Representing the Municipal District of Ranchland No. 66 KEELEY FAMILY

Nanton,

The rules were set in stone — ranch work before rodeo. moved away or hold an off-farm job, they and their spouses all And the Keeley boys were known for their rodeo. help John, Donna, and longtime hand Ian McKay when they can “That was the deal. Growing up, if the boys wanted us to with the myriad duties involved in the family’s backgrounding drive them to the rodeo, they had to work hard during the week business. to get the chores done,” reflects Donna Keeley. “And you know “Our kids and their families are great at helping out when what? They’ve all still got a strong work ethic, and we’re proud help is needed,” says Donna, who has 19 grandchildren, ranging of that.” in age from 16 years down to nine months. “Even the ones The Keeley name is closely associated with rodeo, since all six who live away seem to be here when they can for fall gathering, of John and Donna’s boys would eventually ride bulls. branding, or just another winter’s day.” Justin was the Stampede boys’ steer riding champion On a local level, the Keeley children were active in the in 1989. Jason took a pair of boys’ steer riding titles at the community, meaning John and Donna both did their part Stampede, in ’86 and ’87, and followed them up with a volunteering with committees such as hockey, high school Canadian title in ’87. And Glen, the most accomplished of the rodeo, figure skating, baseball, and Nanton Nite Rodeo. clan, won a national boys’ In 2004, Glen’s siblings steer riding crown in 1983, and friends established the and was Canadian bull riding annual Glen Keeley Memorial champ in 1989, before his event at Stavely, offering untimely death in 2000 scholarships and giving back during a Professional Bull to the community in other Riders event at Albuquerque, ways. For the past two years, N.M. the Glen Keeley Memorial has The Keeleys now have been voted the best event on another claim to fame — the PBR circuit. they’re the winners of a 2011 “I was in shock, a bit, when BMO Farm Family Award, we won the Farm Family after earning the nomination from the Municipal District of Award,” says Donna. “We don’t try to win awards. This is our Ranchland No. 66. life, and we do the best we can.” L4L Ranches Ltd., about 37 kilometres west of Stavely, was While Brad and wife Kim are the only Keeley kids presently first established by Donna’s grandfather Harry Streeter, who’d living at home, John and Donna would like to see L4L Ranches arrived in the foothills with a farming background in Illinois. remain a family haven for generations to come. Today, the Keeley family ranch consists of about 6,000 “The biggest reward is living where we do. It’s peaceful and acres of deeded and leased land that’s home to a 350-head quiet. It’s nature at its best, I think,” says Donna. “Home is commercial cattle operation. While the six surviving children, home, and I’m always glad to get back here.” Clayton, David, Teresa, Jayson, Justin, and Brad, have either

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