Tyler W.

Milk River, Alberta

Southern Alberta Regional Heritage Fair

History of Farming in Canada

My project is about how farming started in Canada. I live on a farm in Alberta and wanted to learn more about the beginning of farming in Canada.

 

 

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

I learned that for $10 early settlers could buy 160 acres of land to start their farm. This helped to settle the West by making it easier to own land. At first you had to be 21 years old to apply for land, but then they lowered the age to 18.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

Early farming was very difficult. It was also very important for settling Western Canada. The early pioneers worked hard to make a home and produce grain. Today farmers have big machinery to farm more acres faster.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

My life on the farm today is a lot easier. We have big farm machinery to work the fields and computers and technology. We still work long days, but cover more ground. We also haven't had any hardships like the Dirty 30s to deal with.