Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s the time of year when people who are already very famous are given awards in big splashy ceremonies. But while the Oscars, Grammys and the rest are a lot of fun, the really important people in our communities are the ones who quietly make contributions at the grassroots level. There are, of course, more […] Read more
They don’t walk down red carpets, but they’re truly stars
Level-headed thinking — not unbridled anger — builds prosperity
The U.S. situation is a lesson on what happens when people can no longer see other points of view
Reading Time: 2 minutes Our closest, most important social and economic neighbour is having a rough time right now. As Canadians and members of the agriculture sector, we need to pay closer attention to it. That doesn’t mean speculating on how we might be economically impacted either. We need to watch the United States and learn what happens when […] Read more
Temper tantrums aren’t just someone having a bad day
It may seem like someone has a short fuse but there’s usually a long list of reasons behind a blowup
Reading Time: 3 minutes A conflict in itself is often not the root of the problem. I waited in a return line as the person in front of me argued about her bill. The staff person was unable to respond in a way that was satisfactory and the customer started shouting. Management was called and the young staff member […] Read more
Want a great big show of community spirit with that?
‘Fry Day’ fundraiser keeps medevac service in the air — and gives community a chance to show its generous spirit
Reading Time: 4 minutes They figured their fundraising goal was hugely ambitious — but boy were they wrong. “As I pulled into the dealership at 7:30, there were cars lined up already, and we weren’t starting until 9,” said Steven Dyck, president of Western Tractor. “It was literally to the point where they were lined up down the highways. […] Read more
Our animals give us such a precious gift
We have something very special when we share our lives with companion and food animals
Reading Time: 3 minutes I was visiting with a friend who has had a rough life. His mother and dad worked hard to provide, but they did not know how to love each other or their children. Babies were not rocked or held, and little ones were on their own. There was never a goodnight kiss, a story, a […] Read more
Getting past the walls that we build around ourselves
Our lives change in profound ways when we reach out to others — and let them reach out to us
Reading Time: 3 minutes I am flipping through the photos of this past year. It has been an amazing time for me. Blessed at every juncture, I have been filled with light and love and pure joy. Despite huge and heartbreaking challenges, each day was worthy of this page, each moment a cherished memory. It was a lovely meshing […] Read more
Double win for Alberta Farmer writers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Farmer columnist Brenda Schoepp and reporter Jennifer Blair have been honoured at the country’s premier agricultural journalism awards program. Schoepp won silver in the Press Column category for Temper Tantrums: There’s way too much drama on some farms, which ran in the Nov. 6, 2017 edition of the paper. Blair, a multiple past winner, […] Read more
Hoe, hoe, hoe — guess what gardeners want from Santa?
Here are some gift ideas for folks with green thumbs
Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s a long way off to gardening season, but Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has several publications that might be a perfect fit for the gardener on your Christmas list. Alberta Yards and Gardens ($15): unbiased information on selecting ornamental trees and shrubs, lawns, small fruits and berries, flowers, vegetables, herbs and even water plants. The […] Read more
An act of kindness fills the human spirit and ripples outward
They often come out of nowhere and when they are most needed — and their power to uplift is deep and strong
Reading Time: 3 minutes It was the usual day. Get up early, study the markets, check on the cattle, fix fence, make a sandwich, and then go out and do it all again. Going to town or taking time to do things in the home were privileges, stretched out on the horizon and always seemingly days or months away. […] Read more
Age certification for cattle no longer required
Reading Time: < 1 minute The age certification requirement for cows being sold to U.S. buyers has been lifted. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recently agreed to the change as the number of cattle born prior to March 1, 1999 has dwindled to virtually nothing. While it remains a requirement that the cattle be born before then, […] Read more
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