Wednesday, July 9, 2003
 
 

Calgary Stampede - Local's oats power Rangeland Derby's top wagons

     
     
By John Barlow
Editor



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Bob Macgillivray of Hub Commodities spends some time with Jason Glass's horses prior to a chuckwagon race. photo by John Barlow
Chuckwagon drivers are the closest thing Alberta has to Home Improvement's Tim Taylor — 'We need more power!'

More power was never more important than this week at the $50,000 Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby which concludes on Sunday.

The man many of the top drivers go to for more power is Bob Macgillivray of Hub Commodities Inc. in Nanton.

'He has heavy oats with lots of protein and he always finds the best,' said High River chuckwagon driver Jason Glass. 'It is hard to find good oats anywhere, but Bob always finds them and he gives that extra effort to make sure you have great oats.'

Glass is just one of the top drivers at the Rangeland Derby whose outfits will be powered by Macgillivray's oats.

Glass, Troy Dorchester, Neal Walgenbach and Jim Knight are also Macgillivray's customers this week in Calgary.

However, word has spread about Macgillivray's magic touch.

Besides chuckwagons this week, the RCMP Musical Ride will also be powered by oats from Hub Commodities Inc.

Upon sealing his deal with the Musical Ride, Macgillivray was almost giddy.

But to anyone who has met Macgillivray they would say upbeat is his middle name.

'I am doing this because it is fun,' said Macgillivray during a sales tour through the barns at the Stampede grounds last Thursday. 'The essence of the Stampede is the chuckwagons and to have the chance to be a part of that is my reward.'

Macgillivray's presence at the Stampede has been unexpected even to the oat supplier himself.

It began several years ago when Macgillivray purchased a bagger at an auction sale and started a small bagging operation in Blackie selling malted barley.

One evening Macgillivray met Glass, an old friend, at the Blackie Arena and Glass talked of his woes in finding suitable feed for his stable of horses.

A light went on for Macgillivray.

'He just told me, ‘I'll find what you need',' said Glass of their discussion.

Macgillivray immediately started searching southern Alberta for quality oats and soon started supplying Glass's outfit with feed for the World Professional Chuckwagon Association season.

Glass said the impact was almost immediate when his horses added Macgillivray's oats to their diet of hay and water.

'The horses started shining and putting on weight and they were healthier,' said Glass. 'Bob has been a real lifesaver. Before he started helping me I was always scrambling trying to find good oats.'

Now Glass can focus on racing while Macgillivray, who Glass considers part of his chuckwagon team, can scour the region looking for feed to power the Shaw GMC checkerboard chuckwagon.

Macgillivray admitted he started into the chuckwagon business as a way to help Glass, who he had known since Glass was a youth.

And his focus continues to be Glass and his cousin Colt Cosgrave, who did not qualify for this year's Rangeland Derby.

'I want to make sure they have the best oats of anybody on tour,' said Macgillivray.

Watching the races, the tall, lanky Macgillivray is almost like a parent soaring with every victory and sinking with every loss.

'It is absolutely a tremendous thrill watching your horses do well,' said Macgillivray. 'Having said that, when they don't do well it hurts.'

But more often than not, horses powered by Macgillivray's oats do well.

When his horses succeed, Macgillivray, who has more harmonicas in his utility belt than Batman has gadgets, can often be found at the barns during Stampede entertaining the drivers, outriders, sponsors, visitors and anyone else who wants to have as good a time as Macgillivray.

People still talk about the unforgettable impromptu barn dance Macgillivray and some other musicians put on from the back of some wagons two years ago when Glass won the Derby's aggregate title in 2001.

'The Stampede is a special time for me and having the chance to visit with the drivers and outriders and all the people is great,' said the born entertainer. 'It is great just to be a part of it.'

Glass could not agree more.

'I don't know where we would be without him,' commented Glass.

     
   
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