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Welcome to Chinook Ranch Ltd! We are a family run cow/calf/yearling operation located southwest of Longview, Alberta.
Chinook Ranch was originally purchased by James Allen Hughes in 1945. James Hughes Sr. emigrated from Herefordshire, England in 1928. He was the first generation to farm Chinook Ranch.
Then in 1970 James C. Hughes Jr., the second generation, took over managing the ranch.
Today, Stephen & Velva Dawn Hughes, are the third generation to proudly manage the operations of Chinook Ranch, accompanied by their daughters: Kayla, Josie and Erin.
They currently run over 500 head of Angus based cattle over the slopes of the ranch.
The unique natural advantage afforded to Chinook Ranch is in the name- mother nature gently blows the snow off of the grasslands allowing the cattle to graze year round with low levels of protein supplementation depending on the age class of the animal.
The water source originates from underground springs and aquifers using solar panels to pump the water into the man- made troughs (we recycle large used tires from mining trucks from Sparwood). Any surface water is utilized carefully according to sound riparian management principles.
Chinook Ranch is a very eco-friendly business. Some of the ways that we are contributing to the Green Factor are by using solar powered water pumps to supply the cattle with fresh water, we don't use herbicides to control unwanted plants- we control them by mowing them, we have planted the previous farmland back into its natural grassland state, we recycle all of the materials that we can, and are continually looking for environmentally friendly ways to run our production more efficiently.
Jim & Barb, Stephen & Velva Dawn Hughes were the proud recipients of the 2003 Environmental Stewardship Award from the Alberta Beef Producers. The Hughes family's priority is to strive to balance the natural habitat of the range to coexist with the cattle.
Stephen Hughes is actively involved in the Prairie Heritage Beef Group. This group is eco-committed and is about long term visions and the sustainable management of land and water resources. 
It is about maintaining family values and generating fair returns for agriculture.It is about multi-generational ranches that have pride and honor in producing beef that you can trust and savor.
What makes Prairie Heritage Beef special?
The way plants, animals, and people relate is crucial to the health and wellness of the world we all share.
A part of our commitment to ranching is harmony and balance with nature, we have chosen to raise beef
"the old fashioned way"
• no artificial growth hormones •• no antibiotics •
• no animal by-products •
All content & photos © ChinookRanchLtd.com 2010
