As the plaque reads
Great Western Trail
In the latter of the 19th century Long Horn cattle were herded from thier breeding grounds in Texas through the more northerly states into Canada.
This plaque is dedicated in Val Marie, to mark the northern terminus of the Trail. It was from here that numerous trails spread out to provide meat and horses to the Northwest Mounted Police and breeding stock to early territorial ranches.
The golden years of the great cattle drives lasted only 30 years with between 40,000 to 60,000 head stocking the early ranches in south western Saskatchewan. The last of the long cattle drives took place in 1893 to the coming of the railways. settlement of the prairies and the end of open range.
This plaque pays tribute to the cowboys who herded the cattle northward and to those early ranchers who began the livestock industry in Saskatchewan and that is today such an important part of the provincial economy.
The Rotary Club of Regina placed this plaque in 2008 with the endorsement of Canadian Agribition and the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association.
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