Thomas Coker Halstead was born February 13, 1920 at Tring,
Hertfordshire, England to Richard and Hilda Halstead.
Because of his ill health, the family doctor advised his parents to move
to a drier climate. When Tom was 10 years old he moved to Canada with his parents
and three sisters, Amy, Rachel, and Edna. They
settled on a farm 17 miles southwest of Lloydminster.
Tom started his herd of Hereford cattle in 1940 and his Percherons in
1945 which is registered as Silver Exe stock. By the early 1970's Tom had
registered a total of 38 Percherons which placed him among the top eight
breeders of Percheron horses in North America.
He still has a herd of cattle and Percheron horses today.
Tom didn't just happen to be a stockman by chance.
His grandfather raised and exhibited Shire horses in England.
In 1907, Tom's father showed ”Halstead Royal Duke” who won
the grand champion Shire of all England.
Tom won many ribbons exhibiting his horses at the Lloydminster,
Vermilion and North Baffleford Fairs for almost 30 years.
In the 1950's during the winter months, Tom spent many hours making his
own harness for his six-horse hitch and built his own show wagon.
The harness was later purchased by a large company for advertising
purposes and over the years has been seen on T.V.
Tom has been a director on the Lloydminster Exhibition board since 1969
(29 years) and has belonged to the Paradise Valley Agricultural Society for 25
years. He has judged 4-H horse shows and other light horse shows in
the area. He was instrumental in
starting the Rodeos in Lloydminster in the early sixties and later helped the
Kinsmen when they took over this event. He
has received numerous belt buckles and awards for promoting chuckwagon races and
rodeos throughout the area. In
1963, he received a silver buckle from the Rotary Club for his work on the All
Girls' Rodeo. In 1980 he was
inducted into the Kinsmen Sportsman's Hall of Fame.
In 1984 he was Molson's “Man of the Year” at the Cowboy Countdown.
In 1986 the racetrack at the exhibition grounds was named "Halstead
Downs" in appreciation of Tom's dedication to the Exhibition and for the
hours he spent making it one of the best race tracks in Western Canada.
In 1990 he was inducted into the Lloydminster Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Tom is very community minded and always willing to give a helping hand.
Tom has time for everyone, young and old.
Many have benefited from his knowledge and experience.