CYR FAMILY

The Valley Blue Ranch is nestled in the foothills south of Pincher Creek, where the Cyr family operates their ranch on homesteaded land that has been in the family since 1910. For the past 16 years they have raised and marketed Parthenais cattle in a niche market for lean, naturally raised beef. They sell to individuals in Alberta, B.C., Quebec and the U.S. The Cyr’s were the first in their area to produce custom wrapped silage bales; recycling the plastic wrap and twine.

Helen and Clarence along with their second son, Cody and his wife Kandis are actively involved with the feedlot and the farming. Their eldest son Tim is a graphic designer, designing the brochures for their business. The third son, Jeff is in training at the RCMP depot in Regina. He and his wife have two little girls. The youngest son Paul is a chef and millwright apprentice in Pincher Creek and Waterton. All of the boys are on hand at branding time or when large projects are taking place on the ranch. Helen recalls that one of her young son's learned early about farming. Their house cat was having difficulty with birthing kittens and he asked "don't you think it's time to get out the kitty pullers".

Clarence and Helen have been involved with many community projects. They have given tours to students during lambing time and have entertained guests at their Bed and Breakfast, educating them regarding Alberta agriculture and enabling urbanites to go back to their roots. The Cyr’s were part of the “Meet and Greet” program at the 2007 Stampede in the International Room that featured their beef. The Valley Blue Ranch has also been featured in the July, 1995 “Canadian Cattleman" and in the "Western Producer". They have also won awards at the Seed Fair in Calgary for their hay and silage entries.

Helen's interests in volunteering are diverse. She started the Multi 4-H Club in Pincher in 1987, which is still going strong today. She also judges various 4-H competitions. Helen is concerned with women's issues; she established the Women's Emergency Shelter and continues to serve on the board, as well, she has helped organize a mobile mammogram clinic in the Pincher Creek area. She is a Director for the Pincher Creek Ag Society and Director of Photography at the Pincher Creek Fair and Rodeo. Helen also shares her agriculture knowledge with students in the local schools.

Clarence has been involved in various projects which include; the “Conception to Consumer” program and the “Farming for the Future” program, a group that evaluates carcasses on heavy muscle cattle breeds. He was a Director on the Board that established the “New Generation Co- op”, a slaughter plant in Pincher Creek. Additionally, Clarence is Director on the Board of the MRI (a Dutch beef breed, Meuse, Rhine and Ijssel) and the Parthenais Associations. Clarence recognizes a need in third world countries for updated agriculture methods, and has traveled to Mongolia as a livestock advisor.

The Cyr family is to be commended for their contribution to and promotion of Alberta beef and agriculture, within Canada, and internationally. Congratulations on receiving the 2009 BMO Farm Family Award.