Alberta's Agriculture Minister brought along a couple of MLA's to the 2009 Farm Family Awards at the Calgary Stampede.

George Groeneveld was joined by Livingstone/ Macleod MLA Evan Berger and Arno Doerkson of the Strathmore/Brooks riding.

 

Many of the award winning families say they were honored to be nominated by their peers.Neall Coulson's family won for the MD of Willow Creek and says he had to double check.

"We couldn't believe that we were actually nominated", he smiled, "we had to confirm it, call up the committee and make sure that it was the truth and wasn't just a joke or something".

19 families who won awards for 19 different municipalities in Southern Alberta.  As well as the Coulsen's they include:

Bectell family, Cardston CountyBexte family, Vulcan County
Caskey family, Special Areas #3
Cyr family, MD of Pincher Creek
Gardner family, MD of Ranchland       
Jackson family, MountainView County
Egeland family, MD of Foothills #31
Loewen family, County of Newell #4
Losey family, County of Warner #5
Main family, Kneehill County
Malaka family, Special Area #2
Murphy family, Special Area #4
Redekop family, MD of Taber
Richmond family, Starland County
Risdon family, Wheatland County
Schuld family, County of Lethbridge
Scott family, MD of Rocky View
Thurston family, County of Forty Mile #8

Each family was presented with a personalized farm gate sign and had a professional photograph taken.

The families also got admission to Stampede Park and tickets to the rodeo.