INNISFAIL, Alta. – The future stretches out as an inviting new life adventure for many newlywed couples.
For Derek and Stacey Mathon, that adventure could mean leaving their Innisfail home behind and making a new start, a decision they might make this winter after the harvest is done.
Their desire to keep farming and finding new ways to sustain agriculture got them nominated as outstanding young farmers in Alberta. The couple knew little about the program. They are both younger than 25 and they found themselves among alumni who were old enough to be their parents.
Read Also
Food can play a flavourful role in fun summer activities
Recipes – popsicles are made with lactose-free milk and yogurt so are perfect for those who can’t tolerate milk, while everyoneelse will also enjoy them
“We were just getting started in every which way, farming, family. We just got married in April,” Derek said.
But the age difference was moot as they met people with positive attitudes about farming and a love of the land similar to their own.
Although they were not selected as Alberta’s 2008 representatives, they are an example of youthful hope.
Lifelong farmers, Stacey comes from a cow-calf operation near Waterton, Alta., and Derek was working alongside his father before he started elementary school.
They met through one of Alberta’s long-standing agriculture institutions, UFA, where the farmer-run co-operative sponsored a program called the New Advisors Council.
This was a 10-year project inviting young people to assess customer services at the United Farmers of Alberta retail arm.
Today, Stacey is an animal health technician working at a mixed practice veterinary clinic in Red Deer, a 15 minute commute.
Derek works the hay and grain farm on land they rent and own. They share some equipment with his father.
Part of their diversification strategy is a custom baling business that Derek started at age 15.
He bought his own round baler before he had a driver’s licence. He has also earned an Olds College diploma in agriculture production and agriculture mechanics in 2003.
The farm and baling business balance each other economically, although in recent years as the cow herd shrinks, there is less demand for haying. But grain prices are on the upswing.
The challenges are deep for this generation in an area where a quarter section of land is worth $500,000.
“If you want to own land, it is very difficult and if something comes available, it is $3,000 an acre,” he said.
“There is a heavy consideration of leaving because there is no room. We haven’t done anything yet but it is in our minds,” he said.
“Where are we going to be next spring?” said Stacey.
They want a new house, more land and a chance to keep farming.
Few neighbours
When they look around their neighbourhood, they see fewer young people on the farm. Those who have stayed may have off-farm jobs and have pursued diverse forms of agriculture.
“There are less and less to take it over,” Derek said.
“It is a concern. You need skilled labour to help you and there are not many who know how to run the equipment and how to help you.”
The divide between the urban and rural lifestyle is obvious to Stacey each day at the animal clinic. A city practice pays technicians better, there is no overtime and they work with pets.
Her work day could be spent at a feedlot processing cattle, holding a horse steady while the vet sedates it or helping in an after-hours emergency.
With these struggles, why stay farming?
“I just love it. It’s almost all I talk about,” said Derek.
They live in a prosperous mixed farming community with good growing conditions and hard working neighbours. It is a good place to raise a family and they feel a commitment to feed the world rather than pursue other careers where the financial rewards are higher and the work less stressful.
“If there is no future in food, what are we going to eat? There has to be a future in food production,” Stacey said.
