It's the ninetieth year the Mullen family farm has been in operation and the first year it was recognized for the Farm Family award.ìWhat an honour to receive the award and what a way to celebrate 90 years,î said Larry Mullen of Grandview Acres, who owns the land northeast of Didsbury with his wife Grace.ìThere's a lot of good farmers here and who volunteer their time to the community,î Mullen said.The two found out their family, now into its fifth generation, was nominated earlier in the month. Every year, a farm family from Mountain View County is chosen for the award at the Calgary Stampede.ì(Div. 3 Coun.) Duncan Milne stopped us in town and said, ëI've been trying to get a hold of you. Would you let your name stand for the county?'î said Grace, who explained every year a farm family from a different division is chosen. A farm from their division is only chosen every seven years.The family was at the BMO Centre in Calgary Monday to receive their award that included a plaque for their gate.The farm started when Larry's grandparents Julius and Susie settled in Didsbury in 1921 with their three sons on the half section of land. His father George farmed with the grandfather and Larry and his brother in turn were raised helping their father with day-to-day operations. By 1975, the farm ñ which had at the time livestock including sheep, hogs, dairy, beef cattle and chickens ñ had grown to seven quarters and the family was also renting an additional 13 quarters.By 1979 the Mullens stopped raising cattle and by 1982 chickens. Since then, they've focused only on canola and barley on a rotational basis on 2,000 acres.ìIf I ever have the urge to get back into commercial cattle, I usually go down to my neighbour's and help him brand. By the end of the day, that's it for me,î Larry said. ìAnd my neighbours to the north, he's got 75,000 chickens. As soon as I get a whiff of that, it's enough.îThe two have everyday help from their daughter Karilea and son-in-law Ryan Berg, with grandchildren Korbyn, 12, and Jaxon, 10. Sons Kent, a truck driver, and Lance, a journeyman millwright, help out during seeding and harvesting season and at other times when their jobs allow.ìLarry's dad had always said the land was rich and heavy and needs to be opened up so it can breathe,î said Grace of the family's effort to be as environmentally friendly as possible. The farm has been GPS mapped and soil tested to cut down on excessive use of fertilizers and chemicals.ìWhen you take care of the land, the land takes care of you,î she said.The family wasn't just recognized for their farming but also for their stewardship and involvement in the community.The Mullens remember hosting a haunted house during Halloween in their old chicken barn for 13 years, collecting donations for STARS. In the last couple of years they've participated in the Rosebud Food Grains Project and have helped with seeding and sometimes the harvest.The two have coached hockey and softball, and four generations of Mullens have been involved in scouting in Didsbury with 100 years of collective service. Children Karilea, Kent and Lance were part of the American Saddlebred Association and all of them have won awards with their art. Lance rode bulls in the high school rodeo and reached the provincial finals twice. Larry's mother, Joyce, has received best of the show at the Calgary Stampede and Olds Fair.The family plans to keep the farm going into the future and well beyond its 100th year.ìWe hope we can pass the love of this land onto future generations. We know if you take care of the land, it will take care of you,î said Grace.
