Colin and Mary Balan, residents of the Eastbourne area in the MD of Bonnyville, have been chosen as the recipient of the 2016 ATB Farm Family Award. "It's humbling. It's really nice to be recognized," said Colin Balan.
Colin and Mary Balan, residents of the Eastbourne area in the MD of Bonnyville, have been chosen as the recipient of the 2016 ATB Farm Family Award.
"It's humbling. It's really nice to be recognized," said Colin Balan.
Every three years, the MD gets to nominate a family they feel uses the best farming practices and who does the most in their community. They then send that name into the board overseeing the selection process.
The Balans will attend the November Farmfair International in Edmonton to receive their award.
The event is held from Nov. 9 to 13. It's an event that includes a rodeo and cattle show, along with a market. The Balans have gone to this event before, but it'll be the first time they attend the ATB Agricultural Awards Gala portion.
"We always make a trip as a family to Farmfair, and taken in some of the cattle shows. It'll be nice to go for this as well and to see the rodeo and be acknowledged," said Balan.
The Balan family has around 75 to 100 registered quarter horses, 350 to 400 cows with calves and 10 to 12 quarter sections of land. MD Coun. David Fox owns a portion of the land in which the Balans farm on.
"They're involved in 4-H and the Agricultural Society and work hard. They're real hard workers, and a good young family," said Fox.
The Balans contributions to the community was also a part of the reason the family was selected for the honour.
"They're fairly heavily into farming, but they're very community involved. They have kids, and they're involved with other kids in the community and the Agricultural Society, they do stuff with horses and riding and roping. They've been involved with that for as long as I can remember."
At the gala they will be presented with a plaque and are recognized on stage for being the farm family for this area.
"It's a very nice event, it's an honour," said Fox. "I think it's a great event."
Fox added that he is excited to be able to show the Balan family around and is happy he'll be able to introduce them to people they may not have been able to be otherwise.
"I know the Agricultural Minister, so I can introduce them to him and help guide them through the steps," added Fox.
This will be Fox's third time attending Farmfair since joining MD council.
"I am proud to be going. They have a photo session and you get to meet the minister of the agricultural society and you meet other families that are there, and there is probably 300 people at this event," said Fox. "It's not only an honour for them but it's an honour for me."
