A story on page 76 of our Nov. 11 issue, about a Manitoba farm that received the Heritage Farm designation for 125 years of family ownership, incorrectly spelled the name of Betty Heaman in the photo caption. Corrected November 23, 2010.
Many farmers have a sign marking the end of their driveway, but Betty and Walter Heaman of Virden, Man., will soon erect a sign unique in Manitoba. Last week, the Heamans became the first family in the province to receive the Heritage Farm designation, which recognizes 125 years of family farming in Manitoba.
Read Also
Canola oil transloading facility opens
DP World just opened its new canola oil transload facility at the Port of Vancouver. It can ship one million tonnes of the commodity per year.
Manitoba agriculture minister Stan Struthers presented the Heamans with their Heritage Farm sign at a ceremony in Brandon Nov. 4.
“It’s the basis of who we are. Farming is what makes rural Manitoba tick,” he said. “I’m really proud to say congratulations to a family who has farmed for 125 years.”
To be precise, the Heamans have farmed northwest of Virden for 128 years. Betty’s great-grandparents started with a quarter section of land on the property in 1882.
The farm is now much larger, run by Walter, Betty and their sons, with 6,500 acres of cropland, a seed cleaning business and feeder yearlings.
Previously, the Manitoba government honoured families that farmed for 100 consecutive years. The century designation still exists and the Heritage Farm concept builds upon that program, Struthers said.
About 500 families in Manitoba have been farming for 125 years or more, based on provincial statistics. To apply for a Heritage Farm designation, please visit a Manitoba Agriculture GO office. Application forms are also available on the department’s website.
