Supporting BC Ranchers

When I saw this sign featuring our local ranchers at the Save On Foods meat department I just had to snap a photo. On the right is Ralph and Chris Michell with their two daughters.

In 2011 Jocko Creek Ranch was listed as a Century Ranch in the Cowboy Hall of Fame by the BC Cowboy Heritage Society. Here is the history as published on the BCCHS website:

Jocko Creek Ranch is a family operated cattle ranch located 12 km south of Kamloops along the Lac le Jeune road. The ranch has been in the Michell family since 1903 and is currently being run by Noel and Katy Michell and their family. Noel's grandfather, John Ralph (J.R.) Michell, moved to the Kamloops area to manage a machinery store. He bought the home quarters of the ranch where the ranch house is presently. JR Michell married and had five children. The ranch initially sold hay to the nearby Iron Mask Mine to feed the horses and mules used in the mine. In the early years the ranch raised horses and had a small herd of cows. The ranch's brand is a lazy J connected lazy M on the right hip and it was bought by JR Michell in 1904. This brand is still used to identify the ranch's cattle. As the market for horse teams started to decline, the decision was made to expand and raise sheep in addition to the small herd of cattle. JR Michell became involved with city politics and was Alderman and Mayor of Kamloops. During this time, his son, Herbert Michell, took over the ranch along with his wife Gladys Reynolds. The flock was expanded to approximately 1000 Rambouillet and Columbia ewes. Herbert's son Noel took the ranch over at a young age after Herbert's health failed. In 1966 the bulk of the sheep were sold and more cattle purchased. The ranch's cattle herd initially was comprised of 200 Hereford or Shorthorn cross cows. Black Angus bulls were introduced in 1985 and now the herd is predominantly Angus. Noel married Katy McCallan in 1964 and they have managed the ranch side by side for 46 years. The ranch has evolved over the last 107 years by being flexible and changing as the agriculture market and lifestyle changes require.