It turns out a century award isn’t long enough for some Alberta operations.
So last year, the province came up with a new award to recognize farm families who have continuously owned and actively operated the same land for 125 years or more.
Antler Valley Farm, north of Innisfail, received the 125 Year Recognition last summer. Ephriam McAllister started the farm in 1890.
“On July 10, it will be 129 years,” said Wade McAllister, who along with his brother Scott are the fifth generation running the farm. “The farm was started by a man I will never know, but I think if he were to look at us now he would be pretty proud.”
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“My grandpa will be 87 this year, and he still comes out to the farm quite frequently. My dad is still here, and my brother and I are fifth. I have two daughters, so the sixth generation is well on its way. Three of the six generations all live in the same yard together so that is pretty special, too.”
Last year, 33 farm families received the Century Farm and Ranch Award — or its 125 Year cousin. The oldest operations date back to 1885.
Applications can be found at the Alberta Agriculture website on its searchable database. You can search the year of the award, the year the operation was established, municipality or community, or family name.
There are 30 operations that have received the century award that was started in the 1880s.
