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Outstanding Service Awards
Presented to the following members who have made outstanding
contributions to Pedigreed Seed production
Jock and Linda Airth
Brooks, Alberta
Jock was born November 8, 1945, and attended school in Brooks. In
1964, Jock started farming himself, by renting a quarter section of
irrigated land from a neighbor. He attended Olds College as a Farm
Management Major, graduating with honors in June 1965. Jock attended
postgraduate year, fall 1965 to June 1966 taking Mechanics and
Welding. He served on the Local UGG Board of Directors for seven
years and joined the local Elks Club in 1966. Jock farmed in the
summer and worked at the Brooks Massey Dealership in winter. He
started Heavy Duty Mechanics Apprenticeship at Calgary SAIT the
winter of 1969 working as a mechanic each winter and obtained his
Heavy Duty Mechanics Interprovincial Ticket, October, 1973. He
served on local Brooks REA for nine years.
Jock bought out his father in 1971 and seeded his first pedigreed
crop with Galt Barley. Not knowing if seed production was a good
decision, Jock seeded his second Pedigreed Crop in 1973.
As a seed grower Jock was only a small fish in a big pond those
first few years until he married the right woman. Linda and Jock
have two children, son, Shawn, and a daughter Shawna, and now have
seven grandchildren. Shawna has started in the Seed Business
with them but works as a Registered Nurse. Shawn is a Drilling
Consultant in the oil industry. Jock led the local 4H Club for one
year when their kids were young and was in Brooks Toastmasters for
three years.
Linda and Jock have grown in the Pedigreed Seed Business from 700
acres to 1800 acres today. All of the acres they farm are irrigated.
They have shares in Canterra Seeds and FarmPure Seeds. They also
sell forage seed for Brett Young and Pickseed.
Jock and Linda have always enjoyed talking to other seed growers and
people in the industry. Jock has had one mentor – Sulo Luoma of
Three Hills, Alberta.
Jock and Linda still enjoy the Seed Business!
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Keith and Terry Lee Degenhardt
Hughenden, Alberta
Keith and Terry Lee Degenhardt have been involved in pedigreed seed
production since 1973, when they produced pedigreed canola in
conjunction with Terry Lee’s father, Clarence Burpee. Since that
time they have branched into cereal production and are both select
growers. Keith’s keen interest in varietal differences and his
ability to ferret out valid information has served his customers
well by enabling them to have on-hand varieties well suited to the
area. Terry Lee’s attention to detail has assisted in the production
of quality pedigreed seed. Oats and flax grown by the Degenhardt’s
has placed well at the Lloydminster Border City Seed Fair.
Beyond the farm gate, Keith contributes to the seed industry by his
involvement with the Western Grains Research Foundation. For the
past four years he has chaired that group, and kept the farmer
solidly in mind when considering research proposals for funding and
variety development in wheat and barley breeding.
Both Keith and Terry Lee have been involved in leadership positions
in farm organizations both provincially and nationally and in their
local community.
In the past ten years Ken has been involved with the CSGA helping
with their registration desk for Annual and National Meetings. He
has also worked on the registration desk for the annual meeting of
the Association of Seed Cleaning Plants.
The family enjoys camping as much as possible and spending their
summer vacations on the beautiful Shushap Lakes in B.C. Back to top
Doug and Ilene Henkel
Duffield, Alberta
Doug farmed many years with his dad, Henry Henkel. When Doug and
Ilene were married in August of 1971, they took over the farming
operations. Doug always loved the grain farming component of
Agriculture.
In the spring of 1974, Doug purchased some certified RHS Wheat which
was bleached, shriveled and very poor looking quality. This prompted
Doug to become interested in growing pedigreed seed. Therefore, in
the spring of 1975, they started with a 40 acre field of Registered
Neepawa RHS Wheat. In following years they grew pedigreed barley and
oats along with the wheat. Doug and Ilene widened their selection of
seed by adding Canola in 1978.
In 1980, Doug completed his three years probation of growing plots
to become a select grower. Then in 1985, Ilene began growing both
cereal and canola plots to become a select grower.
In 1987, Doug and Ilene incorporated pedigreed field peas into their
operation.
Most of their seed was cleaned at the Stony Plain Seed Cleaning
Plant, where Doug was on the Board of Directors for fifteen years
(1981 – 1996).
In 1989 Doug and Ilene formed their company known as Henkel Seed
Farms Ltd. During the many years of growing seed they expanded their
land base and provided seed to many faithful customers.
Doug and Ilene are both active members of Central Pentecostal Church
now known as North Pointe Community Church. Doug is also a member of
the Parkland Chapter of the Gideons and Ilene a member of the
Auxiliary of the Gideons.
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