The Bar-U Ranch is busy preparing for a new season.

Product Development Officer, Mike Mclean says the Bar-U currently has a contest running.

"The Bar-U Ranch (is) looking forward to announcing the names of two Percheron horses the national historic site recently acquired. We reached out to the public for their name suggestions. If you want to get in, the contest closes February the 29th so a little time left. The winner gets a Parks Canada Family Discovery Pass."

He says the national historic site have new operating hours this season as well.

"Our season will begin Monday, May the 16th. So, that's a new first day for the year and we'll have new operating hours coming up this year as well. We'll be open daily from 10 o'clock until 5 o'clock, and that's right up until September 30th."

Mclean says the Bar-U will open a special display honoring local efforts made during the first world war.

"The Bar-U Ranch has commemorated 100 years since the start of World War One, and we were talking about the horses that served in war, how agriculture supported the war effort, and there'll be a special display honouring local cowboys that served in WWI and it's going to open in the visitor centre on May the 21st and 22nd."

This year Parks Canada Discovery Passes will be valid for 24 months rather than 12 months, and will provide admission to over 200 cultural places administered by Parks Canada.