Title Image
Image
Caption
2022 COYF MOTHERWELL AWARD - Ian and Karilynn Marshall with COYF Chair Danny Penner
Portal
Title Image Caption
2022 W.R. Motherwell Award recipients Ian and Karilynn Marshall with COYF Chair Danny Penner
Categories

Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers handed out the 2022 W.R. Motherwell Award during the National Event last week in Saskatoon.

The award is presented annually to an individual or couple who has demonstrated excellence in leadership and dedication to both the OYF program and Canadian agriculture. 

This year's recipients of the  W.R. Motherwell Award are Karilynn & Ian Marshall of Bowden (Alberta).

The couple became involved in COYF when they were chosen as Alberta's 2004 OYF Honourees.
 
Here's the couple's bio from COYF

Karilynn and Ian Marshall became involved with the Alberta and Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers program when they were chosen as the 2004 Alberta OYF Honourees. At the time they operated a 9500 head feedlot and 300 cow calf pairs at Bowden, Alberta. Back then they seeded 3500 acres of feed grain and had another 3000 acres of pasture with additional grazing land being purchased at Edson, AB. 

They embraced the program wholeheartedly. When it came time for people to volunteer, Karilynn stepped up and became the Co-Chair for the 2008 National OYF Event in Calgary. Her organizational skills became very apparent in the planning and execution of the event, which was a success. 

As the Alberta OYF program grew, it became evident that it was too much to expect volunteers to continue to manage the organization. In March of 2010, Karilynn offered to be the Alberta OYF regional coordinator.  As an alumni member, she provided stability to the program. For ten years she was been instrumental in shepherding the Alberta program, from arranging press releases, working with nominees, gathering sponsorship, organizing meetings and the regional competition event. Karilynn lived the program and has been vital in keeping Alberta OYF on track. The group valued her ability to be diligent and organized. Ian was behind the scenes providing support. 

Besides their OYF involvement Ian & Karilynn have been involved in many local groups such as: Bow-Inn Beef 4H Club as a leader and Bowden Agriculture Society serving on executive for 25 years as well as volunteering at the annual rodeo. The Marshall Family is known within their community and surrounding area for helping others when there is an event or when someone needs some assistance. 

Their children Katie, Garnett and Ky are the next generation of Marshalls involved in the farm business. Ian and Karilynn’s family has now grown to include eight grandchildren, a highlight for them!