Basnett even uses his grandfather's original brand. They are tough cattle for rugged country, said Basnett, who always liked the traditional British breed. Most of his bulls are sold to farmers and ranchers whose cattle must navigate thick brush and steep riverbanks. Their market is for tough country. Basnett has 60 cattle of his own on the 2,000-acre farm he operates with his parents, Benny and Irene, and brother, Maury.
Few landmarks remain of Eureka River's early farming days.
His grandfather's log cabin, once used as a trading post, is slumped but still stands. The community hall, once the social dance centre, holds dances only once in a while. Oil, gas and lumber have replaced agriculture in the northern Alberta community. Trucks loaded with logs bounce past the driveway on their way to nearby mills. Driving north are men in four-wheel drive trucks going to jobs in the oil and gas industry.