Representing Cardston County NELSON FAMILY Cardston, Alberta

Work hard, play hard and remember who you’re doing it for. looking after the family, so it was time to do something for her, That’s how Gordon Nelson lived his life and his spirit lives on in and for him, too.” his family. The pair moved to Cardston, but spent half the year in At one point, Gordon and his three sons — Ford, Kash and Arizona, where they pursued their love of golf and made Bart — farmed 16,000 acres in the area west of Lethbridge. wonderful friends. Gordon passed away in 2012 and Rae now lives in Lethbridge. Cole learned much from his grandfather, “If it wasn’t for Gordon and my dad, Ford, we wouldn’t be who was a “real character.” farming today. They set everyone up for success,” says Cole Nelson. “Family was very “I learned to work hard, important to him and my to be honest,” he says. “He Dad. Gordon would say also said that farming is don’t let the farming get not as fun as it used to be, in the way of what you’re that he could make some doing it for, and that was mistakes and still be okay. his family, his three sons ‘With you guys, there is not and daughter.” much room for error. When you have to be that on it, it The family’s history in takes some of the fun out of Alberta started in 1902 the game.’ ” when Nels and Tomine Nelson came from Idaho In 1983, Ford and to the Kimball area. Son Darlene and their children, Edgar, known as Ted, acquired his home section in 1927 near Sacha and Cole, moved to the Woolford area. The family was Kimball. He and wife Elizabeth raised their family on the mixed involved in 4-H, hockey and upgrading the arena. Cole took farm, which included one of the first purebred Hereford herds part in the Cardston Ag Society, AQHA youth shows and NRHA in the district. Sons Edgar and Gordon farmed with him. events. In 2007, Ford and Darlene moved to Cardston, and Cole and his wife, Tanya, moved to the homeplace. In 1950, Gordon married Rae Marie Bradshaw. He worked with his dad for a decade before buying a section near The BMO 2020 Farm Family for the M.D. of Cardston grows Owendale. In 1971, he and his three sons rented 12,500 acres dryland grain and oilseed on 4,000 acres in a partnership on the Blood Reserve, farming it until 1985. At one time, the between Ford and Darlene and Cole and his wife, Tanya. family — including daughter Shannon — worked 16,000 acres. When the couple’s daughters, Haley, 21, and Falen, 17, were That included 12 sections Gordon bought and rented to his sons. younger, the family was involved in dance and music, among Ford and his wife, Darlene, moved to the homeplace in Jefferson other activities. Falen remains active in singing and talent in 1972. competitions. Cole, who broke his first horse when he was seven, is now in the cutting horse industry. He and Tanya plan “Gordon was one of the biggest farmers in Western Canada in on more time with their horses when they eventually retire the 1970s and ’80s, but he decided to let the boys take the reins from farming. when he was only 58,” Cole says. “Grandma’s life was all about