Kassian Family Honoured at Farmfair International

Kassian Family Honoured at Farmfair International

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

The Kassian family was one of 15 farm families honoured at Farmfair International.

The family farms 10 miles northeast of Innisfree in the County of Minburn. Kevin and Carmen along with their two children Carson and Camille were on hand to receive the Farm Family Award that was presented during a gala in Edmonton on Nov. 11.

“We were honoured to be nominated for this award by the Innisfree & District Ag Society and were very pleased to hear that we had won. There is a long history of very deserving farm families in the County of Minburn and northern & central Alberta that have won this award over the years so we are humbled to be included with this group,” stated Kevin and Carmen.

Members of the Kassian family from L-R: Carson, Kevin, Carmen and Camille.

(Kassian family/Submitted Photo)

“We have a mixed farming operation with 4,000 acres of crop land and 400 head of commercial cattle. Our children are 5th generation farmers on both sides of our family. Kevin’s great grandfather came to Alberta from Ukraine in 1898 and homesteaded near Royal Park. His grandparents and father moved to the Innisfree area in 1954, settling on the farm where we live today. Carmen’s great grandparents came from Washington State in 1903 and homesteaded south of Ranfurly on land that is still owed and farmed by Kevin and Carmen.

We believe that we are very fortunate to be able to live on a farm and raise a family in a small, rural community. Farming today is definitely a challenge and requires a great deal of hard work, dedication and management skills. I’m sure that our great grandfathers would have never dreamed that we would be farming on the scale we are and with the equipment that we do today. It will be interesting to see how the industry will evolve over the next several years. We feel that it is important to take care of the land today so that future generations can enjoy it. We are optimistic that the future will be positive for agriculture, and hope that our children, who are both very active with the farm, will continue with the business,” said the couple.

Both Carson and Camille are in their 8th year with the Innisfree Minburn 4H Beef Club and Carmen is an assistant leader. Carmen is also involved with the Innisfree Ag Society, Innisfree School Parent Council and the Innisfree Ukrainian Dance Club where Camille is in her 11th year of dance.

“We are always willing to lend a hand wherever needed in the community.”

For 50 years, farm families from northern and central Alberta communities have been recognized as the recipients of the Farm Family Award. Agricultural Service Boards in those areas select outstanding families who best represent values of the family farm within their rural community. The award honours both farming practices and community involvement.