Forty-two years of farming can reward you in unexpected ways, George Marshall discovered last week.
His eyes were suspiciously bright as he accepted a plaque for growing the best malt barley in western Canada last year.
“You bet your life we were surprised,” the Kyle, Sask., farmer said after the ceremony celebrating the winners of the third annual malting barley quality competition.
He and his wife Doreen knew their sample of Harrington had been judged the best in the province when they received a trip to Canadian Western Agribition for the ceremony.
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But they only discovered they were the grand champions when they arrived and looked in the grain and forage show results booklet.
“To be chosen, when you’ve got to compete against everybody (is) fantastic,” George said.
“Finally you feel that you’ve been recognized for your work,” said Doreen.
She saw their success as a reward for small farmers. The Marshalls farm 960 acres, which they seed mainly to durum, sometimes to canaryseed and flax, and for the last 22 years, to malt barley.
The competition, sponsored by the Canadian Wheat Board and Labatt Breweries, drew 135 entries, mainly from Alberta and Saskatchewan. District winners are chosen and then provincial winners chosen from among them.
Both Alberta/B.C. pro-vincial awards went to Peace River region producers. The two-row winners were Wayne and Betty White of Spirit River with a sample of Harrington, and the six-row winner was Garnet Berge of Dawson Creek, B.C. with B1602.
The Saskatchewan six-row winners, with a sample of Excel, were Denis and Marlene Gregoire of North Battleford. The Gregoires were also district winners in two-row. In Manitoba, Troy and Jason Lewis of McAuley were named six-row winners for their Robust sample.
