Representing Warner County BALOG FAMILY Milk River,

In 1912, Steve Balog came to the I-17 area southwest of Milk Perhaps the most labour-intensive conservation project is River and settled on land that is still in the family today. While the nesting poles for ferruginous hawks. “We cut twigs from the he worked as a coal miner, his 9-year old son, also named Steve, yard, haul them up to the poles and drop them,” Nora explains. took on many adult responsibilities in operating the farm. “Ferruginous hawks are renovators. They don’t build their Eventually the farm passed to his son in his turn. That son, Ken, own nests, so you have to start a nest for them. I get to stand in and his wife Nora, are the 2015 BMO Farm Family of the Year for the bucket of the front-end loader while my husband lifts me the County of Warner. up to the top of the pole.” Encouraging the hawks isn’t purely altruistic, Nora admits, because The Balogs have a mixed the hawks prey on gophers. “We farming/ranching operation, think it’s a great idea because it Nora says, but notes, “We class saves us having to go out and shoot ourselves as ranchers more them. We’ve noticed one pasture than farmers. Neither one of in particular where it’s helped. us is big on the farming, but Gophers draw in badgers and it’s necessary to keep the ranch we’ve actually lost a heifer due to a running.” The family has raised broken leg from a badger hole.” purebred Herefords since 1942 and Ken’s father helped found The Balogs have both served both the and bull sales. Today, the on their local school council and have helped with 4-H. family has about 100 cow/calf pairs, with about a third bred to a Professional organizations like the Milk River West Water Users non-Hereford bull. “Our cows are kept purebred, but we do not and Milk River Feeder Association have also been part of the raise bulls,” Nora explains. Although they usually use purebred Balogs’ community involvement, as have several conservation Hereford bulls, there is one black bull still on the place – a legacy organizations. In 2013, they won a conservation award for from one of their children’s 4-H projects. “We call ourselves a preservation of native habitat and species at risk that is only glorified commercial herd,” she says. given out every three years in the three prairie provinces.

About 600 of the operation’s landbase of 4,000 acres is seeded Although all four of the Balog children live and work off the using conservation tillage and no-till. “We’ve gone back to some farm, one son is a veterinarian and the other is an agronomist so tillage in some areas because of alkalinity,” Nora notes. Five they keep up with what goes on at home. When things are busy different crops are grown: durum and spring wheat, oats, barley on the farm, Nora says, “Sometimes the kids will show up with a and triticale, the latter for forage. There is also hayland. meal so we can have Sunday dinner together.” When cattle have to be moved from the leased land along the U.S. border, “We There’s more than just commerce going on at the Balog’s. gather up four or five people and bring the cattle home with the To protect the riparian habitat of Northern Leopard Frogs, the motorbikes,” Nora says. family has installed two solar pumps that facilitate rotational grazing. The property also has a garter snake hibernaculum and Asked about what’s best about farm life, Nora knows another part of it is habitat for rattlesnakes. immediately. “The quiet, the serenity and the view. We have one of the best views of the Sweetgrass Hills you’ll ever get.” 5 Representing BIEMANS FAMILY Seven Person, Alberta

The story of the Biemans family in is a good ground at the time – and if there’s any seed left in the drill.” illustration of the arc of progress in agriculture in Southern Although the dry areas are seeded at the same time, she notes, Alberta. When the family first arrived in the Coaldale area they sometimes are harvested separately. from Holland in the years following World War II, they found Coming from a dryland area in Saskatchewan, Janet says work hoeing sugar beets. Today, the family farms using a her first experience of irrigation agriculture in 1989 was dazzling variety of high-tech computer programs that would surprising. “When I first came here and saw the pivots on have seemed like science fiction sixty years ago. and it was raining, it didn’t make sense to me,” she laughs. The name of the family operation: Peter-Built Farms Inc., Things are quite a bit more sophisticated today. “The pivots honours Peter Biemans Jr., who farmed in the have computer panels,” Janet explains. “Through our phones, area until his untimely passing from ALS in 2009. Peter’s we can speed up or slow down our pivots. We can regulate wife Janet was always deeply involved in the farm and that how much water is going on each area.” At harvest time, she engagement continues today except that now her business continues, “The combines have yield-mapping. From one partner is her son, Trevor. The Biemans are the 2015 BMO quarter to the next, side-by-side, you can tell when it was Farm Family of the Year for seeded and when the rains came Cypress County. through and when the pivots were on. It helps with fertilizer, In the 1950s, when the too.” dams were built that made irrigation agriculture Both Trevor and Janet are possible in the Seven Persons heavily involved with the area, Peter Biemans Sr. and Seven Persons and District his four sons came to the Community Association as area and acquired farmland well as a number of other that had been abandoned organizations. Perhaps their and seized for tax arrears. most dedicated commitment Together they worked and is to the ALS Society of Alberta. prospered. Trevor and Janet Since 2010 they have raised over continue to work with the $160,000 to combat ALS and are three surviving sons: Ken, Roger and Mario. “We all own our the society’s biggest third-party fundraiser. own assets, but we all farm together,” Janet explains. “Peter and I always figured if you’re living in a community, Janet and Trevor, a graduate of Lethbridge College in you should be giving back to it,” Janet says. “It doesn’t hurt Agriculture Technology, seed about 1,000 acres in spring anybody to take a few hours out of their life to give back to wheat, canola, peas, dry beans and alfalfa using no-till where they live. We raised our kids to be the same.” and minimum-tillage technology. Tillage is based on soil City life, for Janet, isn’t really an option. The farm lifestyle compaction, Janet says. “Any of the beanland gets worked is what appeals to her. “You work hard, but in your downtime quite well before the beans go in because beans don’t like compaction. If there’s a heavy weed population, then they’ll you can play hard. It’s so nice to be able to go out in your yard work it. We try not to work the land too much.” and be able to look for miles, to look at your fields and know that you’re accomplishing something.” “This year and last year, quite a bit of our dry land is seeded,” Janet continues. “We kind of go by the moisture in the

6 Representing Newell County DYCK FAMILY Brooks, Alberta

There have been a lot of changes in the way the Dyck family Dyck has had fava beans in his rotation, too. “They’ve worked farms over the last half-century or so. When John Dyck’s out really well. They’re actually the highest nitrogen-fixing grandfather came to Alberta from Germany in 1951, he started legume, which has really saved on fertilizer costs. They are out hoeing sugar beets in the Lethbridge area. Before long, easy to harvest. They don’t lay down like peas, they stand up the family had rented land and was operating a dairy farm. and the leaves just sort of dry off. By harvest-time all you have Finally, in 1967, they were able to purchase a farm of their own left is a stalk with pods.” The dryland corners are seeded to just northeast of Brooks. grass, which is usually good for one cut of hay.

Today, the family is still farming on the same property, and “I don’t remember wanting to do anything else,” John says. John and Charlotte Dyck of Brookside Farms Ltd. are the BMO “After college, the neighbour’s farm came up for sale. I bought Farm Family of the Year for the that and added it to the operation. County of Newell. In those early It’s been interesting, working years, the family raised cattle with my grandfather and father, and grew vegetables for sale then with my brother and then through the Newell Vegetable my father worked for me.” John’s Co-op. The cattle are gone, and brother Thomas became a teacher, so is the Co-op, and the Dyck but now lives in the grandfather’s operation today is 1,300 acres of house, farms in the summer and mainly irrigated cropland. substitute-teaches in the winter. John, Sr., still lives on the family Irrigation practices have farm and helps out when needed. changed, as well, Dyck says. “We’ve always worked together,” Flood irrigation was replaced says John Jr. by irrigation wheels and the wheels were replaced by pivots. “It’s extremely dry here,” John says. “You couldn’t really grow The family has done its best to contribute to their local a crop here without irrigation. It’s a lot more efficient than it community over the years. Church, school and their children’s used to be. We’re growing better crops with less water.” sporting activities have kept them busy off the farm, but farming offers some unique parenting opportunities, too, Part of the increase in efficiency, Dyck says, came as the Dyck says. “When my children were younger, I’d be terribly result of an Environmental Farm Plan he created after taking busy, but they could come with me. There are a lot of teaching a course. Moving to low-pressure sprinklers improved water moments when they come to work with you.” conservation. “With the high-pressure lines we used to use, you could see water blowing off with the wind,” he recalls. John Dyck knows exactly what he likes best about farming. “Years ago we used to plow every acre, every year. This year we “Being your own boss is very appealing, and the satisfaction didn’t till one acre – everything was direct-seeded, right into you get from hard work when you can see the results. I love stubble.” More sophisticated seeding, fertilizing and spraying working outside, to watch a crop grow and then to harvest it technologies have also been adopted. is a really satisfying thing. I feel very blessed. I’m doing what I love with the people I love. I can’t imagine having to go to work About 40% of the Dyck farm is seeded for hard red spring every day and hating it. Every day I look forward to what I have wheat with another 20% in canola. For the last three years, to do the next day.”

7 Representing Vulcan County GROVES FAMILY Champion, Alberta

You could call Dale Groves something of a ‘middle man’ “We’re seeding everything every year,” Dale continues. when it comes to his family’s farm just east of Champion. Dale “Years ago it was half summer fallow and the land blew. It can look back two generations to his grandfather, who filed costs a lot more to farm now, because you have to fertilize homestead papers on the property in November of 1904 and heavily to get a good crop, seeding everything. The price of then returned from Wisconsin in the spring of 1905 to begin equipment is unreal. I told somebody, ‘I don’t need to go to farming, and he can look forward two generations to his own Vegas to gamble. I’m doing it every day!’” granddaughters and grandsons who are growing up on that Don’t expect to see Groves expanding much more. “My same land. grandfather had three quarters early on,” he says. “My father “We got our Century Farm award in 2005,” Dale says, expanded and my brother and I expanded. Now our kids have who’s been there for 73 years, himself. Other honours for the helped get some land in the last few years. We have guys who, Groves family are the Alberta Centennial Medal and Queen’s when they start seeding, have to go day and night. A lot of guys Diamond Jubilee want more and more, Medals for both Dale but that’s not for us. We and his daughter have enough to do with Kathy. For 2015, Dale what we have.” Groves Farms can add “My brother farmed one more title, as the with me for years,” Dale BMO Farm Family of remembers. “Since his the Year representing passing, my nephew Vulcan County. farms his land. We Diane, Dale’s operate the farms as wife, and an active one.” His own children participant in the all have off-farm jobs, farm, also has deep Dale says, but are always root in the Champion right there to help out area. The couple’s when needed. three children and For 46 years, Dale has been a member of the Champion their families all live nearby. “Our furthest daughter is 3 ½ Lions Club and has held various club offices both locally and miles away,” Dale notes. “Sometimes we see our grandkids regionally. He and the whole family have coached local sports daily.” and been involved in many community projects. Dale and The Groves farm today is quite a bit different from the Diane are recipients of the Friends of 4-H Award and all three original operation. “According to the homestead papers, they of the Groves children - Kathy, Brenda and Jeff – are active had everything,” Dale says. “Chickens, pigs, cows – and grain, in 4-H as well. “I’ve always felt, if I’m going to live here, I’m of course.” These days there aren’t many cows on the place, going to do what I can to make it a better place to live,” says just a few to graze on marginal land. This year Groves will seed Dale. about 5,600 acres, most of it deeded, in almost equal parcels “I’ve been farming all my life,” Dale says. “It’s a lifestyle I of durum and canola along with spring wheat and some always wanted. I got out of school and I thought I’d go to SAIT peas. “This is only our fourth year doing peas,” Dale says. “We and take Agricultural Mechanics, but first I thought I’d rest a watched our neighbours all around try them. They’re good for the land. The next year your crop is better on the pea stubble.” year. I’m still resting. I guess experience is a good teacher.” 8 Representing Municipal District of Willow Creek HALL FAMILY Stavely, Alberta

The Hall family’s tenure on their farm 12 miles east of Stavely now is definitely better,” Roy insists. “With the summer fallow, is coming up on the century mark. In 1980, Roy Hall purchased the land would blow when it got dry. That’s not a problem with the home section from his father Fred and, with his wife Karen, the no-till and minimum-till – and we grow more grain.” has grown the operation. When their three sons began to New technology like GPS guidance has helped, too, he notes. contemplate their futures, Roy and Karen set some conditions. “The best thing about it is for spraying. I don’t know how we did “All three wanted to farm and I said, ‘You can’t come back it without it. The days are easier. When you were having to drive until you have a trade,’” Roy says. “It would have been nice if I’d all day, by the end of the day you were plumb-tuckered. Now, had something to fall back on.” One son is now a journeyman with the GPS, you’re tired – but not like you used to be.” carpenter, one is a B Pressure Welder and the other is about to There are two big challenges for the modern farmer, Roy finish high school. Since all three sons have rented farmland, states. “Trained labour is hard to find. The equipment is too it looks likely that there will be a fourth generation of Halls expensive now to just turn anyone loose on it.” The other is the farming in the area. In fact, the boys’ roots in the area are not cost of production. “Just trying to own the equipment to get it just on one side as their all done on time is no different grandmother’s family, the than it’s always been, I guess. Ohlers, homesteaded before It’s just more money. I’m not the Halls even got there. making any more money than I The Hall operation is used to, but I’m handling twice a mixed ranching and as much.” farming enterprise. “Where The local rodeo committee, we are is quite sandy,” Roy pheasant derby, Elks Club and points out. “You have to be community hall board have diversified. There are guys all benefited from Hall family who are strictly farmers involvement over the years. “We try and do our part,” Roy says. around here, but we’ve always had both cattle and grain.” “People have to think about it and stay helping out or it all falls The Hall herd of 260 Black Angus-cross commercial cows apart.” is pastured on 2,600 acres, following a program of rotational Owning and working the same land that the Hall and Ohler grazing. Usually about 60 heifers are kept as replacements families started with is important to Roy. “It gives you that little and the rest of the calves are sold in the fall. “We don’t use any warm, fuzzy feeling,” he admits. “It’s nice that we’ve been able steroids or growth hormones or anything like that,” Roy says. to keep it, that’s for sure. It’s huge to see that it carries on. Our “I’ve done my part to keep it as natural as I can.” parents saw hard times and could have got out. They stuck with About 2,500 acres, half of them rented, are seeded in hard it and I have to do my part to see that it doesn’t happen.” Are red spring wheat, barley, peas and canola using zero-till the Hall sons as committed to the family’s heritage? Roy laughs, technology. The land is irrigated by five owned and six rented “They’d better be, or why am I hanging around?” pivots. Two of those pivots are on hayfields. “The way we farm

9 Representing Municipal District of Foothills HANSEN FAMILY Blackie, Alberta

The Hansen family of Blackie have seen their farm go in They also grow peas, and have for 12 years. “The first peas a lot of different directions over the years. The farm started I grew were just awful,” Rick recalls. “You couldn’t get them out as a half-section mixed operation that sustained the first hardly with a combine or swather. Now there’s better varieties Hansens, Jacob and Ida, through the Great Depression. Over that stand up better, and the equipment’s better, too. They’re the years, there have been milk cows, a 1200-hen laying barn, busy to grow. I wouldn’t want seven sections of peas.” a backgrounding feedlot, a purebred Angus herd and a farrow- One of the biggest challenges Rick sees farmers facing is to-finish hog operation. Each served its purpose, and then the simply being able to get enough land to stay profitable. “The family moved on. margins have gotten smaller, so you seem to have to do more The Hansens are the 2015 BMO Farm Family of the Year acres,” he says. The increasingly-sophisticated and expensive for the Municipal District equipment required to take of Foothills. The children advantage of modern farming growing up on the farm today techniques is something else are the fifth generation to he keeps an eye on. “Dad and enjoy that privilege. From Granddad could fix their own Jacob and Ida, Norwegian stuff. If you could weld, you could immigrants who met in keep stuff running if you had a Canada, to their son Harold little mechanical aptitude. We’re who succeeded them and getting technology-dependent. passed the torch to his sons My combine broke down last fall Rick and Doug and their and I came to discover it has eight children, some of whom computers!” now have families of their The Hansen family has a long own, the Hansens have adapted to changing conditions and history of serving the Blackie community. Every member can continued to move forward. point to contributions to the area’s wellbeing. Harold was An example of this forward-looking was Jacob’s purchase of President of the Chamber of Commerce. Three generations one of the first self-propelled combines in the area. “I don’t have served on the board of the Ag Society and family know if they were cutting-edge, but they were certainly near members have coached minor hockey and been part of various the front of the pack,” Rick says. “If there was a better way to agricultural organizations. It all goes with being part of a do something, they’d always get in on it.” The same attitude community, Rick says. “We’ve gone and helped neighbours on is helpful today, he adds. “You don’t need to be first out of the occasion and we’ve had to get helped on occasion. Nobody asks gate, but you need to get out of the gate.” for anything in return and nobody expects anything in return.”

The Hansens use no-till conservation technology to raise “One of the best things about farming is where you get to do it hard red spring wheat, barley and canola in approximately at, and you get to do it with good people,” Rick says. A busy time equal amounts on seven sections. “We’re in close proximity to like harvest, when everyone pitches in to work together, makes the feedlots around here,” Rick says. “We can grow barley and for very special memories. “Supper in the field is a special joy deliver it directly. They’re happy to get it and we’re happy to for farm families as stories are shared, children play in the have something that isn’t dependent on freight out to the coast.” stubble and everyone is energized for a long evening of work.”

10 Representing LONGEWAY (LEE) FAMILY Springbank, Alberta

One of the ironies of urbanization is that most cities started now the Chair of the committee. Both Debbie and her daughter out where they are because of the fertility of the surrounding Danielle, are untiring in their efforts to represent dairy farmers. countryside. As the city grows, it moves onto that once-productive “The reason I do this is because I know how hard the dairy guys farmland and buries it under suburbs, streets and industrial work on their farms and a lot of them are not able to get away to areas. “’s breathing down our necks,” says Debbie Lee do the educational stuff,” Debbie says. Mother and daughter are of her family’s Springbank farm. “Most of our neighbours are both spokespeople for Alberta Milk at Aggie Days and Ag-tivity in acreages with big houses on them.” the City.

Debbie’s grandfather, Howard, was the first member of the Although Rockyview Farms doesn’t produce milk anymore, Longeway family to come West from the Eastern Townships of there’s still lots going on. The family’s 290 acres are divided Quebec. After working in Alberta and Montana he convinced between hayland and pasture for the 35-cow commercial herd. his parents and their eight other children to make their way The herd has Pinzgauer roots with Black Angus influence and is to the Calgary area, which they did in 1910, purchasing a farm currently bred to Red Angus bulls. The steers are sold in the fall west of the city. In 1912, Howard purchased land just a half-mile with replacement heifers retained. There are also about a dozen away and the Longeways – the ewes of mostly North Country 2015 BMO Farm Family of the Cheviot stock. Lambs are raised Year for Rockyview County – are to market weight and then sold, still there. Still involved with the almost entirely by word-of-mouth. farm are Howard’s son Eric, his “It’s pretty much the same people daughter Debbie and son Ken, who buy them year-to-year,” and grandchildren Eric Longeway, Debbie says. Haying starts right Danielle Lee and Jeff Lee. after Stampede. “We do it in small batches because we like to feed From 1912 until 1994, the our animals high quality hay,” she Longeways’ holding, which they explains. There’s also a 600-hill potato patch in a corner of the called Rockyview Farm, was centred on a prize herd of Jersey farm that is mainly tended by 89-year old Eric and harvested by cattle supplying milk to a Calgary dairy. Springbank, Debbie family and friends. points out, once had the highest number of dairy farms of any community in Alberta. As the industry changed in terms of It might be difficult to find a community activity in Springbank regulation and the investment required and land prices rose, that hasn’t had, or doesn’t have, a member of the Longeway smaller producers were forced out by ever-higher costs. With family involved – and the family’s involvement with Stampede land in the area becoming increasingly expensive, Rockyview’s is longstanding and intense. “That’s the kind of people we are,” dairy herd was dispersed in 1994. “We just didn’t feel we had the Debbie says. “Even though you’re busy you still have to take time manpower or resources to continue on,” Debbie says. to give back to your community.”

While they were no longer milk producers, the Longeways were It wouldn’t be going too far to say that Debbie, and the a long way from being out of the dairy business. Eric showed his Longeway family, have a passion for agriculture. “I love working first dairy cattle at the Stampede in 1939 and joined the Stampede with animals,” Debbie says. “I love being outdoors and I love Dairy Cattle Committee in 1954 and stayed for 33 years. Debbie having my hands in the soil.” Danielle adds, “It’s a lot of fun being joined the committee in 1986, the first woman to do so, and is able to work alongside your family.”

11 Representing Municipal District of Pincher Creek MACKENZIE FAMILY Pincher Creek, Alberta

There is money to be made in the cattle business these days, genetics.” Brylor does a great deal of artificial insemination and but it isn’t economics that Sherry Mackenzie mentions when she some embryo transplants as they work to strengthen the breed. speaks of what appeals to her about rural life. Bryan has been honoured as the Canadian Livestock Man Sherry and her husband Bryan, along with their four children, of the Year and has twice been named Canadian Red Angus are the BMO Farm Family of the Year representing the Municipal Purebred Breeder of the Year. In 2001, Brylor produced the District of Pincher Creek. “For me, it’s the lifestyle – raising my Supreme Champion Bull at Agribition and has also won children this way,” says Sherry. “We’re extremely lucky to walk numerous honours at the Calgary Stampede and Farmfair. outside and see what we see – mountains, blue sky and red cows With four school-age children, it’s not surprising that the on green grass.” MacKenzies are heavily involved as both 4-H assistant leaders The red cows are the Mackenzie herd of purebred Red Angus and project leaders and in coaching various sports. They also – something of a family specialty, started a community charity, ‘Angels Within Sherry points out, since Bryan’s Us’ to help those in need in the Pincher Creek father, uncles and grandfather area. “It’s important to teach your kids a imported the first Red Angus little bit of selflessness and the importance of cattle to their Mountainview-area helping people around you,” Sherry insists. “It operation in 1962. Bryan’s father, keeps you in touch. It’s easy to be so busy that Mark, originally came to the you forget there are people who aren’t as lucky Pincher Creek area as a teacher, as you are.” but he met and married Edna – Brylor uses solar-powered pumps to move whose family ranched in the area. water from dugouts to drinking troughs. Not Mark and Edna had two sons, only does this prevent erosion, Sherry says. Bryan and Lorne, whose names “There’s nothing better for cows than clean were combined when Brylor water.” Ranch was founded in 1969. Lorne lives in Lethbridge and comes out It’s a good thing to respect nature, but what to the ranch whenever he can, do you do if nature doesn’t respect you? A while Bryan continues the family large local elk herd can make a big mess of the business. Although Bryan officially takes the lead, it doesn’t stackyards, she says. “There are definitely cougars and wolves take much persuading to get Mark to climb on a tractor and do and coyotes in the area. The bears are bad. Their numbers are feeding when necessary. definitely increasing. The grizzlies push out the black bears and the black bears get into our grain bins.” On one strongly- According to Sherry, “Anybody who knows Bryan knows there’s built bin, “It has the 4-H ration in there and they can smell the not a chance in the world he’d do anything else. He lives and molasses”, a bear pulled the door off its hinges and broke the breathes it.” Along with the Red Angus herd – 155 mother cows welds to get at the goodies inside. and 125 heifers on five sections of owned land and three that are leased – the family also operates Brylor Semen Sales. Bryan, It isn’t just feed that the predators consume, Sherry says. The Sherry says, attends many sales across the continent, “The gene family have lost animals in the past, but, “We just co-exist with pool for Red Angus is smaller, so he’s always looking for new them. They were here first.” 12 Representing Special Areas No. 3 MUNDT FAMILY , Alberta

Years ago, most farms were mixed farms, growing a variety tan cows.” The intense partisanship for one breed over another of crops and raising several different kinds of livestock. Most that is a feature of the cattle business isn’t helpful, Rob believes. farmers have gone away from that model, choosing to specialize “A pig’s a pig’s a pig’s a pig,” he says. “All the pig producers in whatever type of agriculture best suits their land and stand together. You get into cattle and you’ve got your different circumstances. brands and none of the cattle guys can get along. One guy’s is better than the other guy’s.” Then there is Twin R Ranching Ltd. and the Mundt family, the BMO Farm Family of the Year for 2015 representing Special There are still four horses on the farm, too, mainly for Areas No. 3. From 1959 on, when the first Mundt in Canada heritage and pleasure, Rob says, although, he points out, “If – Theodor – purchased a farm near Sibbald, the Mundts have your cows break out, you can’t go run around your neighbour’s operated a mixed farm. “Most farms in this area are mixed crop in a quad. That’s where the horses come in.” farms because we’re in the Special Areas and there’s a lot of Most of the work on the farm is done by Rob and Richard, but land that isn’t adaptable to farming,” explains Rob Mundt, who their nephews – the sons operates the farm with his of their brother Gary, who twin brother Richard. “It’s was lost in a farm accident really sandy. In the ‘30s in 2007 – help out in the this whole area blew away. summer and are active in They designated areas that 4-H. The twins’ sister, Deb, you can’t break up.” also owns some cattle and Over the years, the pastureland. Although Ted Mundt family operation passed away in 2012, his has grown to where today wife Hilda still lives on the they have 7,000 acres of farm and minds a small cropland, 10,000 acres of flock of chickens as well as pasture and 1,200 acres some other duties. in hay. They grow, Rob says, “a little bit of everything”, mainly Over the years, the family has participated in a wide variety durum and hard spring wheat, but also lentils, peas, canola and of local organizations, including 47 years with the Alsask barley for feed. Most of the hay they grow is for their own use. “A Lions Club. At present, Rob says, “We’re putting a big addition lot of years, you’re a little short on that,” Rob says. The Mundts onto the Sibbald Hall. Some people say, ‘There’s nobody here use direct seeding into about 5,000 acres of their cropland each anymore. Why are we doing this?’” As he sees it, Rob says, “If year, with the other portion chem-fallowed. “It doesn’t rain you have that kind of attitude, it will dry up.” much, so that’s kind of our crop insurance,” he notes. “You’ll get a little bit of a yield off chem-fallow.” The freedom of the farming lifestyle suits Rob and his family. “You’re your own boss,” he says, adding, “You’re producing On the livestock end, Rob says, “We have 400 cows and we food for others. You care for the animals as best you can. If you keep the calves over the winter, so we’re feeding around 800 didn’t give a hoot, it would probably show in the results. We’re usually.” The cattle are a Simmental/Charolais cross with some Red Angus added in if the cows get too white. “We just stick stewards of our land and our cattle.” with our tans,” he says. “There’s a pretty good premium on the

13 Representing Mountain View County OVERGUARD FAMILY Sundre, Alberta

It’s good to like what you do, and Dennis Overguard is about One of the biggest challenges facing farmers is financing, as happy as you can get about the way he’s been able to lead Dennis says. “We’re not a business that gets a monthly or his life. “I never had anything else that I wanted to do,” he weekly cheque. Usually it’s two or three times a year. That says. “Truthfully, I’ve never worked a day in my life. I always makes it really hard for cash flow. When I have three or four of found a way to make something fun, or a challenge, or a time the big tractors running, we’re pushing $1,500 a day, just for limit or whatever. I wouldn’t do anything else.” fuel.”

The Overguards have been ranching and farming in the With the James and Red Deer Rivers coming together on the James River area near Sundre for generations and are the 2015 property, protecting the riparian wetlands is a high priority BMO Farm Family of the Year representing Mountainview for Dennis, who has worked with Mountainview County, the County. University of Alberta and Ducks Unlimited on studies and plans. The first Overguards in the “If a person learns to work with area came up from South Dakota nature, you’re not fighting an in 1904 and were the first to uphill battle all the time,” he homestead west of the Red says. Fencing is used to prevent Deer River. Family lore says one the cattle from eroding the brother, who was a sea captain, riverbanks. “Our ground water directed them north across is good and it’s not deep. I try the prairie by using the wagon to use wells and solar pumping tongue and aligning it with the into troughs. When I was on the North Star every night. Cattle Commission, we did a lot of work with cottonwood trees Dennis Overguard, with his wife Joanne, is the fourth down by the river. It made a real difference. I believe that generation of the family to farm in the area. “I own the could be province-wide. The land’s been good to me. That’s original homestead,” he says. “It had changed hands a couple why I do so much with the environment.” of times, but I bought it back.” All four of their children “We like it when groups of kids come out and see how are actively involved in the farm and intend to expand the nature and wildlife and farming and ranching can all go Overguard Land and Cattle Company’s holdings of both land together,” Dennis says. “We have quite a few oil wells on our and cattle. place and I try and show the kids how we cooperate back and At present, the farm portion of the operation has about 800 forth for the benefit of everybody.” to 1,000 acres seeded in oats and barley – some of which goes As well as their conservation initiatives, the family have for feed. “Some of my land in this area is clay,” Dennis says. been very busy participating in community events in both “You have to work it a couple of times to get a good crop. On the Sundre and James River areas. From the Sundre District the black land, on the flats, I use the air seeder and zero till.” Chamber of Commerce and Sundre Economic Development The ranch has about 450 cows, mainly Black Angus and Committee to a variety of civic and professional organizations, Black White Face, supported by 2,400 acres of pasture and hay. the family has been quite prominent over the years. “I just Rotational grazing is used to protect the native vegetation and think maybe I can help out,” Dennis says. “I wish everyone wildlife. could enjoy their life as much as we enjoy ours.” 14 Representing MD of Taber PEPNECK FAMILY Vauxhall, Alberta

Every family has a story. For the Pepneck family, the 2015 mind taking on another challenge here or there,” Richard notes BMO Farm Family of the Year for the MD of Taber, the story – the farm’s main focus is durum and spring wheat, hemp, starts with the odyssey of Peter Pepneck, Sr. who was born in sugar beets and seed canola. The mile of isolation required by Russia and came to Canada with his widowed mother in 1929. this last crop demands a fair bit of planning, Richard says. “We While they went first to Saskatchewan, when Pepneck’s mother have very good relations with most of our neighbours, and it remarried in 1940, they found themselves in Vauxhall. In 1949, helps to have one and sometimes two boundaries of river in Peter married Sonja and started farming on what the family call some areas.” the home quarter. Today, Peter’s grandson David and his wife The sugar beets, too, require special attention. Pepneck Anna occupy the farmhouse where the first Pepnecks raised Farms was among the first Canadian their family. users of striptill tillage. “It’s just Over the years, the family starting here in Canada in the sugar have added eighteen more beet industry,” Richard explains. quarter-sections as the farm’s “We deeptill only a strip and put the focus adapted to a changing fertilizer in. You can’t no-till sugar agricultural industry. In the beets, they’re a very fragile crop. early days, all six Pepneck Striptill protects the crop from wind children – Helga, Peter, Lillian, erosion, which is huge problem Richard, Harvey and Heidi because we’re on very sandy land.” – were expected to help out In only their second year of using the as soon as they were able. “I technology, Richard notes, they made was driving a tractor before I the top grower list for the industry. was six,” Richard remembers. Members of the Pepneck family enjoy a tradition of Although farm work was important, so was school. “We were all involvement in their local communities. School, church and encouraged strongly to get a post-secondary education,” says charitable groups have always been supported with enthusiasm, Richard, who has a degree in physics. All three sons returned to as have a large number of agricultural commissions and the farm and continue to operate it today. organizations. “It’s part of social responsibility,” Richard says, Beginning as a mixed farm with cattle, hogs, chickens and a pointing out that Peter, Sr. served on first the hospital board few sheep as well as a variety of crops, the livestock component and then on the school board. “Dad was an example to us. It was began to dwindle until it disappeared entirely about 2007. That just assumed that we would participate.” was the same year that the farm, which had moved through The Pepneck family also has a strong sense of their role as the usual cycles of irrigation technology, became 100% pivot- food producers. “If you’re combining 1,000 bushels an hour, irrigated. Good planning enabled them to install pivots that that equates to 60,000 pounds of wheat and that equates to were rather larger than the norm, which made adaptation to the latest low-pressure techniques much easier. Today the farm about 45,000 loaves of bread,” Richard says. boasts five quarter-section fields irrigated solely by gravity aThe best thing about farm life, Richard says, is the pressure and without a main pump. independence. “You have the freedom that comes from being Although they have grown a wide variety of crops over the on your own land and being your own boss. Our challenge is to years - “Irrigation allows for a lot of diversification and we don’t beat nature, not to beat our neighbour.” 15 Representing Special Areas No. 2 QUAST FAMILY Hanna, Alberta

The railroad played a big part in the opening of the West, rotationally. “If you want that grass to be there, you have but for Glenn Quast’s great-grandfather, it didn’t go quite to manage it,” Glenn says. Berry Creek runs through their far enough. That first Canadian Quast came all the way from property, he notes. “Along that creek grows that lush blue Bessarabia, then part of Russia. After a year in Calgary, he grass. They say the cattle from this area are superior because took a homestead in the Spondin area between Hanna and of that sort of grass. It’s really good. A lot of the grass to the Coronation. According to the family story, Glenn says, “The west, once it freezes, it’s done. There’s no nourishment left railroad only went as far as Castor in those days. They came in it. If we have the right amount of moisture, we can pasture to Castor and then walked down to find their homestead – this grass until the snow flies.” probably 40-some miles.” The right amount of moisture is, of course, the big question That long slog in 1910 paid off, as the Quasts are the 2015 in the Special Areas. “My uncle always says, ‘You’re only ever BMO Farm Family of the Year a week away from a drought’,” says for Special Areas No. 2 with five Glenn. “Some days you wonder if you generations having farmed in want to do it another day – then it rains, the area. The family operates on and you’re OK.” ’15 or 16 sections’ divided almost The Quasts keep active in their equally between ranching and community with commitments farming. Glenn and his brother including the Spondin Agricultural Brian are responsible for the Society, coaching with Hanna minor cattle while, Oscar, their father, hockey, 4-H and high school rodeo as focuses on farming. well as other school sports. “A lot of the “Out here, it’s real marginal time there isn’t the time you’d like to land. Some of it should probably have, but you have to make it work,” never have been farmed,” Glenn says. “On the farm, you can work Glenn says. “The stuff that’s 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but real marginal, we just leave it you have to take some time for yourself alone and run cattle. The land and your family.” that will blow, we’ve seeded that Commodity price fluctuations are one of the biggest back to alfalfa and crested wheat. The land that’s arable, we challenges farmers face, Glenn says. “There’s such big swings farm.” The main crops are hard red spring wheat, barley, in grain prices from year to year. You can’t depend on a oats and, for the first time, peas. The Quasts use a mixture certain price.” The cost of equipment is a big concern, as is the of direct seeding with minimal tillage, chem-fallowing and increase in transportation costs now that the railroad is no conventional tillage. “Some of this land is not really meant for longer available to get products to market. “We’re hauling our the zero till. You can get three or four years out of it and then grain 100 miles to an elevator,” Glenn points out. you have to do a year of conventional tillage. It gets so hard that it just won’t produce what the good land does,” Glenn The Quasts’ goals for the future are to keep the farm explains. sustainable for the next generation by soil conservation, water The Quast cattle are a Charolais-based commercial herd management and preserving native grass in its original state. of about 200 cows pastured on native grass and grazed 16 Representing Starland County RIGGS FAMILY Morrin, Alberta

Many of the first settlers in Alberta weren’t farmers at all. About 4,000 acres are seeded every year using no-till Albert Riggs, a carpenter from Toronto, brought his wife and technology and GPS guidance for seeding, spraying and daughter to the Morrin area about 1910 and worked in the fertilizer. Usual crops are canola, wheat and barley, although area before setting up a homestead east of the village. Albert some flax is being grown this year. Summer fallowing was likely had some help, as his wife Margaret (nee Stauffer) had normal practice for many years, but the family tries to keep two brothers who had preceded them to the area. Morrin up with current evolutions in agricultural technology and wasn’t even Morrin back then. Its original name was Blooming practices. One advantage, Deb notes, is their land. “Right Prairie. around here, our soil is gumbo that retains the moisture.”

Five generations on, the Terry’s main focus is the farm, family still owns the original as he worked with Lloyd and Vern homestead, and Riggs and has spent his life on the land. Farms has also acquired the Troy is a heavy duty mechanic, former Stauffer property and his son is following in his along the riverbank, as well footsteps, so the farm’s machinery as other land. For 2015, the is kept in top operating condition Riggs family are the BMO at all times. Every family member Farm Family of the Year does their part in the myriad tasks representing Starland County. that keep a farm functioning – especially when there is a crop to The Riggs family have be harvested. always had multiple generations involved in the operation of the farm. At present, Something the Riggs family believes in strongly is farm Terry and Lisa – the fourth generation members of the family safety, Deb points out. “Dad believed you stopped and came to – and their spouses Brenda and Troy Wolf, take the leadership the house for dinner and supper. You took a half-hour to get role in the business and have since their father, Vern and his refreshed. People that are out there steady without stopping uncle Lloyd both passed away in the early ‘00s. Shirley, Terry run a greater risk of something happening. Lack of sleep leads and Lisa’s mother, Shirley, and Deb, their sister, are still on to accidents.” There is, Deb adds, not much lingering at the the farm, too. The fifth generation, the children of Troy and table when the combine’s in the field. Lisa, are beginning to take on more responsibilities. The family has always played their part in the Morrin It was Vern’s intention to re-name the farm ‘Topkick Farms’. community. The Agricultural Society, Community Association, In his honour, the family installed a sign with that name on Fire Department, Lions Club, Seniors Society and a variety of it on a big rock at the farm entrance, and Troy and Lisa Wolf sporting associations have all received enthusiastic support operate under that name, while Terry and Brenda continue and volunteer time from the Riggs family. They are also as Riggs Farms Ltd. Deb notes that, although there may be involved in the MS Society of Canada. “Mom and Dad were two names on it, the farm is operated and managed as one very involved and they instilled that in us,” Deb says. “Various operation. members of the family have had something to do with every organization around Morrin. We try and do whatever we can.”

17 Representing Lethbridge County TAYLOR FAMILY Lethbridge, Alberta

According to Darren Taylor, you won’t drive east out of and boy, did I get some lessons.” A good crop, he says, usually Lethbridge very far before you are driving past one of his fields. requires tillage because of the residue, but this year the winter DRT Farms Ltd. operates on 2,500 rented acres divided up into wheat was direct-seeded into the canola stubble. “I’ve tried to do 21 fields. Darren and Kimberly Taylor are the BMO Farm Family a little more research and take a little more time. I like to think of the Year representing Lethbridge County for 2015. I’m on the cutting edge of technology. We enjoy working with the research scientists to see how different practices affect the yield Edward Taylor, Darren’s grandfather, was originally a miner. and health of crops.” When coal prices went down, Edward started farming south of Foremost and never went underground again. Darren laughs Among the projects Darren has been involved with are that his father didn’t have a high regard for Edward’s farming variable rate research with Farming Smarter and co-operating a skills but between Edward and his brother, “They could shovel canola plot for Dow AgroSciences. The farm is also a Agronomy a whole railcar of grain by themselves.” Darren’s father Ray Demo Super Site for Ducks Unlimited. moved from Foremost and began farming a very large tract on When Ray retired, Darren’s other the Blood Reserve. Since he had to company – Taylor Harvesting – found have a lot of equipment to operate itself in possession of the shop that used on such a big scale, Ray soon found to service the harvesters and a trucking himself running a custom harvesting company as well as a 600,000 bushel business that he passed on to Darren grain storage facility. An agreement has not long after Darren graduated from been reached with a company just getting Lethbridge College with a degree in into the Canadian grain business to use Agricultural Technologies. the storage facility, and Taylor Harvesting By 2010, Darren decided he had to is also receiving, storing and distributing make a choice as conditions changed fertilizer for Richardson Pioneer. Darren in the harvesting business. I had been says that a friend has half-jokingly fortunate and had a couple of good suggested that the company motto for years farming and I was absolutely Taylor Harvesting should be ‘We Do It All’. not going to erode my equity Darren is quick to point out that the farm is a family business. subsidizing my harvesting business.” Over half of the Taylor Kimberly has a BSc in Agricultural Biotechnology and a BMgt in farm is in winter wheat with the about 300 acres in canola and Business. Although Ray is formally retired, he and his wife Faye 400 in barley. “I have a nasty quarter where I can’t grow a good are always ready to lend a hand at harvest time and to serve as crop. I never thought I’d be a hay farmer, but I put it in alfalfa. a sounding board for new ideas. Darren’s nephew has worked I get it custom-harvested – which goes against every fibre of my on the farm both as school work experience and during the body,” he jokes. summer. “There are irrigation farmers and there are farmers who The season nature of agriculture is a big part of its charm, irrigate,” Darren says. “I fell into the second category for quite Darren says. “I like that there’s a finish line in farming. I love the a while. It was a heck of a learning curve going from being a dryland farmer – no-till, conserve moisture and don’t work variety.” up anything – to tillage. I had to change my farming practices

18 Representing County of THOMPSON FAMILY , Alberta

They aren’t quite as numerous as they used to be, but the Bar XT also has enough pasture for about 75 cow-calf pairs. family of J. R. and Nicki Thompson is still farming the same The Thompsons ran a small herd until about 3 years ago. “I land their ancestors did, and still looking to the future. The sold them to my father-in-law,” J. R. says. “He’s a big cowboy. Thompsons of Spring Coulee are the BMO I just focus on grain right now until my boys get a little older.” Farm Family of the Year for 2015. J. R. and Nicki’s five children are all interested in the farming, he says. “They love to get out and help. Now they’re starting to It only took one Thompson brother to come to Southern drive trucks and tractors.” Alberta in 1902 and see the area’s potential. He sent word back to Iowa and the rest of his brothers headed north, including J. A house full of school-age children usually makes for lots R.’s great-grandfather, John. “They owned a whole township in of school and community involvement and the Thompsons the Spring Coulee area,” J. R. says. “We’re the only ones left. I are no exception. Nicki volunteers with the school and grew up in the same farmyard as Grandma and Grandpa and sports teams while J. R. is on the board of the Spring Coulee now I live in their house. Mom and Dad are still in the house I seed cleaning plant and the Magrath Co-op. Central to grew up in, 400 feet away.” the family’s commitment to the community is their “I just knew from a very involvement with their young age that I wanted to church, J. R. states. “When farm,” J. R. says. His father you get to know people was a lawyer, and operated the and work with them and farm, too, so J. R. was given serve with them, you grow responsibility quite early. a special bond,” he says. “Right when I graduated, he The Thompsons have been said, ‘I ‘m ready to let you take very involved in previous over’.” J. R. recalls. “I could see generations, too, with J. R.’s the pressure of Dad’s busy law grandfather serving two terms practice and him trying to keep the farm going. I started right as an M.L.A. out of high school and was able to expand a little and then a little more. I learned by doing and it seems like I’m learning Although the equipment and technology deployed something every year.” in modern farming is a big change from the past, the fundamentals are the same, J. R. says. “It’s growing a plant in Operating as Bar XT farms, the Thompsons seed 4,200 acres the dirt and relying on moisture and sunshine.” Bar XT also in hard red spring wheat, feed barley and canola in equal has about 40 laying hens and J. R. thinks he might increase proportions. Minimum tillage is used rather than no-till. “We that part of the operation at some point in the future. just knife in some fertilizer in the fall and a narrow opener with our seed in the spring,” J. R. says. “We try and keep straw The cycle and rhythm of farming is what J. R. finds most and trash in place. We’re tried no-till but we found that our appealing, he says. “I love the seasons – even in winter when ground down here was always cold in the springtime. If we you’re out hauling grain in the fresh snow. In spring you’ve just open it up a little bit in the fall, it helps to warm the land got the fresh grass. In the summer you’ve got the heads of the up. We’re close to the mountains and 3,700 feet up.” wheat and barley and the canola flowers waving, and in the fall – that beautiful stubble field. I love it all.”

19 Representing 40 Mile County VAN ROESSEL FAMILY , Alberta

It might take a village to raise a child but, according to Will customers. Van Roessel, it takes a community to raise hybrid canola seed. All the fields intended for hybrid canola one year are Van Roessel and his wife Jean own Specialty Seeds Ltd. in Bow inspected the previous year. The mile of isolation from other Island and they are the 2015 BMO Farm Family of the Year for canola that is required can make things pretty complicated. the County of 40 Mile. “A lot of planning goes into the rotation,” Will says. “We try Van Roessel grew up in the Bow Island community on a family to maximise the hybrid canola acres and then all the other farm. His family came from Holland in 1956 and worked in the acres we fit in whatever else will grow. We grow as much as we area until they could purchase land of their own in 1960. Twenty can working ourselves with my brother and the neighbours.” years later, having just graduated from the University of Alberta Sometimes, he adds, the neighbours are part of the planning with a degree in Agriculture, Will rented a quarter-section from process to put crops being grown for the same company nearby. a neighbour and put a used Some of the land is direct- pivot on it. In his second year seeded and tillage is reduced on his own, he decided to try as much as possible. The Van the seed business. “Staring Roessels have also experimented out with a small amount of with variable rate irrigation. We’ve land, I was looking for ways to made great strides in conserving increase the yield per acre. At water for irrigation and also in that time there was a demand water placement – reducing the for a certain type of wheat in runoff and losses from drowning our area,” he remembers. “It out in low spots,” claims Will. was soft white spring wheat. We grew it for years.” Both Will and Jean work with Bow Island community organizations like the Chamber of “You have to start with a higher generation of seed. I bought Commerce and the Figure Skating Club as well as a variety of some registered seed from another seed grower that I grew to growers’ associations. For six years, they have hosted a customer produce certified seeds. Certified is the level most commercial appreciation dinner to showcase the farm and its products. farmers buy.” In 1993, Will married Jean – also a U of A Agriculture graduate. “Until that time, I was only growing about While Will enjoys the business aspect of what he does, the one field of seed per year. In 1995, we geared all of our acres best thing about farming is quite simple, he says. “I just like to seed production,” recalls Will. In 1999, the couple started being out in the field, planting a crop and watching it grow and Specialty Seeds Ltd. then harvesting a good crop.”

The Van Roessels usually have between 1,500 and 1,800 acres “You have to work together with your neighbours, with in production. “It varies a bit from year to year,” Will says. “We the seed companies, leafcutter bee operators and honey bee trade some land with neighbours and rent some land.” The operators to make the whole thing work. I have a neighbour who likes to grow edible beans, so we often trade. I grow hybrid reason for the changes is that the farm’s main product canola on one of his fields and he grows a circle of beans in my these days is hybrid seed canola along with some hemp that is grown under contract to seed companies. Wheat, durum and field and we both feel like we came out ahead.” yellow peas are also grown for Specialty Seeds Ltd.’s own retail 20 Representing Wheatland County WALKER FAMILY Nightingale, Alberta

Southern Alberta has lots of ranching families, and plenty of on how dry conditions are, Dale continues. “Lots of times we do farmers, but not many have much experience raising turkeys. a harrowing and then direct seed. If it’s dry, you have to work a Since 1960, the Walker family of Nightingale have been in the couple of inches just to work in the manure and organic matter turkey business and they still are today, along with a wide variety and then it’ll be loosened up enough to seed. of other crops and animals. For 2015, the Walkers are the BMO The sheep sometimes graze on a small parcel of land but mainly Farm Family of the Year for Wheatland County. are fed year-round. Grazing sheep require close attention, Dale The Walkers have been in the Nightingale area, about 20 miles notes. “You have to watch them or they’ll turn it into gravel.” northeast of Strathmore, since 1913. In 1960, Ernest Walker A growing market for lamb has made sheep an increasingly- purchased a farm just south of profitable sideline, he says. the family’s original place that The turkeys are most in is the core of today’s Walker demand at Christmas with Farms operation. Originally it many purchased by local was just turkeys and grain. As companies to give out as gifts. the years went on, Ernest and Some are donated to local Joyce’s son Dale and his wife charities for draws. The broiler Michelle have expanded the chicken operation seemed to farm both in acreage and in be a logical development of the what it produces. The family’s turkey business and is growing eldest daughter, Brittany, is nicely. “There’s lots of interest. a graduate of Olds College and is now fulltime on the farm. Dale People like fresh chickens,” Dale says. “They’re not hard to sell.” says she is a big help with her knowledge of upt-to-date farming techniques. The other two Walker children are just finishing their The Nightingale community hall has enjoyed long support schooling, Breanne is taking a nursing degree and Braden will be from the Walkers, as have a long list of community and church a heavy-duty mechanic and hopes to set up his own shop on the charitable activities. Her volunteer work won Joyce a Queen’s farm. Each of the three has their own cattle herd. Jubilee Medal in 2003. Ernest was a founding member of the Rosebud Gas Co-op and Dale succeeded to his place on the About 1,000 acres of cropland is seeded in hard red spring board in 2014. Michelle has been very involved with local school wheat, barley and canola. Peas are also sometimes part of the programs. rotation. Peas are a fairly new addition, Dale says, and the family is still learning the finer points of growing them. Another 750 Looking into the future, plans include expanding the land base acres is in hay and there are 850 acres of pastureland with 380 and cattle herd. Growth in direct-to-consumer marketing will Angus-cross cows. Another part of the farm’s activities is the flock achieve another goal - seeing their products go straight to the of sheep – about 100 Suffolk-Dorset cross ewes. There are about consumer. Key to that vision, Dale says, is having the family all 300 turkeys, several hundred broiler chickens and 90 laying hens. working together. The cattle are put on pasture in the spring and, after harvest, they go onto the cropland. “That’s where they get fed for the winter. They calve in the cropland and then go out to pasture,” explains Michelle. How the land is prepared for seeding depends

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