Creative thinking has earned three Alberta families $10,000 scholarships to diversify their operations.
The Alberta farm renewal makeover scholarships were awarded to Art and Cherie Andrews of Okotoks, Troels and Laurie Hansen of Fairview and Keith and Ronda Reesor of Cypress Hills.
The families will also receive a one-day private consultation with business consultants. The concept is part of a federal-provincial initiative.
The scholarships were announced during the AgChoices conference in Red Deer.
The families each applied for the money after seeing the criteria on the Alberta Agriculture website and through flyers in the mail.
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At the Andrews’ Chinook Honey, plans were already under way to develop a honey winery known as a meadery.
They sell their honey and byproducts at an on-farm store and want to have the first meadery in Alberta.
The Hansens run a mixed farm with a large canola acreage. Byproducts from the crusher will be fed to their cattle and hogs.
The Reesors plan to capitalize on southeastern Alberta’s historical significance and turn their ranch into an agritourism venture. It has been certified organic for five years and is developing markets for organic beef.
