Durie Family Farming Three Century Homesteads

Durie Family Farming Three Century Homesteads

Durie Family - Submitted

In the fall of 1920 Alexander Durie acquired three quarters of land NW and SW 24-52-13-W4th and NE 24-52-13-W4th. His nearest neighbours, the Weetman family had purchased their homestead, (1919) lived a half mile north and the Hubbard family live two miles east homesteaded in 1902. Two marriages and 100 years later, one family owns three century farms.

The spring of 1921, Alexander and Alice Durie with their two children, Anne, born in 1917 and Alexander, (Bud) born in 1920 left by train to the windy, drought stricken Plato, Saskatchewan farm and arrived April 10 at the Lavoy train station with all their livestock, equipment and belongings. Alice and the two children stayed at the three storey hotel in Lavoy until Alex and a friend cleaned up the old log house before moving in. They cleared away trees, broke up the land while living at that yard site which was quarter mile east of the present farm yard.

They welcomed four more children, Ruby, 1922, Gertrude, 1923, Augusta, 1927 and James, 1932. Sixteen years after arriving they started a new yard site building a hip roof barn in 1937 and a house in 1938. With the family settled in they welcomed their last born son David on June 12, 1938.

Alexander remained on the farm till his passing in February 1963. Alice passed away in May 1980. The three quarters of land were willed to the three boys. Bud received NW 24, James SW 24 and David NE 24. The three brothers farmed together and built a second home for Jim and new wife Elizabeth. Jim and Elizabeth moved to the Lowe family farm west of Vegreville.

Back Row L-R: Vicky Collison, Dwayne, Dwight, Steven and Bailey Bergstrom, Braden Durie, Dalton Durie, Dane Durie and David Durie. Front Row L-R: MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, Pat Durie, David Durie and Denise Durie. Family members absent from the photo: Tanya and Riley Durie, Douglas, Shelley, Abygale and Adia Durie.

(Durie Family/Submitted Photo)

On July 6, 1963 David married Patricia Hubbard living and farming alongside Bud until he retired in 1990 at which time he sold NW 24-52-13 W4th to David and Patricia. James had sold SW 24 to David and Patricia in 1986.

David and Patricia have four son. David, born 1965, wife Denise, two sons Dalton, (Tanya and Riley) and Dane own three quarters on west side of Highway 36 across from Durie farm. Dwight, born 1968, wife Brenda, son Braden, daughter Bailey, (Steven Bergstrom) manage Brimicomb Farms at Bashaw. Dwayne, (Vicky) owns the original three quarters the Hubbard Century Farm. Douglas, born 1977, wife Shelley, daughters Abygale and Adia own an acreage at Ranfurly. He runs his own welding business and works in the oil and gas patch.

With our sons we grew grain and raised registered cattle, starting with a few Black Angus and focused on showing the registered Shorthorn herd at local fairs and future to the Toronto Royal Winter Fair going by government sponsored train and coming back to show at the first Regina Agribition show. We also trucked them to the PNE show in Vancouver in 1976.

We purchased registered Herefords and dispersed the Shorthorn herd in 1977. Our sons were involved with the Jr. Hereford Association, 4-H, and all four were playing hockey. The Angus herd continued to grow so the Hereford herd was dispersed in 2003.

Today the farm raises both Black and Red Angus and T-Bar C Cattle Co. from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan have managed the dispersal sales and continue to manage our annual bull sales. March 17, 2023 was our 18th annual sale held at David’s sale barn.

Moving the farm forward in 2008, David Sr. and sons David and Dwayne merged their assets to form Duralta Farms Inc with grandson Dalton joining in 2021.

We are proud to have the privilege to farm the three original homesteads. Dwayne owns the original homestead, a designated Century farm in 2005. David and Patricia own the newly designated Durie Century farm and Duralta Farms Inc own the Weetman homestead, 1919.

The key to it all, Grace Weetman married Floyd Hubbard and their daughter Patricia Hubbard married David Durie. Today, one family owning and farming three Century farms. We love what we do in a great farming area and community.