The Cash Family receives a BMO Farm Family Award at the Calgary Stampede this week (photo courtesy Olivia Fraczkowski, BMO)

By Charles Lefebvre

Family honoured

Cypress County family receive BMO Farm Family Award

Jul 11, 2019 | 5:24 PM

CYPRESS COUNTY, AB — A Cypress County family was recognized at the Calgary Stampede this week for their work in keeping the family farm alive.

The Cash Family, who run the Cash Cattle Company, were among 19 families in southern Alberta to receive BMO Farm Family Awards. The awards recognize the contributions Alberta families make to agriculture.

“My neighbour here (Dustin Vossler) is a County councillor, and he drove in one day and said, you won the award,” said Arlin Cash, co-owner of the company, on Thursday. “I had no clue of being nominated or anything to that extent.”

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Farming has been in the family for generations, and they’ve been running the company just outside of Medicine Hat. In addition to cattle, the family also grows crops on their land.

Arlin says he is preparing his two sons to help take over the farm one day, and he is proud of his ability to keep the farm in the family.

“It’s working together as a family, and trying different things and trying to expand as a family,” he said. “It seems like that’s not common in agriculture anymore. It seems like kids all want to leave and get the big money somewhere else or whatever. So, I think that’s what it is, recognizing that, that the kids are staying on the farm.”

The family will also be recognized during the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede Rodeo later this month.

Municipal districts in southern Alberta nominate one family each year for the award.

The families receive a custom gate sign and spend the afternoon at the Calgary Stampede rodeo.