BENTLEY, Alta. —Bud Taylor doesn’t have to be told twice to go fly a kite. He’s been passionate about it since childhood. The Kite Guys store and studio he owns and operates with Sharon Musto in central Alberta is the culmination of that pursuit. There are thousands of kites in the 2,500 sq. foot store, […] Read more
Farm Living
School picnics were time for games and treats
The entire community gathered for a day of three-legged races, ball games and ice cream — if the weather co-operated
A few days before the big event, the caretaker was busily rounding up boards for the makeshift booth. The sound of his hammer as he nailed it together was a major distraction, especially when the teacher opened the windows for some fresh June air. I could picture the boxes of chocolate bars, the suckers, the […] Read more
Graduation will still happen this year — just differently
Q: After watching our son and his friends for the past year and a half planning their high school graduation, you can appreciate all of the disappointment we saw when the coronavirus ripped all of their plans to shreds and graduation had to be cancelled. It has been hard. Graduation from high school was something […] Read more
Immediate action uncommon with farm stress
Anxiety and depression are the most seen mental health issues facing today’s farmers, but many don’t seek help till later
Farming is a stressful business, and 2020 is shaping up to be a doozy. A dry summer across a good part of the Prairies last year was followed by a delayed harvest due to excess moisture in fall. That led to poor yields and crop left unharvested over winter in some areas. Then came the […] Read more
Agricultural lifestyle called conducive to farm stress
The independent spirit that helps farmers cope with working in isolation can also make it more difficult to ask for help
The most important components of a farming operation are its people. “In agriculture, we always hear about the latest advances in technology and innovation, and we forgot about our people,” said Lesley Kelly, co-founder of the Do More Agriculture Foundation, an organization founded to deal with mental health issues facing farmers. “We should’ve been talking […] Read more
Loss of farm legacy called major suicide factor
Ontario hog producer tells his story of mental anguish and how one phone call helped pull him back from the brink
Just before Stewart Skinner planned to kill himself, he made a phone call. It saved his life. The Ontario hog farmer was in severe mental anguish as he faced the spectre of losing a farm that had been in his family for six generations. He saw only one way to stop the pain. “I am […] Read more
Farmers fail to act on safety
Farmers don’t necessarily change their behaviour when they experience close calls or are injured while working, according to a new survey from Farm Credit Canada. The survey, conducted from Feb. 10-21, found that roughly seven in 10 producers (72 percent) have had an incident resulting in an injury, or they experienced a close call at […] Read more
Sask. schools to re-open in fall for K-12 students
Saskatchewan students will return to kindergarten through Grade 12 classrooms this fall, the government announced today. Classes should begin as early as Sept. 1 in some school divisions. Deputy premier and education minister Gordon Wyant announced the decision, saying it was a significant milestone for the province and an important step for families to get […] Read more
Private rail crossing upgrades could cost farmers
Farmers with private rail crossings will have to decide whether to keep them when new regulations come into effect late next year. The regulations require railway companies and public transport authorities to meet new safety standards by Nov. 27, 2021. Landowners with private crossings must also meet the regulations, and may be required pay for […] Read more
Partners forge unique farm-restaurant relationship
Even in the middle of a pandemic that’s crippled the Canadian restaurant industry, farmer and entrepreneur Arlie Laroche says 2019 might have been the best possible time to open a restaurant — at least a restaurant that’s focused on sourcing local food. In 2019, Laroche and her business partners — husband Brett Laroche, general manager […] Read more
