This valley has a tradition in the cattle business and supports a segment of the population that keep the cowboy and wrangler lifestyle. As with other pursuits in the world it generates a following and some industry, in this case a green or friendly to, or close to the earth .

 There is a tack shop and saddle maker on the corner of Nicola and Garcia and they take pride in producing quality tack .     Also a school for saddle making under the name of Don Lowen.  They have saddles on the go and it may be worth a look at the ones in progress, the Garcia street side door opens on the shop and I was recently invited in by a worker and saw two  saddles on the go.

Cowboy poets and painters set a tone for that community often celebrated at the Quilchena Hotel on Nicola Lake about 20 minutes from here. They celebrate by reenactments musical gatherings and the opportunity to live their lifestyle in a semi public way. Saddles are a status symbol to those that ply the trade at the local cattle ranches including the famous Douglas Lake Cattle Company.

Many first nations people have also taken up that lifestyle here.

Today in History, November 7 1811

Tecumseh Indian war battle of Tippecanoe .

Related articles