MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY — The Ungers who farm near the East Olds Baptist Church in Mountain View County have been named a BMO Farm Family.
Each year, the Calgary Stampede honours Alberta farm families through the BMO Farm Family awards to celebrate the values, traditions, and community contributions that family farms make to society.
Alberta Agriculture Service Board representatives from the various districts/municipalities nominate the families. Nineteen farm families from across the province were nominated for 2025.
The H&V Unger Farm was recognized for nearly a century of farming and community service in Mountain View County. In 2030, the farm will be 100 years old.
Mark Unger, one of two sons running Unger farms, says he and his brother Loren dedicated the award to their mom and dad.
“We dedicated the award to H&V Unger farms, which is Harry and Verna,” he said during an interview with the Albertan.
Back in December, the family learned they’d be receiving the award. Harry was still alive back then, but sadly, he passed away in February at 97 years of age.
“He was definitely the patriarch of the farm. And he loved it. He had a passion for it, and definitely passed that down to us, that's for sure,” Unger said.
Unger was asked what it means to receive a Farm Family award.
“That's pretty deep question,” he said. “I mean, we're pretty honoured with the fact that we were chosen, but I don't know if we feel overly deserving.”
Unger said every farm family probably deserves an award for dealing with bad weather, family dynamics, mental health and changes in government policy.
Mark and Loren took over the farm in the mid- to late-1980s. Initially they farmed together, but eventually created separate operations, although they still share equipment and labour.
Mark’s wife Debbie and Loren’s wife Karen are also key people in those operations. They do a lot of volunteer work in the community as well. The families strongly support the East Olds Baptist Church.
Unger said in the early days, they had a lot of cattle, but got rid of a lot of them when, in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) hit Canadian cattle and several markets were closed to Canadian beef.
Unger said at that point he did the math and decided cattle were too much work for the return.
“Now we grow basically a three-year rotation of canola, wheat and barley, and then we do grow some forage as well; some oats and some hay,” he said.
Unger said likely one reason they received the award is they’re one of the last farms in the county without one.
“I think it was Division 7’s turn,” he said. “There aren’t a lot of real long legacy families left.”
Unger was asked if they’re doing anything innovative on the farm.
Not especially, he said, although he said they’re “good stewards of the land.”
“I have no doubts that it's going to be in better shape when I pass it (on),” he said. “The soil health definitely is better. We're direct seeding. The land’s not blowing in the spring.”
Solar panels were installed on a shed about three years ago and Unger is amazed at the quick return that’s generating.
“I was pleasantly surprised, because I thought it would be like a 10 or 12-year payback, but it'll probably be more of a six or seven-year payback. Crazy, I haven't had a power bill in three years. I have a fairly decent sized credit.
“Actually, I should, probably should take it out and go on a trip with it,” he said with a laugh.
Unger was asked if the farm operations will be passed on to their kids.
He said his son Daylen has expressed some interest in running the farm. His daughter Jensyn, a nurse, has gone back to school to become a teacher. Unger said Loren’s kids have moved away.
