A Beaverlodge-Albright area farming family is the recipient of a 100 Years of Farming Pioneer Farming Family Award.  

Eric and Barb Hodges and family have been recognized by the Agricultural Services Board for the family’s contributions to agriculture and the County’s heritage. The award pays tribute to families that have farmed or ranched in the County of Grande Prairie for 100 years continuously on land they own or have rented. The County will provide a wrought-iron-style sign for their property in recognition of their 100+ years of farming.  

The Hodges family have farmed in the area since 1915 when Eric’s father, Venn, arrived from England to settle on a homestead at SW 15-72-10 W6M. That property was sold and they continued to live and farm on SE 29-72-10 W6M. Venn helped establish the 4-H Club in Beaverlodge in 1950, the first within the County of Grande Prairie. Eric, one of four sons, was a member at age 12.  

“Family farms and the agricultural sector continue to be a strong foundation of the County of Grande Prairie,” said Sonja Raven, Agricultural Fieldman. “It’s important to recognize the commitment and investment of these community builders in this key industry and to life in the area. We congratulate the Hodges for their contributions for more than 100 years and extend our best wishes for continued success.”  

The Hodges farm a total of 2,000 acres and their operation includes grain and cattle. Eric Hodges is proud of the recognition and what it means to his family heritage.  

“This award is a tribute to my Dad,” he says. It certainly wasn’t easy to homestead this land 100 years ago. I don’t know how they did it. Legacy farming became a way of life in the area. I’ve known the neighbours since we all went to the rural school in Beaverlodge, the only one in the district at the time.” 

The family farming tradition is now deeply rooted. Eric’s sons Darrell and Keith and grandson, Keiran, carry on the operations, cultivating the same land homesteaded by Venn more than a century ago. Their daughter, Beverley Marshall, also lives in the area.  

“The work of farming and connecting with the land are very rewarding,” Hodges says. “It’s a good life and I enjoy every minute of it. It’s pretty special to see our two sons now farming the land that’s been in our family all this time.”  

Applications for the 100 Years of Farming Awards are accepted throughout the year. 

For more information about the 100 Years of Farming Awards, and to apply or nominate a family for an award, visit countygp.ab.ca/100years.