Named TRWCD Farm Family of the year

2004 Conservation Farm Family

Gordon and LesLee Muir

Trickle Creek Cattle Company

SE 5-20-15W

RM of McCreary

Background / History

Gordon and LesLee moved to their farm in 1998 after Gord resigned his position as President and CEO of the Drug Trading Company Ltd. to raise their children in the country rather than the city.

Farming Operation

The Muir’s currently farm and raise certified Black Angus 130 (breeding cows) on 1280 acres of land along the eastern escarpment of riding mountain national park. In 2001 Gordon decided that to protect water quality and wildlife habitat all wetlands on their pasture would be fenced off from cattle access and an offsite watering system would be installed. Gordon states “that with the BSE crisis and economic instability giving his cattle fresh clean water saves the pocketbook by reducing veterinarian bills substantially”

Conservation Practices

Gordon and LesLee are very adamant about Riparian management, offsite watering, rotational grazing and leaving all land seeded to hay. In the future the Muir’s would like to install more offsite watering systems utilizing the pasture pipeline plow in conjunction with rotational grazing systems.

Community Involvement

Gordon is currently the reeve for the RM of McCreary as well as the chair of the Alonsa McCreary Health Center, and President of the Agassiz Planning District. Gordon and LesLee are also the owners and proprietors of Trickle Creek General Store in McCreary where they market their own beef.

Future Plans

Gord hopes to get all newly acquired pasture land under the rotational grazing system with offsite watering as well in the near future. Gordon is also concerned about too much land clearing and drainage that is why he leaves his land natural to avoid possibly upsetting the balance of nature. Gordon and LesLee also market their environmentally friendly beef to the consumers to ensure that customers are pleased.

On a final note Gordon also states “that in today’s cattle industry you have to invest in business to be economically feasible, there is no comparison between his system and free range cattle systems, he sees better yields, & less vet bills which in turn pays for the previous investment.

For More Information Contact:

Turtle River Watershed Conservation District #2
Box 449, Ste Rose Du Lac, MB R0L 1S0
Tel: 447-2139
FAX: 447-4070
Internet: d_nicklin@mts.net