LETHBRIDGE – Steven Snider, an organic grain grower from New Norway, was named Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmer at the regional finals here.
In partnership with his parents, Robert and Rosemary, Snider owns Little Red Hen Mills where they grow a variety of new and heritage grains as well as specialty crops for the organic milling and food processing industries.
The farm went to organic production in 1986.
“It was one of the few things that a father and son agreed on,” said Snider after receiving the nod in the regional event that included three other farm families.
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They export 90 percent of their production to the American organic market. Snider said he would not go back to conventional chemical farming despite the challenges.
“It’s a lifestyle choice. Challenge is what motivates you,” he said.
Little Red Hen Mills was among the first in Western Canada to embrace the organic system. There were years of crop failures and skepticism among neighbours.
“I’m working to dispel the myth about organics. It is something for the top managers. It is economically viable,” he said.
The Sniders do not keep livestock and instead rely on green manure plowdowns for fertility and tillage for weed control.
The farm was in the centre of Alberta’s drought region last year but it survived even with a poor crop. That was because they had a high carryover of 68,000 bushels of grain. They were able to take advantage of higher prices during a time of shortage and turn a profit.
“My worst year turned out to be my best year.”
