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Volume XII-Issue 631
www.vermilionvoice.com
August 22, 2016
vermilionvoice@gmail.com
Powell Farm Celebrates 100 Years
Powell Farm Awarded Century Plaque
Powell Homestead Stands Strong After 100 Years
The original old farm house still stands today on the family farm outside Vermilion. Photos Marie Conboy
Marie Conboy Reporter
The Powell family, from outsid e of Vermilion, was awarded a bronze plaque recently by the Government of Alberta with Century Farm and Ranch Awards, to commemorate their signific ant achievement as a pioneering Alberta family who have farmed and ranched the same land for 100 years. “ My grand father, James Powell, moved out to Alber ta from Quebec with his family to homestead in 1908. They were Irish immigrants,” explained Les Powell, the Powell family farms current owner. “My grandfather and grandmother had six children, and it would have been difficult because there were no
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trees on the farm, so they had to travel a long way to get fire wood.” Settlers were each given a quarter section (160 acres) of land at that time. They were drawn out west by a promise written on posters which read, ‘ Where the land is free and there is lots of space.’ Farming grain and ranching horses and cattle, the farm later expanded to 600/700 acres in size. “My grandfather raised horses, trained them to harness and shipped them down east to sell them down there. We also took the stallion around to neighbours for breeding and the deal was if anyone had colts, he would buy them back. “At one time the farm had 60 horses.
Les Powell pictured with the sign recognizing the farms 100 years.
The farm continued to expand. As settlers were moving out, my grandfather was buying more land,” explained Les. “My grandfather had expanded the size of the farm before he passed away. My uncle, James, then took over the farm then from my grandfather. When my uncle took over it was almost 50/50 with grain and cattle. “I moved out here from Islay after high school and worked for my uncle, and then I bought the farm from him in 1978. Les still runs the farm today, ranching cattle and horses on a quarter section.” Les, who has one son and two daughters, said that his little grand-
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sons told him this summer that they would like to take over the farm one day. The original old farm house is still standing today, as a tribute to times gone by. Les says he is looking forward to meeting the Premier Rachel Notley next year for the official presentation and that he feels a strong attachment to the land. “A s a y o u n g c h i l d I r e m e m b e r coming up here to visit granny, and I was always struck about how peaceful and quiet it is. You feel like you are the only people in the world when you are out here,” said Les. See more page 5.