Join us in Lethbridge
Register on-line or send in the form OYF 2024 Registration Form
Final Registration date is Oct 31. No refunds after Oct 31.
Accommodations are booked at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge.
Please call the 24-hour Central Reservations office at 1-800-726-3626 / 1-800-SANDMAN. or directly to the hotel at 403-328-1123 before October 31st to make your reservation. Rooms are $135/night plus applicable taxes. Identify yourself as being with Outstanding Young Farmers Block ID: 311957 Block Code: OYF2024.
Alternatively, you can book online at: https://reservations.sandmanhotels.com/113172?groupID=3996549
Important Travel Information
We have heard from many of you already about your travel plans to join us.
- Some will be flying into Calgary and renting a vehicle. There is a lot of room and free parking at the Hotel in Lethbridge.
- Some families are flying into Calgary and catching a bus which stops right at the airport. It is easy to get your luggage and yourselves, to the pickup locations. You can find details at the following web site:
- Some will be flying into Lethbridge from Calgary on WestJet. There are daily flights. Let us know and we will pick you up at the Lethbridge airport, 15 minutes away from the hotel. Check WestJet flights at:
- On Sunday morning, December 1st we have arranged for two coaches, to make the return trip with you to the Calgary airport with a tentative 9 and 10 am departures. Please contact Karilynn Marshall to RSVP if you would like to reserve a departure time and seat. (This return trip will be complementary)
2024 COYF National Event
Mark your calendars for Nov. 27 – Dec. 1, 2024
Alberta’s Water Management System: The Sustainability of Life in Southern Alberta
The AB/NWT Region is inviting everyone to join us in November to celebrate the “best of the best”. Lethbridge is the site of the 2024 National Event to gather and cheer on the honourees from each region as they show us the amazing things being accomplished by young farmers across the nation.
The official kick off is Wednesday evening, with the President’s Welcome Reception highlighting two of our National Sponsors CN and CIBC at the beautiful Galt Museum & Archives. The Galt is situated on the banks of the Oldman River valley and presents a spectacular view of the famous High-Level Bridge, the longest and highest railway structure of this type in the world. For those who arrive early on Wednesday, the Galt Museum is available for tours of the museum. We also intend to have a special afternoon presentation of the railroads and the early days of irrigation in Southern Alberta.
Thursday is our first full tour day. We will spend time around Lethbridge getting a sense of the broad scope of agriculture in southern Alberta. Starting just south of the city, we get an in-depth look at Mercer Seeds which is owned and operated by Ryan and Annette Mercer, (2010 Alumni). Mercer’s farm started in 1975 and has evolved into a robust seed crop production and seed cleaning operation covering many aspects of the seed industry. As a family they grow a wide range of crops on over 7500 acres, all of which are used to grow pedigreed seed.
After this farm tour we will head back to the city to make a stop at one of COYF’s newest National Sponsors, Meridian Manufacturing, where they build the bins, that provide storage for a multitude of Ag products grown across North America.
Another highlight of the day will be a tour of the fascinating research in sustainable water use techniques and alternative energy at the Lethbridge Polytechnic. Lunch will be in the Garden Café where the Culinary Arts students will prepare a delicious meal from the bounty of Alberta local producers.
We will then be spending time with Bayer Crop Science (National Sponsor) at their canola seed processing facility. We will find out the demands and challenges in providing vigorous and reliable seed canola to supply an insatiable market.
The day wraps up with an Alberta beef supper at the Kirkham Collection Museum. This is a private and extensive collection of International trucks and equipment dating back many decades. Everyone will feel nostalgic and amazed at this hidden gem.
For Friday, we are very excited to announce that Shaun Haney of Realagriculture.com will give us a synopsis of his work on “Who is the under 40 Farmer”. This will be followed by presentations by Alberta Agriculture/Irrigation and then our Alberta Irrigation Districts Association who will overview the water and irrigation management systems in Southern Alberta.
The Motherwell Award Presentation and Scholarship awards will follow. After lunch we will be inspired by the 2024 Honorees Presentations and welcome them as the newest members to the Alumni ranks of COYF.
Shaun Haney has graciously agreed to be our MC for the evening’s Gala Banquet, as the suspense of the last few days will be lifted, with the winners being announced in the evening.
Saturday, we head out to see more of the breadth of farming in Alberta. We will visit with another National Sponsor, as we begin at the local Western Tractor dealership. We will see the innovations and service that John Deere is providing to our hard-working farmers, so they are able to produce an incredible number of crops with continuous yield increases all in the fertile “Palliser Triangle” of the prairies.
At the same time, we will be at Green Prairie International, a forage processor who will showcase their forage production on irrigated lands producing quality compressed bales, among other products, for livestock and pet markets around the world.
Next is a stop in Coaldale at Gem of the West, one of Southern Alberta largest rural museums for a light lunch and a tour of their historical collection.
Dependent on the weather, Shane and Kristen Schooten, part of Schooten and Sons (2016 alumni) will arrange for the buses to drive through one of their leading feedlots, to see and hear first-hand from their family, the dynamic management teams operating these state-of-the-art operations.
Our tour winds its way to Enchant, a small hamlet with a big heart, that is home to the Stamp Seeds and the Stamp Family. (1998 & 2023 alumni) We will look at this multi-generational operation of retail pedigreed seed sales, cleaning, treating and the extensive crop production system developed to make this all happen. An innovative wildlife habitat project which they have they have helped develop over the past 25+ years, will also be highlighted. We will highlight Sollio Agriculture (National Sponsor) at the Stamps, and how they work together in supporting agriculture across Canada.
Next, we head to the Enchant Community Hall for a delicious “Taste of Alberta” dinner and a little Country & Western music and dancing before making our way back to Lethbridge.
Sunday we join together again to say farewell and anticipate next year’s event.
As we travel towards our destinations each day we will have local tour guides, to highlight other agriculture operations and industries, that are too numerous to tour in the few days we have together.
REGISTER ONLINE AT https://202coyfjaenationalevent.rsvpify.com
Please connect with Karilynn Marshall at (403) 588 2413 and/or karilynn.marshall@gmail.com For more information and if you need assistance in any way.
Your 2024 committee is very excited and honored to be hosting you and looking forward to having you joining us for this exciting week.
Co-Chairs:
Richard Stamp & Ryan Mercer
