The Sturgeon Proud Awards were handed out last month at the Morinville Community Cultural Centre. The event is a crossbreed of a volunteer appreciation event and an agricultural awards ceremony.
“We combined the two events together. It’s a means for the county to recognize the importance of all the people that live here that they contribute to the quality of life that we have here in Sturgeon County,” said Sturgeon County communications co-ordinator Gwen Wolansky.
In addition to thanking the county’s best and brightest volunteers, there is an opportunity to offer a hearty congratulations to the farm family with the most endurance.
The Mills family was recognized as the 100-Year Farm Family for actively farming the same family-owned land owned for a century or longer. They have been working the land on their homestead just west of the fifth meridian by Range Road 270.
In the agricultural parlance, that ain’t hay.
The Excellence in Agriculture Award was a new feature this year. It recognizes innovation and environmental leadership in a grain or cattle operation, or any business or community group that serves the agricultural sector. It was given to Kalco Farms for its development of a system where processes are more efficient and less wasteful.
The Building Blocks of the Community awards went to Charmaine Krywko, Rod McKinley, and Eva Scrimshaw.
Carol Kaup was named the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year out of a long cattle call of 29 nominees. She was also recently named the Morinville Lions Club Citizen of the Year during the town’s annual volunteer appreciation and awards ceremony.
Therese Gervais was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for her 15 years of loyal and dedicated volunteer service, including being a very active member of the Sturgeon Rural Crime Watch for half that time.
Joining her as the other volunteers of the year were Amber Kluthe, Lois Dutton, Beth Heard, John Dowler, Susan Johnson, Andy McConnell, Vic Frey, Elsie Danake, Shauna deVarennes, Shelton and Tyree Anderson-Coft, Yvette and Roger Gagne, Yvonne Kluthe, Elizabeth Falls, Serena Klassen, Calvin Borle, Liz MacLean, Beth Lonsdale, Gerald Soetaert, Shawna McLaughlin, Denise Zadunayski, Neil Soetart, John Nakonechny, Martin and Elaine Soetaert, and Dale Soetaert.
The kudos of the evening also included deep thanks to John Kampjes, Joe Milligan, Will Wiens, and Art Sawchuk as they are set to retire from the Sturgeon County board.
