2020
Allison Everett (White) likely learned to ride before she could walk. Her parents, Doug (2011 BC Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee) and Dianne White, had a family that focussed on horses so Allison and her sister Kirsty grew up with it in their blood. In fact Allison, at 3 years old, showed a young horse at the PNE. She grew up in Maple Ridge riding both English and Western. Her family moved to 150 Mile House in 1974 where they raised roping stock and trained horses. The two girls started roping and barrel racing. With the loss of their mother when Allison was 14 the girls had to travel the rodeo circuit and train their own horses while dad looked after their ranch. After high school Allison attended Central Rocky Mountain Region College, in Casper Wyoming where she was very successful in both education and rodeo. Now a teacher (librarian) back in Williams Lake, Allison continues to rodeo, train horses, raise roping stock, put on clinics, and give lessons. She offers her arena to anyone wanting to learn. Allison is, or has been, a volunteer and/or director for numerous local organizations like BC Rodeo Association, BC High School Rodeo, Little Britches Rodeo, Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo Association, Williams Lake Stampede Queens Committee and the Williams Lake Stampede, to name a few. She sits on the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame selection committee and is also committed to help local contestants running for Miss Rodeo Canada. Allison has won around 52 saddles, a truck, and numerous buckles and trophies. She still competes in team roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing, and is a hazer for steer wrestlers. Allison is an inspiration to others and is continually giving back to the sport of rodeo.
Frank Langman Armes was born in Vancouver in 1908. His schooling was in bookkeeping and he planned on being a ship purser, but his father took him out of school at 15 to work on the J S Place Ranch that he had purchased in Dog Creek. A train ride landed him in Ashcroft at -30 and horse and sleigh took him the rest of the way. The next few years were spent learning to ride and work cattle. In 1931 he married Doreen Pollitt and they had four children; Bob, Gordon, Dorothy and Allan. In 1936 Colonel Spencer asked Frank to manage the Meason Ranch at Little Dog Creek and the Gaspard Ranch in the Dog Creek Valley … this was the start of the Diamond S Ranch. One thousand head of cattle were purchased in Alberta and shipped to Mission where Frank and two other cowboys met them, shipped them by train to Ashcroft, then drove them to Little Dog Creek. Frank now had to develop more hay land and dams for irrigation all with horses. Their first tractor was purchased when the Ford 9N came out (1939) and soon they increased their cattle number to 3000 head. Frank improved the calf crop, brought in Hereford bulls from England and hired more cowboys to better manage the grazing. They added the 500 head Pigeon Ranch. In 1949, when the Colonel turned the management over to his daughter, Frank took a job as manager of the 2000 head Nicola Stock Farm until it was leased. At this point the family moved to Williams Lake and started Armes Brothers Agencies selling farm equipment and supplies. Frank had fond memories of his ranching days and spoke fondly of the First Nations people that were the majority of his work crew. He enjoyed a great journey with his bride of 70 years by his side. Frank passed away in 2002.
Hugh Peel Lane Bayliff immigrated from England at 18 and worked in Ashcroft and then at Cherry Creek Ranch. While delivering horses he got his first glimpse of the Chilcotin. In 1886 he began the historic Chilcancoh Ranch starting with 160 acres overlooking the Chilcotin River. Hugh went to England in 1891 and brought home his bride, Gertrude Tyndle, a skilled rider that rode side-saddle to round up cattle and ride the range. Gertrude had some medical knowledge and helped ranching and native neighbours in times of need. Their only son, Gabriel (Gay), returned to the ranch after WWI and together the two generations built the Big House, which they still live in today. Gay married Dorothy Dyson from England, moved into the new house and continued ranching. Dorothy was an excellent rider and helped with cattle as well as feeding a crew of up to 16. Gay and Dorothy had two sons, Timothy (Tim) and Anthony (Tony). After serving in WWII Timothy returned to help at the ranch while Tony took over the neighbouring ranch. Tim met Dorothy Merle Glenny and they were married in 1954. Following the tradition of earlier Bayliff wives, Merle pitched in to help with every aspect of the ranch. They had three children: Elizabeth now in Williams Lake, Hugh who recently passed away, and James who died in an accident in 1994. Hugh’s wife Hellen and children are currently running the ranch today in its second century. Tim was passionately involved with the BC Cattlemen’s Association and the BC Grassland Conservation Society. His love of, and knowledge about, grasslands was great and was a passion he passed along to his son Hugh, daughter-in-law Hellen and their family. The family lost Tim in 2007 and Merle in 2012. The legacy of the three previous generations is being carried on and continues to work to improve the health and sustainability of the environment, ranch, and family.
Paul “Buck” Mammel was born in 1920 in Romania. The family immigrated to Canada in 1929 and settled in Alberta. In 1936 they moved to Sardis and became dairy farmers. In 1939 Buck left home and headed to Ashcroft for a job at the Ashcroft Ranch and then moved on to Williams Lake. His first cowboy job was at Chilco Ranch in 1939 and in 1940 he went to Alkali Lake Ranch. From 1941 to 1943 Paul was in the army but returned to Alkali Lake Ranch. Over the next couple of years he worked at various ranches including the Gang and Becher’s. Buck’s time on the rodeo circuit earned him the reputation as a good all-around cowboy. He rode in the Williams Lake Stampede in saddle bronc and in 1946 he won all-around cowboy at the Riske Creek Stampede. He also competed at the Calgary Stampede as an outrider for the Alkali Lake chuckwagon team. In the early 1950s Buck went to work in the logging industry to earn money for his own ranch. In 1959 he and Margaret purchased the Pioneer Ranch at Miocene and in 1969 they purchased the Poole Ranch at Rose Lake. In 1973 Buck and his wife sold the Pioneer Ranch known for a quality commercial Angus herd. They sired many grand champions at shows including 4-H. In semi-retirement Paul began purchasing steers in the spring and selling in the fall. He was offered a job by Canada Packers to be their head buyer in BC, and Douglas Lake Ranch offered him a position as head cowboss, all of which he turned down as he loved his life in the Cariboo. He was involved in the Rose Lake Miocene 4-H Club as well as the community. He was involved with the Cariboo Chilcotin Rodeo Association and sponsored best all-around cowboy. He was President of the Cariboo Cattlemen’s Association and a director for the BC Cattlemen’s Association and was a director of the Co-op Association. Buck died in 1996. He was known as a man who held the spirit and life of the cowboy. His word and handshake were his honour.
Born into a pioneer family at Hanceville in the Chilcotin, BC. Duane Witte grew up working with horses and cattle. He was twelve years old when he took his first job riding the range in the Whitewater Country.
Duane ranched in partnership with his parents combining the Circle A Ranch and the Twilight Ranch, raising horses and cattle. There he raised a family of three.
Duane remarried and sold the Twilight Ranch and moved to the meadow and developed the TeePee Heart Ranch. There with his second wife Marion, started the original TeePee Heart Trail Rides. These consisted of Pack Trips from Big Creek into the Teseko Mountains. All done strictly by saddle and pack horses, and had up to 10 guests per trip, with approximately a 160 mile radius.
Duane’s whole life revolved around horses. In his earlier years he took on jobs of packing supplies into remote areas for trappers, mining companies or other ranchers. He took in all the early Stamepdes. He entered the bareback, cow riding, and wild cow milking events and relay races. He supplies the bucking stock for the Aniham Lake Stampede a few times. This meant running loose horses from Big Creek to Aniham Lake. No easy feat.
He held the Canada Post Mail contract for twenty years. In the early days, this often meant riding and leading a pack horse to deliver mail from Hanceville to Big Creek. He was known to use a small horse drawn buggy, occasionally.
Duane was said to be one of the best horse chasers in the country. He never lost a bunch of horses. Once he started them, he corralled them. There were very few people who could keep up to him once the chase was on.
Duane raised and sold a few bucking bulls and horses to different Rodeo Contractors. One of these broncs was the famous bronc “Paper Doll”. He also sold many pleasure and team horses.
Duane did all his own blacksmith/farrier work and all his own veterinarian work. Duane was very talented. He did a lot of leather work. Making or fixing any item you wished repaired or made. He made and sold spurs, bridles, reins, chaps, cuffs, saddle bags, braided rawhide nose bands, and quirts. He also worked with silver, to dress items up. The list goes on.
He was instrumental in the start of Big Creek Stampede and Wagon Races. He also supplied most of the broncs.
Duane could play the accordion, guitar, violin, banjo and harmonica, yodel, recite poetry, and often entertained guests.
Duane was very particular in dressing in Cowboy Attire. It was just part of him. And I am sure if you sit real still, you can still hear his ‘rowels jiggleing’ as he ride home, well after dark.
Duane passed away in November of 1988.