As 2025 comes to a close, I’m taking a breath, looking across the fields, and quietly marking the places this year shaped us — the small triumphs, the hard lessons, and the steady work that keeps Ogilvie Stock Ranch moving forward. Ranch life is full of surprises, and this year reminded me again that resilience, patience, and a little stubborn hope are what carry us through.
Honouring our roots
One of the most meaningful parts of 2025 was continuing to grow our purebred Hereford program. Expanding the herd this year wasn’t about chasing bigger numbers — it was about careful choices, slow improvements, and honouring the dream my grandparents started. We stayed focused on temperament, maternal strength, and fertility, bringing in a few new bloodlines that complement what the Destiny and Cora families have given us. We finished the year keeping three purebred replacement heifer calves who will help expand our herd, and we purchased more embryos that will be implanted in the spring. Those small, intentional steps feel like the best way to build for the long haul.
Calving season: little promises come alive
Calving season is always a pinch-myself moment. This spring we welcomed strong, healthy calves, and every single one felt like a tiny promise — hard work turned into new life. Those moments remind me that the careful breeding and daily management we practice truly matter for the ranch’s future.
Repairing the land, one season at a time
The scars from the Ross Moore fire in 2023 still remind us how powerful and unpredictable nature can be. In 2025 we focused on healing: reseeding vulnerable areas, rebuilding fencing, and allowing cows to graze parts of the land for the first time since the fire. The landscape still holds memory of what happened, but where there was blackened brush a year ago, we’re starting to see the slow greens of recovery. It’s a patient, seasonal process — and every green sprout feels like progress.
Water and weather: constant teachers
So much of ranching comes down to water and weather. The past few years have felt drier, and this year we saw some of our water sources becoming limited. Between hauling water and moving cattle to where water was available, we’ve been reminded that planning matters, but so does flexibility. Here’s hoping for a good snowpack to help refill our springs and ponds in the months ahead.
Pride in the showring and in our community
The show ring continues to bring joy and a chance to celebrate the work we put into our herd. The Destiny family made us proud again — CKT 2M turned heads at a few shows, winning some significant achievements and reminded us why we strive for consistency and quality.
Cora 319M topped the class at several events and, with William, won the Top Hereford Heifer Buckle in the 2025 BC Junior Hereford Buckle award. William also showed his bull calf, OSR 44L Nitro 1N, who not only made friends all summer at the fairs but has the phenotype and carcass EPDs we want. We’ve decided to use him as our next herdsire — he’ll be a meaningful, powerful addition to our beef program.
Those ribbons are sweet, but what I treasure most are the conversations at the fairgrounds — encouraging words from friends, the kids’ laughter in the barns, and the shared sense of community built around the land and livestock.
Lessons that stuck with me
If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that planning matters, but so does the grace to pivot. You can draw up the best grazing plans and still be surprised by weather or animal behaviour. This year I learned to balance meticulous planning with practical flexibility — and to lean on the people around us when plans needed to change.
Looking toward 2026
As we step into 2026, our goals are practical and hopeful. We’ll keep refining our breeding program and support the boys as their numbers keep climbing at shows. We’ll invest more in pasture and water development, continue refining our AI and embryo program, and roll out sustainability practices that help the land and ranch thrive for the long term. I’m also excited to share more behind-the-scenes stories — the day-to-day lessons, what we learn on the ground, and how we’re working to be better stewards of the land.
Thank you
Thank you to every neighbour, customer, and friend who checked on the ranch this year, offered a hand, or cheered us on. Your support is the steady heartbeat that keeps us going.
What are you most excited to see from Ogilvie Stock Ranch in 2026? Do you have a story from your year you’d like to share? Leave a comment below or connect with us on social media — I’d love to hear from you.
