Although Canada’s outstanding young farm family of 2003 will not be selected until December, the nomination process started months ago.
Two of the western regions have now pared their lists to one name. Saskatchewan named Lionel and Melody Ector, special crop growers and buyers from Elbow, as its winner. Manitoba’s entry will be Lyndon and Laurelly Beswitherick from Austin, who have a mixed grain and cow-calf operation.
On July 5, the Alberta-Northwest Territories region will name its winner from four nominees: Eric and Carmen DeSchipper who operate Red Willow Gardens in Beaverlodge; Grant and Debbie Durie of Durlowe Farm Ltd., in Vegreville; Graham and Susan Kathol who have a Simmental ranch in Drayton Valley; and Steven Snider who runs Little Red Hen Mills in New Norway.
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The British Columbia-Yukon region has three nominees, all from the Fraser Valley, and one will be chosen Aug. 2: herb and vegetable growers Ron and Jessie Brar of Surrey; turkey producers Alan and Tammy Radnai of Aldergrove and chicken growers Rick and Karen Thiessen of Abbotsford.
To be eligible for the award, farmers who are between ages 18 and 39 must earn at least two-thirds of their annual income from farming and demonstrate progress in their farming careers. This year’s national winner will be determined at a Dec. 4-6 contest in Vancouver.
The young farmer award was started in 1980 by the Canadian Junior Chamber-Jaycees service club and continues with sponsorship from various agribusinesses.
