For the past century, five generations of the Church family have dedicated themselves to the farming the land at Bowalta Farms Ltd.
The farm was established in 1925 by James Andrew Church, grandfather of current operator Greg Church.
Starting with a half-section of land that had only a small portion cleared, James built the original homestead from scratch.
“My grandpa bought a 1/2 section that only had a minimal amount cleared on it,” Greg recalled. “He couldn’t find water near the road, so he had to start building the yard in the middle of the home quarter. An immense amount of sweat equity was put into clearing the land, building a house and shop, the start of corrals and eventually a barn. The yard has expanded as needed, but on the original footprint.”
Over the decades, the Church family experimented with a variety of livestock and crops. “It was truly a mixed farm at the start. My grandpa always had pigs, as well as some beef cows. My dad tried dairy for a while before concentrating on feeder cattle and grain. I continued with grain and moved to focusing on cows and calves,” Greg said.
Looking back on the family’s 100-year legacy, Greg says the milestone carries deep personal meaning. “I feel extremely proud to be here this long. I get sentimental sometimes when I imagine my grandfather seeding on the exact same dirt that I am on today. I can’t wait to see where it goes in the future.”
As for what lies ahead, Greg hopes the values that have been passed down through generations will endure. “We hope the next generation feels empowered to carry on the legacy, whether by farming the land themselves or simply staying rooted in the values this farm has taught us: resilience, patience, and pride in hard work.”
**With information from Red Deer County
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