Fall 2021 Issue #4
Natalie Kovarik graces our front cover, a 4th generation rancher’s daughter who is carving out her own
place in the agriculture industry. Set your taste buds on fire with a Farm to Feast Fall family dinner,
discover how to ‘go rural’ with your own Big Idea… from Dani Groeneveld, drool over re-imagined outdoor spaces and
get the insider details on how The Fancy Lady Cowgirl brand came about. Our Fall Issue promises to be
off the charts with new contributors and new ideas you might never have considered!
On the Cover - Natalie Kovarik
From the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills, Natalie Kovarik shares her ranching and family story to showcase the beauty behind the western lifestyle as well as foster a community who supports and trusts in Agriculture as much as she does.
Most of her days are spent bouncing around in a dusty old tractor or out in the pasture on horseback, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. With roots firmly planted in the ranching community, Kovarik aims to spend her time advocating for the world of Ag, while collecting meaningful moments on her ranch, with her ever growing family.
Feature & Cover Photographer - Kassidy McConville
Kassidy is a young freelance photographer based out of Nebraska. Born and raised, she serves the area photographing weddings, high school seniors, families, and more. She strives to create images that address the beauty and curiosity that surround us daily, always inspired by the simple magic in life. Visit her IG @kassidymcconville and www.kassidymcconville.com.
FEATURED TRAILBLAZHERS
Feature photographers
Morgan Storch
Ranahan Photo
@ranahanphoto
Crossfield, AB, Canada
Photographed
Tara Klager, Alanna Manybears & Krista White
Morgan Storch is known to have an old gypsy soul and is always up for spur of the moment trips and road trips. Growing up ranching is where her passion for photography stemmed from. Storch loves capturing walks of life that are misunderstood and under-romanticised for the beauty they hold.
Justyne Edgell
Justyne Edgell Photography and Design
@je_photoanddesign
Uxbridge, ON, Canada
Photographed
Ericka, Jaime, Beth, & Marie Wilson
Justyne Edgell is a portrait and wedding photographer from Uxbridge, Ontario. She grew up on a big country property, exploring wild spaces, rescuing orphaned animals, dancing and photographing every moment and memory of her life. Edgell uses her natural style to effortlessly frame moments, milestones and memories that mean so much to those who use her services.
Steve Rankin
Steve Rankin Photography
@evetsniknar
Port Hood, NS, Canada
Photographed
Jay Rawding
Steve Rankin is a photographer from Mabou, Nova Scotia. Photography allows him to capture beautiful moments in places where they would normally be missed. His passion is the landscapes of Cape Breton for the quiet moments of solitude found while exploring. Rankin makes his living shooting weddings, real estate, family sessions, music and events for commercial clients.
Feature Article
Natalie Kovarik
Natalie Kovarik / Kovarik Cattle Co
@nataliekovarik
Ord, NE, USA
From the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills, Natalie Kovarik shares her ranching and family story to showcase the beauty behind the western lifestyle, as well as foster a community who supports and trusts in Agriculture as much as she does.
Photographed by Kassidy McConoville
Featured Article
Tara Klager with Alanna Manybears & Krista White
Providence Lane Homestead
@providencelanehomestead
Water Valley, AB, Canada
Tara Klager and her family raise fibre sheep and alpacas on a small corner of Rocky View County, Alberta. Klager’s goal is to build a farm where value is measured in friendships.
Alanna Manybears was born in Calgary and is from the Siksika Nation. As a Community Outreach/Cultural Reconnection lead with the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary for the past three years, Manybears has been instrumental in supporting the most vulnerable members of the Indigenous population in the city.
Krista White is a Community Support Worker and Media Relations spokesperson for the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary. She is a fluent Blackfoot speaker, Siksika member and is responsible for implementing programming for Calgary’s Indigenous community.
Photographed by Morgan Storch
Featured Article
Ericka, Jaime, Beth, & Marie Wilson
Tailes From West Port
@tailesfromwestport
Port Perry, ON, Canada
Over the last 115 years through generations of passion, love, hard work, and innovative planning the Wilson’s farm has drastically transitioned from a mixed farm to the modern robotic dairy farm it is today. Ericka and Jaime Wilson are the upcoming female generation which has been made possible through Marie and Beth Wilson’s admirable leadership as women on the farm.
Photographed by Justyne Edgell
Featured Article
Jay Rawding
Highland Bow & Arrow, Wreck Cove Wilderness Cabins
@highlandbow
Wreck Cove, NS, Canada
Jay Rawding is the owner of Wreck Cove Wilderness Cabins and Highland Bow & Arrow on the Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island. Rawding is a traditional recurve shooter and a lover of all things nature and outdoor adventure. She has taught archery on the Cabot Trail for the last five years. Also a freelance graphic designer, Rawding juggles three businesses from her home in Wreck Cove, Nova Scotia.
Photographed by Steve Rankin
Digging Up the Roots
Jess Mose
Herbalist and Entrepreneur
Prairie Soap Shack
@prairiesoapshack
Elnora, Alberta, Canada
Jessica Mose is the owner, maker and prairie herbalist behind Prairie Soap Shack in central Alberta. Her business takes inspiration from the past and the plants of the prairies to create all-natural skin and body care for people who want a modern self-care routine infused with a connection to nature and the nostalgia of their roots.
Photographed By Chelsie Graham
Chelsie Graham Photography
@chelsiegrahamphotography
Elnora, Alberta, Canada
these hands of mine
Robyn Jackson
Cheese from Scratch
@cheese_from_scratch_
Quesnel, BC, Canada
Robyn Jackson is a homestead Cheesemaker located in rural northern British Columbia. Here, she ranches and homesteads with her husband and three young children. On their ranch the family grows the bulk of their own food, dairy included, and Jackson teaches online, homestead, cheesemaking courses.
Photographed by Janelle Zacharias
Wild Darling
@wildxdarling
Quesnel, BC, Canada
These hands of mine
Sarah Reid
Sarah Reid Designs
@sarahreiddesigns
Fort McMurray, AB, Canada
Sarah Reid is the maker behind Sarah Reid Designs, a handmade jewelry brand located in northern Alberta’s boreal forest. She has been creating jewelry since 2004 and loves to create one-of-a-kind pieces that tell a story and speak to the wearer's heart.
Photographed by Emily Gale & Val Hawkins
Emily Gale
Emily Gale Photography
@emilygalephotography
Fort McMurray, AB, Canada
Val Hawkins
GavLex Photography
@gavlexphotography
Fort McMurray, AB, Canada
these hands of mine
Kimberly Exshaw
Exshaw Quilts
@exshawquilts
Quesnel, BC, Canada
Kimberly Exshaw is the designer and creator of Gigi Rose - a shop filled with artisan quilts. Exshaw’s work is heavily influenced by American Folk Art, cozy old farmhouses and a simple life. She takes pride in quality craftsmanship, premium 100% natural fibers and beautiful client relationships.
Photographed by Kimberly Exshaw
these hand of mine
Emily Priest
Priest Welsh Clydesdales
@dumbellsandhorseshoes
Cargill, ON, Canada
Emily Welsh is a farmer’s daughter, mother, wife, teacher and third generation Clydesdale breeder. Welsh, with her husband and three boys, breeds, raises and shows registered Clydesdale horses on their 52-acre farm in Cargill, Ontario. Priest Welsh Clydesdales was established in 2013 when Welsh and her husband combined both their family names and their love of the Clydesdale horse.
Photographed by Tara Roberts
The Cold Cactus Boutique
@coldcactusboutique
Appin, ON, Canada
cultivate your business
Dani Groeneveld
Creative Startup School
@itsdanigroeneveld
Blackie, AB, Canada
A Kentucky girl turned southern Albertan, Dani Groeneveld has grown a few incredible small businesses right from her kitchen table. What started out as an exploration in creating a business that worked for her life quickly grew into a passion-fuelled purpose for helping her clients make their ideas happen as well.
Photographed by Elena Matkovska
Elena Matkovska Photography
@matkovskaphoto
Okotoks, AB, Canada
Fancy lady cowgirl
Courtenay DeHoff
Championing the Cowgirl Spirit
Fancy Lady Cowgirl
@courtdehoff
Dallas, TX, USA
Courtenay DeHoff is a cowgirl turned television personality, keynote speaker and podcast host who has grabbed the attention of Deadspin, Yahoo!, The Huffington Post, LIVE! with Kelly, The CW and more. In 2020, DeHoff launched the global brand movement Fancy Lady Cowgirl™ after struggling to fit the traditional cowgirl mold. Drawing criticism from those in the very communities she was advocating for, she labeled herself a ‘Fancy Lady Cowgirl’ proclaiming you can be both a little fancy and a little ranchy. DeHoff is also a former collegiate and professional rodeo athlete.
HMU By Daniela Bell Beauty @danielabellbeauty
Styled by Styled By Cohen @styledbycohen
Clothing by Isabel Marant @isabelmarant
Photographed By Kirstie Jones
Kirstie Marie Photography @kirsteeemarie
Dallas, TX, USA
what's trending
Jan Johnson
Trailblazher Co
@trailblazherco
Crossfield, AB, Canada
Jan Johnson is one of the main think tanks of Trailblazher Co. Her jam is content writing and ideas. Whether writing feature stories for Trailblazher magazine, web content or upcoming course materials, Jan is gifted with a pen! She is naturally skilled at connecting ideas in ways that influence the direction of the company. Jan is also a gifted people person and insightful communicator striving always to acknowledge and draw out the unique and highlight what makes people special (shaped by her 30 years as a lifeskills coach). Jan is fueled by exploring what is possible and bridging ideas into tangible, relevant offerings that set the business apart in this everchanging economy.
rural threads
Styled by Peace'd Together
Models
Mikaela Wiberg
Peace’d Together
@peaced.together
Coombs, BC, Canada
Cherish Thomas
Effects Sportscare
@our.island.life
Lantzville, BC, Canada
Photographed by Brittany Flemming
Brittany Leigh Photography
@brittanyleighphoto_
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
One farm, two lepps
Stefanie & Cassandra Lepp
Born to Lead
The Tulepps
@thetulepps
Rivers, MB, Canada
The Tulepps are two sisters who run a grain farm in southwest Manitoba. They also run the ground crew for their dad's spray plane operation and manage their personal brand. Their IG account combines farming and fashion, breaks stereotypes and empowers women. The Tulepps focus on promoting agriculture through editorial style photos, with educational and fun messaging.
Photography by Stefanie Lepp
the wholesome you
Tammy Thielmen
BSW, MSW, RSW
EMDR Certified Therapist
Town & Country Counselling
@townandcountrycounselling
Salmon Arm, BC, Canada
Tammy Thielman is a Masters-level Registered Social Worker. Thielman has a farm-based private counselling practice in the Interior of British Columbia, where she supports children and families, and offers equine and animal-assisted nature-based counselling.
Photographed by Victoria Skofteby
Victoria Skofteby Photography
@victoria_skofteby
Tappen, BC, Canada
dear trailblazher
Shelby Kostyshyn
K5 Acres
@k5acres
Anola, MB
her story
Jill Faul
Local Goat Girl
@localgoatgirl
Spy Hill, SK, Canada
Jill Faul farms with her husband, Ashley and two children, Lily and Hunter. They run a grain and livestock operation in south east Saskatchewan. Fauls’s focus on the farm is growing her small herd of Kiko goats and learning to incorporate more sustainable homesteading practices on the farm.
Photography by Kaley Denbrok
Prairie Blue Photography
@prairiebluephotography
Esterhazy, SK, Canada
spaces we love
Jennifer Gruninger
Farm Fresh Florals
@farmfreshflorals
Sunnybrook, AB, Canada
Jen Gruninger, along with her husband Tyrell, are the growers, dreamers and builders behind Farm Fresh Florals, a U-Pick Flower Farm, Intimate Event and Photography venue in Leduc County, Alberta. A graduate of the University of Alberta Master Gardener Program, Gruninger hopes to educate and inspire visitors to the farm while they experience the gardens and unique, upcycled infrastructure.
Photographed by Stephanie Kuzio
RockWood Photography
@rockwoodphotograph
Thorsby, AB, Canada
grounded in you
Meagan Saum
Resilience Coach & Business Mentor
@meagansaum
Crossfield, AB, Canada
Meagan Saum is a book-collecting, nature-loving, horse-obsessed momma of three. Saum is the owner of Silver Valley Ranch with her husband and an equine facilitated wellness professional, business mentor, and life coach for those who are feeling stuck or unsatisfied in their lives and/or careers.
Photography by Teal Hallaby
Four Winds Photography
@thesefourwinds
Airdrie, AB, Canada
Homegrown
Hadleigh Burch
A Little Wild Farm
@alittlewildfarm
Drayton Valley, AB, Canada
Hadleigh Burch is the face behind the lens at A Little Wild Farm. Raising a menagerie of farm animals, growing her little apiary, and forever weeding her vegetable garden or tending to the greenhouse in the summer months, she can also be found knitting or sewing in her down time.
Photography by Hadleigh Burch
Homegrown
Vanessa Wrubleski
The Blushing Farmhouse
@vanessajoelle_
Millet, AB, Canada
Vanessa Wrubleski started living a rural life seven years ago with her husband. Since then, she has jumped into the rural lifestyle and self-sufficient living, head first. Between sheep farming with her father-in-law, to canning, welding, and of course gardening, there isn't much Wrubleski doesn't do on the farm.
Photography by Vanessa Wrubleski
in the kitchen
Elaine Hauser & Alysa Klassen
The Gathered
@the.gathered
Kathyrn, AB, Canada
Elaine Hauser and Alysa Klassen are the mother and daughter team behind Gathered - an event space and homestead on nine acres outside of Calgary, Alberta. As a family-run business, their desire is to offer a place of peace and hope. They believe in serving their community through purposeful and life-giving events.
Photography by Megan Kaduhr
Boreal Productions
@boreal.productions
Calgary, AB
sip it
Elaine Hauser & Alysa Klassen
The Gathered
@the.gathered
Kathyrn, AB, Canada
Elaine Hauser and Alysa Klassen are the mother and daughter team behind Gathered - an event space and homestead on nine acres outside of Calgary, Alberta. As a family-run business, their desire is to offer a place of peace and hope. They believe in serving their community through purposeful and life-giving events.
Photography by Megan Kaduhr
Boreal Productions
@boreal.productions
Calgary, AB
pack your bags
April Anderson
Alive Sky Lodge
@aliveskylodge
Rosetown, SK, Canada
April and Darryl Anderson grew up on their family farms in Saskatchewan. They dated in high school. 25 years later, Darryl was still farming, and April had a career in law enforcement, and a love for the farm and rural lifestyle. Together they share a passion for Agritourism and unique accommodations near Rosetown, Saskatchewan.
Photography by April Anderon
make it
Tabetha Hystad
Prairie Sweater Co.
@prairiesweaterco
Bow Island, AB, Canada
Tabetha Hystad is a wife, homeschooling mama, nurse, and entrepreneur. She lives in Bow Island, Alberta where she raises her family to know and love the prairies and their magnificent Creator. Hystad runs her business in the evenings, while designing patterns and sewing.
Photography by Tabetha Hystad
Credits
Fall 2021 Issue #4
FOUNDERS &
CREATIVE DIRECTORS
Jan Johnson &
Erin Johnson
LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGN
Erin Johnson
WRITER AND EDITOR
Jan Johnson
EDITS, PROOFING &
CONTENT COORDINATOR
Kim Drake
PUBLISHER
Prairie Girl Publishing Inc.
PRINTER
Mountain View Printing &
Graphics Ltd. - Calgary