Calgary Stampede Photo

Brad, Dave, Dennis and Debra Rowney were honoured at the Calgary Stampede, July 9. The family, which has farmed in the Madden area since the 1920s, won the BMO 2012 Farm Family Award representing Rocky View County for their contributions to agriculture.

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Madden family honoured at Calgary Stampede

Dennis and Dave Rowney are familiar with the farming lifestyle.

As siblings, the brothers, now 62 and 58, respectively, grew up on the family’s Madden-area farm, a half-section purchased by their father William Rowney, who was originally from England, in 1945.

The love of farming is what has kept the siblings in the business and their passion has paid off, as the brothers were recently honoured with the 2012 Farm Family Award representing Rocky View.

The Rowneys, along with 19 other southern Alberta families, were honoured at a special ceremony at the Calgary Stampede, July 9. Recipients were chosen by the Alberta Agricultural Service Board based on the impact they have had to the farming community and their outstanding contributions to the agriculture sector.

The mixed grain farmers took the honour in stride.

“We are very honoured to get the award,” said Dennis. “I was very surprised when the (County of Rocky View) called us.”

A family man with two grown children, Dennis said the brothers farm six quarter sections along with a number of rented parcels. Recently, Dave sold his beef cattle to focus on barley and canola.

Dennis attributes the Stampede honour partly to the volunteering the duo has done over the past 25 years.

“I have volunteered for the fire department for about 30 years, my brother for 25 years,” said Dennis, who has also been involved with the Madden Agricultural Society.

Dave agreed, saying he feels, “Very privileged and very honoured” to have been a recipient of the award. Dave is the Madden Fire Department treasurer and has been active in local sports associations.

Dennis also curls and makes ice at the local rink.

“I think it is very important (to volunteer) in the community or it will all dry up and go away,” said Dennis , who has also driven a school bus in the area for 30 years.

Dennis promotes the importance of attending community events, saying having a presence and contributing at events is important for the well being of the community.

“We have a visit. It’s a support group, a gossip group,” he said. “We find out what the neighbours are doing. If you don’t do it, it is probably going to go away and we don’t want that.”

Dennis said the demographic in the Madden area has also changed over the years.

“It has gotten older,” he said, adding it is nice see young people get involved in the community.

There have been a number of changes since the brothers took over the farm in the early 1970s.

“It’s a big effort to keep up,” said Dennis. “Everything’s going computerized. I’m of a generation that didn’t really get into the computers, but I have to learn it.”

Dennis added the brothers are working towards a zero/minimum till operation and purchasing some updated equipment was necessary to do so. The increasing costs have made it more difficult for farmers, he added.

“When I bought my first piece of land, I wondered when I’d ever get out of debt – and that was only $40,000,” said Dennis. “A half-ton (truck) is worth that, now.”

Despite the difficulties, the draw of farming, including the ability to set your own hours, makes it worth it for the brothers.

“If you have the passion for farming, go for it, it takes an extreme passion and hard work to do it,” said Dave.

Dennis has plans to retire.

“I like doing it,” said Dennis. “I am going to keep doing this until I can’t.”

Dennis and Dave Rowney are familiar with the farming lifestyle.

As siblings, the brothers, now 62 and 58, respectively, grew up on the family’s Madden-area farm, a half-section purchased by their father William Rowney, who was originally from England, in 1945.

The love of farming is what has kept the siblings in the business and their passion has paid off, as the brothers were recently honoured with the 2012 Farm Family Award representing Rocky View.

The Rowneys, along with 19 other southern Alberta families, were honoured at a special ceremony at the Calgary Stampede, July 9. Recipients were chosen by the Alberta Agricultural Service Board based on the impact they have had to the farming community and their outstanding contributions to the agriculture sector.

The mixed grain farmers took the honour in stride.

“We are very honoured to get the award,” said Dennis. “I was very surprised when the (County of Rocky View) called us.”

A family man with two grown children, Dennis said the brothers farm six quarter sections along with a number of rented parcels. Recently, Dave sold his beef cattle to focus on barley and canola.

Dennis attributes the Stampede honour partly to the volunteering the duo has done over the past 25 years.

“I have volunteered for the fire department for about 30 years, my brother for 25 years,” said Dennis, who has also been involved with the Madden Agricultural Society.

Dave agreed, saying he feels, “Very privileged and very honoured” to have been a recipient of the award. Dave is the Madden Fire Department treasurer and has been active in local sports associations.

Dennis also curls and makes ice at the local rink.

“I think it is very important (to volunteer) in the community or it will all dry up and go away,” said Dennis , who has also driven a school bus in the area for 30 years.

Dennis promotes the importance of attending community events, saying having a presence and contributing at events is important for the well being of the community.

“We have a visit. It’s a support group, a gossip group,” he said. “We find out what the neighbours are doing. If you don’t do it, it is probably going to go away and we don’t want that.”

Dennis said the demographic in the Madden area has also changed over the years.

“It has gotten older,” he said, adding it is nice see young people get involved in the community.

There have been a number of changes since the brothers took over the farm in the early 1970s.

“It’s a big effort to keep up,” said Dennis. “Everything’s going computerized. I’m of a generation that didn’t really get into the computers, but I have to learn it.”

Dennis said the brothers are working towards a zero/minimum till operation and purchasing some updated equipment was necessary to do so. The increasing costs have made it more difficult for farmers, he added.

“When I bought my first piece of land, I wondered when I’d ever get out of debt – and that was only $40,000,” said Dennis. “A half-ton (truck) is worth that, now.”

Despite the difficulties, the draw of farming, including the ability to set your own hours, makes it worth it for the brothers.

“If you have the passion for farming, go for it, it takes an extreme passion and hard work to do it,” said Dave.

Dennis has no plans to retire.

“I like doing it,” said Dennis. “I am going to keep doing this until I can’t.”

dsmith@airdrie.greatwest.ca