AF CONTRIBUTOR
Matt and Tara Sawyer sound a little embarrassed to be singled out as this year’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) for the Alberta/NWT Region.
Both say they don’t think they’re any different from their neighbours but are thrilled by the honour.
“In our community there are so many good farmers,” says Matt, 39. “I would never go around thinking we’re the best for the year. We all share ideas.”
Part of their delight in winning the award was having their three children at the ceremony at the Olds College Alumni Centre on March 17.
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“It’s the kids’ hard work, too,” says Tara, 34. “This shows them hard work pays off. They thought it was the coolest thing. It was a very special two days, for sure. I’m excited with this whole year.”
The couple will travel to Brandon, Manitoba in November for the national award ceremony.
Born in Calgary, Tara spent an active childhood outdoors, so she was primed to fall in love with farm life after meeting Matt on a blind date 15 years ago.
Matt incorporated his Acmearea farm in 1993 on land his great-grandfather homesteaded 90 years earlier. His parents were still farming their portion, so he bought acreage from his aunt and uncle, who were retiring.
From his original quarter section and small herd of cows, the Sawyers’ holdings have grown to 2,400 acres of wheat, barley, some hay, and canola, along with around 1,800 acres of pasture for their cows, owned plus leased. The land holdings are all contiguous.
“It’s really nice to have everything tied together. It’s very efficient,” says Matt.
The year he incorporated, Matt also graduated from Olds College in agricultural management (production, with a major in business). He credits Olds with very practical training, but says his volunteer involvement in agriculture organizations keeps him abreast of industry advances.
Matt serves as the chair of the Alberta Barley Commission (ABC) and as its representative to the Grain Growers of Canada. He’s just been to the Canada Grains Council session in Winnipeg on behalf of ABC, and he’s also secretary-treasurer of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association.
“The amount of information soaking into my thick skull really enhances what I do on the farm,” he says. “I have gained a vast network of brilliant people. You have to work extra hard to get away from the farm (for the meetings), but I wouldn’t trade the things I’ve learned and the people I’ve met.”
And lest you think Tara is sitting at home knitting and pining for him while he’s enjoying the excitement of making a presentation to the House of Commons standing committee on agriculture and agri-food last May, consider this: Having commuted to Calgary for several years to work as a legal secretary, she now proudly calls herself a stay-at-home mom and farm wife. In addition to farm work, she volunteers at her children’s school, coaches soccer, and hosts international farm groups with her catering business, which highlight the foods she grows in her kitchen garden. She says she believes service clubs are the lifeblood of small-town life and for the next couple of years will be leading the Alberta Royal Purple Lodges Association. Royal Purple is the sister organization to the Acme Elks Lodge No. 216, which Matt leads. Tara works everything in around her children: Emmett, turning 11, is in Grade 5; Cassie, nine, in Grade 3; and Quin, seven, Grade 1.
“Our kids know what it takes to get food on the table,” says Tara. “We’re teaching them to appreciate the land, to work hard, to be honest, good people.”
Matt says he excited about advances in traceability and the challenge for agriculture to grow as much food in the next 20 years as it has produced in the last 10,000.
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TARA SAWYER
“It’sthekids’hard work,too.Thisshows themhardworkpays off.Theythoughtit wasthecoolestthing.”
