man and woman in kitchen, photographs on back wall

Meeting the real Heather Smith Thomas

Grainews editor sits down with one of agriculture's prolific story writers

There is a real, live, actual ranching person in central Idaho called Heather Smith Thomas. I’ve met her. Thomas’ columns and features stories have been appearing in Grainews, Canadian Cattlemen and numerous U.S. publications for more than 30 years. But it wasn’t until a Friday morning in late March that she and a Grainews editor […] Read more

book entitled, Out of Old Saskatchewan Kitchens

Saskatchewan kitchens of the past

A review of Out of Old Saskatchewan Kitchens by Amy Jo Ehman

One year for Christmas, my grandma tucked under the tree one of my most memorable presents. Wrapped in a clear plastic bag — topped with a festive ribbon — was a pile of books. Well into her 80s and living with us, she gifted me with her cookbook collection. After all, she said, I had […] Read more


book entitled, The Enduring Legacy

What do you value for the new year?

Are you looking forward to 2015 or are you highly frustrated?

Lance Woodbury is author of The Enduring Legacy: Essential Family Business Values, a wonderful little book of business value validation. My consulting friend Dick Wittman gives a copy to each farm family he works with. I’ve outlined the list of values that Woodbury writes about, and added my own thoughts. You can get his book […] Read more

People from the Diamond 7 ranch.

Good food compliments great art

I have learned over the years if you want a successful field day, community meeting or book launch, serve good food. Even if the particular message you went to hear bombs, at least people aren’t hungry. So when my wife and I were greeted at the door of the Home Quarter Mercantile in Cochrane, Alta. […] Read more