By Piper Whelan, Canadian Cattlemen Magazine
David Kleiman’s first visit to a ranch in the southern Alberta foothills was an awe-inspiring experience he’ll never forget.
Nature and conservation have been life-long passions for Kleiman, a Calgary-based science teacher. After meeting Kimberly Wachtler of Burke Creek Ranch at a farmers market, Kleiman was eager to learn more about how cattle are raised at this 130-year-old cow-calf operation near Claresholm, Alta. When Wachtler invited Kleiman to visit her family’s ranch, he saw for himself how livestock can thrive in concert with nature.
“When I went up to Burke Creek Ranch, I’ll be honest with you, it brought tears to my eyes, (being) surrounded by a rich, biodiverse grassland ecosystem,” Kleiman recalls. “It’s just thriving life everywhere.”
‘What We’re Reading’ is a quick look at some of the issues and insights Alberta Beef Producers’ content creators and editors are reading to stay up-to-date, to broaden perspectives, and to explore issues relevant to the agriculture industry.