BARRHEAD, Alta. — A Barrhead, Alta., farm couple has found a unique use for a 24 metre concrete silo.
Wendy and Randy Lotholz are third generation farmers who raise beef cattle. In 1974, the silo was erected to hold silage for the dairy the family operated at the time.
Randy recalls the crew of eight coming out to erect the imposing structure, one tongue and groove concrete block at a time.
“It took them about a week,” he said.
Because of its height and location at the top of a rise, the silo became an instant landmark. It has been empty since the family sold its dairy herd.
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“It isn’t any good for grain storage,” said Randy, who noted it’s too small to store feed for the current herd.
Wendy said some visitors like to climb up to get a view of the surrounding countryside and it does provide shade on a hot day.
“It’s a great landmark for helping strangers find our farm, and the pigeons seem to enjoy the penthouse view,” she said.
About 11 years ago, they erected a lit star at Christmas time. The silo was the perfect place to hang it.
“The X is the Greek symbol for Christ,” Wendy said of her star and cross design.
Randy built it out of square tubing about two metres high. To install it, he climbs the ladder to the top with a rope attached to his waist, then hauls the star up from there.
“The first few years, we used the big bulbs, and often some would burn out before the Christmas season ended,” said Randy, who made the switch to LED lights four years ago.
Four kilometres away, Walter and Barbara Boss’s farm also features a highly visible Christmas star for passersby. This one shines in remembrance of their daughter, Lorelea, who died suddenly at age 20.
She had asked her father to make a large lit star as her Christmas gift. That year, the family felt Christmas was becoming too commercialized and wanted their children to make gifts to exchange with one another.
On a frigid Christmas Eve in 1990, Walter recalled assembling aluminum tent poles and the star Lorelea had created. They put lights on it and hung it from a flagpole in their yard.
“Lorelea later said it was the best Christmas she ever had,” Barbara said.
Walter has since added a cross in the centre of the star in remembrance of Lorelea and a strobe light.
