The summer of 2012 marked the final year for the Bates Bar J Ranch.
After 51 years, Randy and Kathy Bates have decided to pack up their tack and ponies and bid farewell to a successful career spent running western riding camps for kids on their 3,000 acre splendor, located 30 minutes north of Cochrane off Grand Valley Road.
“After 51 years, of course we’ll miss it, but it’s time for something new,” said Randy. “We just don’t know what yet.”
The family held what turned out to be a successful horse and tack sale, where more than 100 horses and foals, including three working teams of wagon and harness horses and no shortage of tack went home with new owners on Sept. 22.
The sale was preceded by an evening of camping, entertainment and barbecued grub.
Randy said it was impressive to see their barn filled with more than 700 people, who came from all over B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan and beyond.
“I’ll miss the whole thing — the horses, the kids and all the friends we’ve gotten to know over the years,” said Kathy, who met her husband when she was a young camper, herself.
The couple took over the reigns from Randy’s parents and began running the kid’s camp many years ago; over time, they’ve also raised cattle and bred horses.
With a for sale sign placed at the top of their driveway, the Bates family will be selling off the bulk of their property, but plan to keep a section (640 acres) of land for themselves, on which they will build a new home.
The couple said they look forward to spending more time with their four grandchildren and are entertaining the idea of spending some time down south.
