About Us Ed and Vickie Ed was born and raised on the ranch. At the time it was known as the Rafter AE Ranch. Ed and his sister Jackie spent their youth tending to the animals and riding miles and miles of trail. Ed’s adult life has also been spent on the ranch. His many ventures have included logging, custom cattle grazing of both cattle and horses, a cow calf operation and most recently tending to a bison herd. This also includes bison hunting. Ed is very proud of the fact that the world’s largest bull taken by bow comes from our ranch. Vicky had been widowed in 1973; she had taken a liking to the rancher down the road that loved to come help her with her 4 children, Marilyn, Bev, Jerry and Laura. In 1975 they were married; her dowry included four children, one dog, one cat and two horses. Ed accepted this dowry with a smile and a brave heart. Vicky’s children also grew to love the ranch. In 1976 Ed and Vicky’s first son Alton was born. In 1979 their second son Jason was born. Through the years Vickie has had many ventures which include commercial painting, owning a traveling concession booth as well as co-owning a ladies dress shop with her daughter Bev. Even though she has had a very busy life Vicky has always managed to make every person who crossed the Texas Gate welcome as she would always set another place at the table. Not being the kind of individuals who can sit back and relax for the next 20 years; Ed and Vicky along with their son Alton and his wife Leah have chosen to share the peace and beauty that everyone has always enjoyed at the Rafter AE Ranch with others. Thus was born the Bent River Ranch Adventures. Leah and Alton Wood Alton and Leah met in 1992 when Alton was working for Leah’s father who owned Frontier Guiding and Outfitting at the historic Ya Ha Tinda Ranch. Their mutual interest in Outfitting, Rodeo and Ranching drew them together, one year later they were married and working on a Provincial Grazing Reserve. This is where they started their family, which consists of three young daughters Fallon, Raylee, and Taylor, all of which share the love of the western life style. After three seasons of riding on the pasture the family moved south to work on a ranch in Hanna Alberta. Although Hanna holds a special place in their hearts they once again moved, this time it was to take up permanent residence on the family ranch. Alton always felt a strong pull to the home place. With the experience of working on several ranches and grazing reserves he felt it was time to take his family home. Today Leah and Alton are a very busy couple. Leah owns her own Hair Salon in Drayton Valley with approximately 10 employees. On top of being a busy business owner Leah is very busy in the community as a volunteer. She has been a member of the Rotary Club for 9 years; she sits on the Brazeau Regional Tourism committee as well as the President of the Drayton Valley Indoor Rodeo Club. But the largest part of her schedule is her three daughters, with Fallon in a professional dance program, going back and forth to the city, being a barrel racer herself and trying to keep her girls mounted on horses, she is busy riding young horses and running the girls to barrel racing jackpots. To top it all off Leah & Alton own Prairie Fire Kennels, raising working Australian Shepherds. Alton is a full time Farrier with a clientele of around 200+ horses. He is also a very active team roper. He travels around Alberta and British Columbia going to Rodeos and large Jackpots. He also travels along side his three young barrel racers. Alton also spends much of his time building and bettering and tending to the horses around the ranch. Which includes the standing of our studs Laico Bar Roan and SL Texas Luck. Alton is also a very active part of the Drayton Valley Rodeo Club. TOP
	© 2005 Bent River Ranch Adventures • Drayton Valley, Alberta • T:(780)727-4378 • E: info@bentriverranch.com