Willow Spring Ranch - Calgary Stampede Agriculture

Representing the Municipal District of Ranchland No. 66
GERWIEN FAMILY
Nanton, Alberta
Two bad knees, a truckload of patience, and good old-fash-
Along the way, he won the 1995 PCCHA Futurity, the 2000
ioned horse sense. That’s how Carl Gerwien earned a reputation
Gold Coast Winter Championship 4-Year-Old Non Pro, the
for performance horse pre-eminence. Carl and wife Julia have
2001 CS Cutting Horse Futurity Non Pro, and the 2002
earned the Municipal District of Ranchland No. 66’s nomina-
NCHA Western National Championships $10,000 Novice
tion for a 2010 BMO Farm Family Award, handed out annually
event, and placed ninth overall at the 2002 NCHA world finals
to southern Alberta ranchers who represent the best qualities
at Fort Worth, Texas, aboard A Smart Blonde Date. Carl is
of rural life to our society. The Gerwiens’ Willow Spring Ranch
still active as a non-pro, having finished third in the Non-Pro
boasts some of the richest ranching history in southern Alberta,
Futurity and fourth in the Non-Pro Derby during last fall’s
and it also enjoys a world-class rep-
Calgary Stampede Cutting Horse
utation for cutting horses, thanks
Futurity. “The one he would like to
to Carl’s talent and perseverance.
win would be the (NCHA) Non-Pro at
“When Carl rodeoed, he had to
Forth Worth,” says Julia. “He’s actually
quit because his knees gave out. He
entered two horses this year.”
needed to pick an event, and he
Historically speaking, Willow
tried out team roping and snaffle-
Spring Ranch was originally part of
bit horses, but he eventually settled
the A7 Ranch, established in 1886 by
with cutting,” recalls Julia. “Maybe
A.E. Cross, one of the Big Four who
it’s especially rewarding because it’s
founded the Calgary Stampede, and
so hard to do, but Carl has a pas-
his brother W.H. Cross. These days,
sion for horses. He had to train his
Willow Spring Ranch, 40 kilometres
own, so he watched a lot and picked
west of Nanton, has a leased cattle
up on some of the techniques. He
ranching operation on the premises,
also went to a lot of clinics, where
as well as the remnants of Carl’s
he learned what he didn’t want to
do. The results spoke for themselves. If you’re not successful,
you don’t win any money.”
After studying under Jim Simpson and Gerry Hansma, Carl
cutting horse breeding program.
Julia and Carl’s children Blake, Steve, and Carla Jo have
grown up and left the nest, but for years Willow Spring
Ranch was a beehive of activity, with Carl mentoring youth,
started his operation with a few brood mares and one stallion
fellow competitors, breeders, and ranchers in the cutting
not long after he and Julia were married in 1980. Nearly three
horse industry.
decades later, after earning nearly a million dollars as a non-
Through the years, Julia has been active in numerous agri-
professional and earning nominations to both the Canadian
cultural and community organizations and initiatives, such as
Cutting Horse Association (CCHA) and National Cutting
the Western Stock Growers Association. Carl and Julia remain
Horse Association (NCHA) Halls of Fame, he held a dispersal
involved in community events, and are never far from anything
sale for all but 12 of Willow Spring Ranch’s horses in 2008.
that happens in the ranching world.
13