Y'all, let me tell you about this Canadian cowboy who embodies every bit of a homesteader spirit and a true Woman of the West! Danika McGuinness is a through and through cowboy who lives in the Cariboo of British Columbia with her husband and kiddo. Along with ranching, this talented woman also runs JackPineCowboy.com where she sells some of the leather products her and her husband handcraft. With a contagious smile and quick to offer a word of encouragement, this gal is truly special. Check out below to see how God has worked throughout Danika’s life!
What does homestead mean to you?
Homestead to me reminds me of my grandparents. They had one of the last places in Canada that was bought and started under the homesteaders act of Canada back in the 80’s. Their place was called ‘homesteaders haven.’ And it was a haven at that. It was a place where they had a big garden, horses and a couple cows. A place where I felt loved and nurtured. It was my safe place growing up and I spent every second I could with them right up until they had to move to town. So to me a homestead means love, hard work, nurturing one another with love and the food you raise on it and making those slow living memories.
Where do you live and how long have you lived there? Where did you grow up?
Right now my husband, Mike and I manage a small 200head ranch in the Cariboo of British Columbia. We have been here two years. I grew up up in the Okanagan. I’m a BC girl through and through.
What are some of your favorite things about living in the north country? What are some challenges?
My favourite Part of living in the Cariboo is the seasons and the wildness of it still. The untamed land and the rugged steep country we get to cowboy on. The wild animals we encounter, Mike says we are always combing grizzlies out of our hair. It makes good honest horses and good dogs. They aren’t afraid to go into thick brush and get after a cow. It separates the good horses and dogs from the bad ones real quick. I guess that would be a challenge too. Also the winters can be challenging too, they are long and cold it makes calving hard even in April this year we had to use the D7 to clear our calving grounds so the girls had somewhere dry to calve. Cabin fever definitely gets real sometimes.
In what ways do you see God in your homestead?
in what ways don’t I see God in our homestead. From the Sunrises to the sunsets he’s always here. The way the frost sets on the trees in the winter to seeing my garden grow in the spring even after we had so much rain it flooded out. The circle of life, He’s here all the time in everything.
Who did you learn the most about life from?
So many people, but my husband Mike has the biggest influence on my life. It’s not possible for me to be as amazing of a cowboy as he is, but he always encourages me to try haha. He has taught me even though things are tough, I can still get them done. Oh and his favourite saying is; "when chasing cows they can’t ever get away from me because we are surrounded by water... the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean."
What is your favorite memory involving horses?
Oh there’s so many...
But it’s pretty sweet being able to share my love with my son. When we go riding and he’s on my back, he will start trying to jump up and down behind me and that means to trot. Haha so I know he’s my son because I love nothing more than a good long trot.
What is a life challenge you have faced and how did you overcome it?
I’ve been dealing with Panic and Anxiety attacks so that’s been a doozy over the past few years. I don’t think I’ve quite overcome it but I’ve learned to adapt. I’ve changed my diet and I’ve really let God into my life and drawn closer to Him. Honestly, had I not, I wouldn’t be close to overcoming it, He definitely pulls me through and life’s a lot less scarier when you don’t feel so alone.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned from horses or from living in a rural place?
A big lesson I have learned from horses and living in a rural place is is patience and adaptability.
Tell us one or two of your favorite stories about ranching, horses, or life in general.
A favourite story of mine, haha, it was the coldest day of my life. It was the first really cold day of the year and the ranch we were on we just finished weaning and were pushing cows back out onto the river country. It was blizzardy out and even sharp shod my horse was slipping around. The wind was howling and as soon as we climbed up out of the valley to the pasture we were gathering the wind got colder. Right then it felt like I wanted to cry (I didn’t) but I wanted too. I went and did my circle, the whole while mulling over different career choices in my head and just being miserable. When we all met up at the corner gate we held the herd while the cowboss counted out 875 head. I remember watching him keep grabbing coils in his rope for every hundred head that went through and I just wanted to push all the cows through at once and say it’s too cold to count them through, let’s keep moving. Haha! But I sat there quietly and got colder and colder the wind blowing harder and harder. I really thought I was going to die of hypothermia.
Once all the cows were through we had to push them out one pasture and into the next. I kept thinking dang it. McDonalds is hiring and they have hot coffee and french fries, it’s warm in there too I could go work there.
The snow drifts were getting big now and some cows would disappear down into a gullet then come up through the snow on the other side.
Luckily at the next gate we didn’t have to count them so we popped them through then had a fire and lunch under a big old fir and got out of the wind.
That night as soon as We got home, Mike and I drove to town and I went to the outdoor store and bought the warmest jacket they had. It was really expensive but so worth it and I haven’t had a cold day since that day 5 years ago haha. And I haven’t thought about changing careers either since. Lol
Since you and your husband create all of the items for sale on your website, which item is the most fun to make? If you had to choose just one, would it be leather work, blacksmithing, or working with mohair?
Right now it’s leather work, although it was blacksmithing that brought Mike and I together, we don’t have the forge set up at the moment. We are in the process of building a shop. And Mike also came into the relationship with a full saddle shop haha. But I really love leatherwork and making gear for the working Cowboy. I feel really blessed that God has given me the talent to do both and that right now he’s really made the leather work take off so I’m just going with it.
Are there similarities between training working border collies and horses?
Yes, every time you are with your horses or dogs you are always ‘training’ on them. That doesn’t mean constantly picking on them. It means always watching and listening to them. With a horse you are always searching out that softness and willingness he wants to give you. Even something a subtle as you picking up the rein, instead of having him give his head all the way to one side, if he even just flicks his ear back, that’s softness and giving right there. It’s the little wins I look for. And with a dog, that willingness comes in a different form, if you really watch your dog, they are always looking at you. You have to be aware and catch him every time he does, whether you send him out on another command, get him to heel to your horse or just praise the shit out of him for looking at you. It’s all in the praise and searching for feel with both.
Who is one woman who has inspired you?
My biggest influencers have always been older generation cowboys. And I was raised to be good at my job regardless of my gender. I get offended when people refer to me as a cowgirl because to me cowboying is a job description it’s not about gender so I prefer to be recognized as a cowboy. That being said, a woman who has inspired was the the cowboss at a neighbouring ranch to the one I was working on. She was a woman. She had been there for over 25years, she’s retired on her own place now. but to me she was the epitome of this, being great at her job regardless of her gender. She loved to cowboy, loved her cows, horses and dogs, and did it for the love in her heart, not for the 'gram or to wear cool clothes. She always did what needed to be done regardless of the hour of he day or day of the week. And to me that’s inspiring.
What is your favorite bible verse?
My favourite bible verse: Psalms 46:5
"God is within her she will not fail."
I was mistakenly married at a younger age and we divorced shortly after. It was a relief to be separated but it still was hard, loss in any form is hard and then there is the adapting to being newly single and I was living quite remote by myself and things could get lonely. I wrote that verse and had it on my bathroom mirror. I looked at it every morning and night. Through, the laughter, tears, fears and pain, God was always with me and never let me fail.
Whether she is combing grizzlies out of her hair or cooking dinner for her son, Danika epitomizes the grit and strength of a homesteader and exemplifies what God outlines in Proverbs 31 as a good, Godly woman. Thank you Danika for sharing your story! You had me laughing and getting goosebumps all at the same time! Those Canadian winters are not for the faint of heart and I'm so thankful that today's technology allows us to connect with kindred spirits all over the world.
As always, stay safe and ride far! Please let me know if there is anything I can be praying with or for you about!
xo,
Sara
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