Bar U Ranch: Grass Into Money

About this episode

This episode explores the history of the Bar U Ranch and its impact on Alberta's ranching industry, focusing on the relationship between bison, cattle, and the land.

For seven decades, the Bar U operated as a corporate ranch, with thousands of cattle fattening up on protein-rich fescue grass in Alberta’s Rocky Mountain foothills. But that grass has a history of its own, co-evolving on this landscape with a different grazer - the bison - over thousands of years. Through the history of three animals who’ve left their hoofmarks upon the prairie grasslands - bison, cattle and horses - we look at Canada’s “beef bonanza” that employed a colourful cast of cowboys, cooks and capitalists, turning grass into money at Bar U Ranch National Historic Site. Special thanks to Jessica Hill. Learn more: Bar U Ranch National Historic Site Plan Your Visit Google Arts and Culture Exhibition: Bar U Ranch Ranching Industry National Historic Event designation John Ware, National Historic Person (Old) Women’s Buffalo Jump National Historic Site Heritage value description of each Bar U building Bison conservation and breeding programs at Elk Island National Park Plains Bison reintroduction in Banff National Park Other Media: Like Distant Thunder: Canada's bison conservation story by Lauren Markewicz John Ware Reclaimed - Filmmaker Cheryl Foggo re-examines the story of…

People in this episode

Host: Parks Canada

Topics covered

• ranching history
• bison conservation
• cattle industry
• cowboys
• Alberta history
• Bar U Ranch

Keywords

• Bar U Ranch
• bison
• cattle
• Alberta
• cowboys
• ranching history
• John Ware
• conservation
• grasslands

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Parks Canada

Books & works: Like Distant Thunder: Canada's bison conservation story, John Ware Reclaimed, First Marriages, Restoring Historic Buildings at the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site

Places: Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, Alberta, Banff National Park, Elk Island National Park