They have been on the land they currently farm for 125 years.

The Olsen family is this year’s recipient of the BMO – Calgary Stampede Farm Family Award for Mountain View County.

David Olsen says it’s a great honour to receive this award, especially with all of the work that has gone into the farm for so many years.

“My Great Grandfather Nels Olsen homesteaded with a bunch of other Danish people just north of Olds in 1893. They set up a homestead and then improved the farm from there,” said Olsen.

Olsen says they feel very fortunate that the family has been able to work hand in hand for so many generations.

“Between my Dad and I, we’re the main people running the operation now, but before that it was my Dad and his Dad, likewise for them so it will be interesting to see how things progress into the next generation.”

He says it’s been a great day.

“The lord has blessed us. Blessed us with a good community, a great country to live in, a great place to do business in the province and I like to celebrate the milestones we have reached and just proud we have the opportunity to do this.”

The operation is now over 11-hundred acres and they grow wheat, canola and malt barley.

Stay tuned for an article on Stanford Farms with Gary Stanford, whose family was also a recipient of the award.

Here is a complete list of all the recipients:

Cardston County:  Stanford Farms; Gary & Diane Stanford Family

County of Forty Mile No. 8:  Doran Family Farm; Terry & Jacquie Doran

County of Newell:  S&J Skanderup Farms Ltd; Stephen & Judy Skanderup

County of Warner:  Weir-Turner Ranch; Douglas & Audrey Turner Family

Cypress County:  K Lazy T Angus; Kody & Keith Traxel Families

Kneehill County:  Hoppins Farm; William & Rose Hoppins Family

Lethbridge County:  Trautman Cattle Co.; Allen & Geri Trautman

MD of Foothills No. 31:  Tullichewan Ranch Ltd.; John & Elizabeth Campbell & Sons

MD of Pincher Creek: Yagos Ranching Ltd.: Bruno & Susan Yagos

MD of Ranchland No. 66:  TL Cattle Company Ltd.; Rod & Lyle Blades Family

MD of Taber:  Tall Land & Cattle Company; Tom & Darla Machacek Family

MD of Willow Creek #26:  McNab Ranch; Stan & Jean McNab

Mountain View County:  Olsen Family Farm; Neil & Jane Olsen

Rocky View County:  Taks Farm; Murray & Reba Taks & Family

Special Areas No. 2:  Rosin Family Farm; Larry & Rosemary Rosin

Special Areas No. 3:  Duque Family Farm:  Carlos & Donna Mae Duque

Special Areas No. 4:  Hutchings Farm Ltd.: Darren & Kelly Hutchings

Starland County:  Sharpe Family Farm; Len & Jeff Sharpe Families

Vulcan County:  M & K Honess Farms Ltd.; Mitch & Kelsey Honess

Wheatland County:  Rasmussen Family Farm; Brian & Shelley Rasmussen