Vegreville News Advertiser - Agriculture

Farmers’ Advocate Office Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Government of Alberta - Submitted

To commemorate the important milestone, the government has declared March 22 as Farmers’ Advocate Day.

The first farmers’ advocate, Helmut Entrup, was appointed by former minister of Agriculture Hugh Horner on Jan. 1, 1973. Over 50 years, the Farmers’ Advocate Office has fielded more than 150,000 inquiries from rural Albertans and provided a voice for them at all levels of government.

Premier Danielle Smith stated, “Alberta’s Farmers’ Advocate Office has been a pivotal resource for our farming community, providing invaluable support and guidance to ensure that our agricultural industry remains strong and sustainable.

The office has always advocated for the needs of farmers and ranchers, ensuring that they have access to the information and services they need to succeed, and we remain committed to supporting this important institution and working together to build a brighter future for Alberta’s agriculture sector for generations to come.”

Mister of Agriculture and Irrigation Hon. Nate Horner, left, presenting certificates to Farmers’ Advocate Peter Dobbie.

(Government of Alberta/Submitted Photo)

The original mandate of the office was to protect farmer and rancher land ownership rights

After five decades and 10 different premiers, the Farmers’ Advocate Office continues to have an integral role in Alberta’s agriculture industry.

Today, the office has expanded its services to meet the changing needs of Alberta’s producers, providing support and guidance on a wide range of issues, including land use, environmental regulations, dispute resolution and administrative justice through fair process.

“Over the past 50 years, the Farmers’ Advocate Office has been an integral voice of the industry, helping shape the direction of agriculture policy in our province and ensuring the needs of farmers have always been front and centre. I’m honoured to celebrate this important milestone and recognize the contributions the office has made to the success and prosperity of farmers and ranchers in our province,” stated Nate Horner, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.

As part of government’s red tape reduction initiative, the office also helps producers navigate government processes and works with various departments, boards and agencies to find efficiencies and reduce regulatory burdens that affect the agriculture industry.

“The Farmers’ Advocate Office has always put the needs of Alberta’s farmers and ranchers first. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we are more committed than ever to providing the resources and support producers need to overcome any challenges they face now and in the future,” said Peter Dobbie, Farmers’ and Property Rights Advocate for Alberta.

Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk said she was proud to attend the 50th Anniversary of the Farmer’s Advocate Office. “The FAO has a long track record of advocating effectively for the rights of farmers, and many Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville residents have utilized this great resource.”

Vegreville 4-H Beef Club March Report

Cooper Axten and Matthew Mears - Submitted

The Vegreville 4-H beef club has been busy. During our March meeting we held our annual awards night for the 2022 year. Some members attended the district and regional public speaking this month. Congratulations to Karly and Allyson for moving on.

Members show off recently completed project.

(Vegreville 4-H Beef Club/Submitted Photo)

On March 17 we painted signs to hang on top of our stalls at Achievement Day and then on March 26 some members attended the Beef conference held in St. Paul. Here we learned about the artificial insemination process, how to judge steers and a little bit about grooming show day. We are gearing up for our Achievement Day and we will be raffling off a steer.