It was in the earliest 1980's when Elmer and Marian Johnson purchased their first Curlies--youngsters named Colonel's Bay Blaze P-277[F] (a Damele colt by Colonel Austin) and Boulder Beauty P-311[F] (a 100% Fredell Curly filly) from Gloria Bratcher of Baker, Oregon.

Today, Blaze and Beauty, along with 8 other Curlies, an Appaloosa, and a Thoroughbred mare, still graze the green pastures at the Johnson's Rush River Curly Farm near Baldwin, Wisconsin, about 45 miles east of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

From the start, Elmer's aim has been to produce western riding type foundation bloodline Curlies with tightly curled coats and all of the other old-time Curly characteristics, physical and otherwise. Of late, he's become interested in outcrossing again, hence the presence of the nice Thoroughbred and Appaloosa mares he's recently purchased.

Because Colonel's Bay Blaze is homozygous for the curly gene, all of his many offspring have arrived with curly coats. And since he was one of the first Curly stallions to stand in the Minnesota/Eastern Wisconsin area--and has always stood at a rock bottom fee--Blaze has had a mighty impact on North Country Curlies.

Many of the fine foals the Johnson have bred and sold on have been out of their three foundation mares, Boulder Beauty P-311[F], Sue's Kizzy Q P-143[F], and LS Rosie's Gift P-519. Kizzy passed on a few years ago but lives on in the Rush River herd through a handsome young daughter by Blaze. Beauty and Rosie still foal every year.

Elmer and Marian are unique in that they price all of a year's foal's the same--buyers' choice. And they are bargains!

When we returned to Curlies in 1995, it was to Elmer and Marian we turned for our own foundation stock. In 1996 a 3 week old colt by Blaze and out of Beauty almost blew us away! Thus Rush River Slash became an important part of our family...and now all of our Curlies are the get or grand-get of Colonel's Bay Blaze.

We've selected the Johnsons for our first Breeders' Showcase because of their kindness, integrity, and dedication to Curlies and the people who own them.

Elmer, Marian...thanks for being our friends!