Clarence Glasman emigrated from southern Minnesota to Russell, Manitoba with his parents and brothers. They traveled in 2 rail cars along with their belongings which included their most prized possessions, their draft and carriage horses. Horses always remained important in Clarence’s life. In fact he married an avid horse woman Dorothy Cartwright who enjoyed riding and showing horses. Clarence raised and raced horses for many years and became well know on the harness horse circuit. Clarence bought his first registered Angus bull to use on commercial females in 1927. Clarence and Dorothy’s sons Larry and Marshall did not share their parents love for horses but took an interest in the cattle. In the 1930’s, Clarence bought some purebred Black Angus cattle for the boys…thus began the Glasman’s long history with purebred cattle.

As time passed the C.E. Glasman and Sons Aberdeen Angus herd grew. Clarence chose the farm name Black Eagle after a solid black eagle that lived on their land.The Glasmans and their Angus cattle became well known as they exhibited across Canada and the USA.

Clarence Glasman and Bill Dunn (Circa 1915)

At the time, not only were they seeking championships but also the prize monies as a source of income. The show season started in March at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. In the early days, bulls would be loaded on the train for the trip to Brandon. Through the late 1950’s, 1960’s and early 1970’s, Black Eagle Farms made Angus history in Western Canada dominating the Angus show at the prestigious Brandon Bull Sale. In an eighteen year period the Glasmans won 14 Grand Champions and 3 Reserve grand Champions plus many Champion Get of Sires, Pair of Bulls, etc.

The Canadian show circuit continued throughout the year with stops at Calgary, Vancouver, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto and many smaller towns along the way.Many remember the old Black

Eagle cattle liner or ‘motel’ as it was a familiar site traveling down the road. Over the years, many trips to the Toronto Royal on the ‘Royal train’ were taken by the Glasmans and their Angus cattle. The journey to and time at ‘The Royal’ was always eventful. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, the Glasmans exhibited carloads of long yearling Black Angus bulls to the Denver Stock Show. Some years as many as 40 head were taken to Denver including a very competitive string for the ‘hill’ show.  

Many famous bloodlines were propagated and promoted by Black Eagle but none more influential than Boniagra Ankonian 306122 or ‘Northern Giant’.Giant had been the 1969 Brandon Bull Sale Grand Champion bull and record high seller exhibited by Norman

Hodgson of Virden. Northern Giant was large framed with a great hair coat and an easy disposition. He became an instant celebrity in the Angus business as he was campaigned to the 1969 Chicago International show standing second to another power Angus bull Great Northern. Northern Giant was sold for $22,000 to an American Tim Pierce of Caravelle Land & Cattle Co and was eventually moved to the USA. His progeny had a profound influence on the Angus industry with his offspring becoming high sellers and show champions across Canada. In 1971, sons and daughters were champions at the first Canadian Western Agribition. The Glasman family has exhibited cattle at Regina since that first Agribition.

In the mid 70’s the existing cattle business was seriously affected