New Century Farm and Ranch Award recipients

Over 50 farm families have been awarded Century Farm and Ranch awards in 2021.

The Millarville Ag Society, recipient of a 2021 Ag Society Innovation Award, recently hosted Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen, as he presented 3 Alberta farm families with Century Farm and Ranch Awards – the Herman and Barbara Praeker family, the K. Glenn Wills family, and the Stuart and Ruby Sinclair-Smith family.

The Praeker family operates a 4000-acre cow/calf, grain and oilseed farm at Strathmore. The original quarter section was purchased in 1918 through a general land sale by William Herman Praeker.

The K. Glenn Wills family was also awarded the 125 Year Farm Recognition Certificate for having continuously owned and actively operated the same land for 125 years or more. The Wills family operates a 320-acre mixed farm at Springbank. The original quarter section was homesteaded by George Searle Wills in 1892.

The Sinclair-Smith family operates a 920-acre cattle and hay ranch in Millarville. Francis Sinclair-Smith purchased the original quarter section in 1908 through the Soldier Settlement Board.

The Alberta Century Farm and Ranch Award recognizes farm families who have continuously owned and actively operated the same land for 100 years or more. Successful applicants will receive a custom made, cast bronze plaque to mark this significant milestone.

Since the program’s inception in 1993, over 1900 farm families have received Century Farm and Ranch Awards, 54 in 2021.