The BC Government honoured the Coldwell Ranch in Jesmond on Friday, May 23 with the presentation of a Century Farm Award.
In a small ceremony in the Clinton Memorial Hall Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart presented the award to present owner Charlie Coldwell, his mother, Joyce Freeman and Charlie’s Aunt Evelyn Demptster who had actually been born in the Coldwell house.
Ms. Tegart thanked the Coldwell family on behalf of the BC Government for their strong contribution to the provincial agriculture industry and its history.
She then outlined the history of the ranch with the arrival of Henry (Harry) Coldwell and his wife Louise who settled in 1913 in what was then known as Mountain House. The land was officially registered to Harry and his brother, Robert in 1914. In the early years the Coldwell family raised cattle and chickens and tended a large garden.
In 1919, Mountain House was officially renamed Jesmond after the English town where Harry had been born. The Coldwells operated the Jesmond post office until the 1960s and also owned a store and gas station until 1970.
Harry’s grandson Charles Coldwell now owns the ranch, and the third-generation rancher has approximately 100 cattle and 250 horses on 480 acres of land. Charles continues the family tradition of ranching, guiding and trapping and is involved with the Clinton Agriculture Society and the Clinton Rodeo.
Century Farm Awards honour agricultural organizations that have been active for a century or more as well as the pioneers whose farms and ranches have been in families for 100 years or longer. Each Century Farm Award celebrates the rich heritage of farming and ranching families and organizations in BC.
MLA Tegart noted, “Pioneer farm families are such a big part of our British Columbia history and the Century Farm Awards are a great way to recognize their achievements. I want to congratulate and thank the Coldwell family on 100 years of ranching in our local community, your dedication is admired and appreciated”.
Mayor Jim Rivett and most of Clinton Council were on hand for the presentation as well as numerous family and friends of the Coldwells.
Congratulations to the Coldwell family.