Rossland farms and dairies
fewer than there used to be
By HARRY PEPPER

If you travel straight south
of Rossland on the road
towards Drake's Dairy you
come to a turnoff which
leads to a little farm that
was also a dairy at one time.
The house and buildings
nestle about halfway up a
narrow valley between two
mountains, the valley
widens after you pass the
buildings and cross the little
creek just beyond. It could
certainly be called an idyllic
setting.
The young couple who own
it are Neal and Bonnie
Snyders who were at one
time part-owners of the
Allan Hotel. The farm where
they now live, originally was
160 acres, but th,ey sold all
but 40 acres and are into the
hog business.
Recently when I was
there, the barn housed
something like 30 or 40 pigs,
from large sows, one with a
large litter of wee ones,
medium-sized ones suitable
for breeding, and some in
between.
At one time they had about
, 20 preeding stock but Neal
I wants to get his herd down to
1 'B more manageable size,
I,.·
like about six or eight, he is
also getting started into
I cattle to utilize his fairly
extensive pasture. He has •
two young cows at present.
When he first moved there,
he had the government inspectors out to pass his place
for a piggery. Both
provincial and federal
authorities passed on his
premises, but he had to
make certain adjustments to
satisfy the local board of
health when they made their
inspection. One requirement
was to re-route the creek
which flows through his
property, not exactly an
easy task.
Neal has a real thing about
'
Neal Snyders says that pigs have personalities that closely resemble human
farming around the
Rossland area, he feels that ones, and he and his wife Bonnie have favorites among their small herd.
we would all benefit from
like his. He said that much difference between the
having more places around
veterinary Dr. Peter two, just add an "n" on to the
Morgenthaler told him that end of "bar", some of the
he serviced 27 dairies in the denizens you meet in one
district when he first arrived place would be right at home
here. Today there are just in the other."
While there, Neal and
three left in the entire
district.
Bonnie led me to his upper
Today he sells his meat to pasture area. From an
a local butcher but elevated area we got wh~t is

If you travel straight south
of Rossland on the road
towards Drake's Dairy you
come to a turnoff which
leads to a little farm that
was also a dairy at one time.
The house and buildings
nestle about halfway up a
narrow valley between two
mountains, the valley
widens after you pass the
buildings and cross the little
creek just beyond. It could
certainly be called an idyllic
setting.
The young couple who own
it are Neal and Bonnie
Snyders who were at one
time part-owners of the
Allan Hotel. The farm where
they now live, originally was
160 acres, but tl'.\ey sold all
but 40 acres and are into the
bog business.
Recently when I was
there, the barn housed
something like 30 or 40 pigs,
from large sows, one with a
large litter of wee ones,
medium-sized ones suitable
for breeding, and some in
between.
At one time they had about
20 preeding stock but Neal
wants to get his herd down to
ll more manageable size,
like about six or eight, he is
also getting started into
cattle to utilize his fairly
extensive pasture. He has
two young cows at present.
When he first moved there,
he had the government inspectors out to pass his place
for a piggery. Both
provincial and federal
authorities passed on his
premises, but be had to
make certain adjustments to
satisfy the local board of
health when they made their
inspection. One requirement
was to re-rout~ the creek
which flows through his
property, not exactly an
easy task.
Neal has a real thing about
farming around the Neal Snyders says that pigs have personalities that closely resemble human
Rossland area, he feels that ones, and he and his wife Bonnie have favorites among their small herd.
we would all benefit from
like his. He said that much difference between the
having more places around
veterinary Dr. Peter two, just add an "n" on to the
Morgenthaler told him that end of "bar", some of the
he serviced 27 dairies in the denizens you meet in one
district when he first arrived place would be right at home
here. Today there are just in the other."
While there, Neal and
three left in the entire
district.
Bonnie led rne to his upper
Today he sells his meat to pasture area. From an
a local butcher but elevated area we got what is
restrictions call for him to· one of the most complete
ship it to the coast, and then views of Rossland that one
the local butcher buys it. It can get from any point
would seem like a lot of around the city.
With their enthusiasm for
bureaucracy is involved in
what they have taken on!
the hog business too.
I smiled at a remark from one can imagine that during
Neal when he compared his future years a pretty nice
former business in the hotel little farm and home will
to his present one. Said Neal, result from their combined
Who says that pigs are ugly?
"I find that there is not too efforts.

. . . .. .. .. ....

Call this the 'Kevin Connection.' Kevin
VanKalkeran (left) and Kevin Zakall are
members of the Rossland Warriors this
season, a team that currently holds down
third place in the Kootenay International

Hockey League. The pair were standouts
with the South Okanagan Midget Reps last
year. Rossland trails second place Castlegar
by just four points in the K.I.H.L. Western
Division standings.