Back to SearchKen and Sherry Drysdale, with their children and grandchildren, are the County of Grande Prairie’s 2023 Farm Family. The award recognizes a local farm family that has made significant contributions to agriculture and their community. This year marks the 55th year of the award.
“The County congratulates Ken and Sherry Drysdale of Kendal Farms on being named the 2023 Farm Family of the Year,” said Sonja Raven, Agricultural Fieldman. “With more than a century of farming history in this area and generations of commitment to their community, the family continues their legacy of excellence in agricultural production and giving back to their community.”
Ken and Sherry, with their children, and grandchildren farm 4,500 acres of grains and oilseed, as well as grass seed. Ken’s grandfather began the farming legacy in 1928 when he began farming near Clairmont. With the encouragement of their father Norman, Ken and brother Larry secured an ADC loan in 1974 and bought land south of Valleyview, next to the family cattle lease. In the late seventies, Ken began a successful pipeline career to help pay for the farm. In 1996, he had the good fortune to return to the Grande Prairie area and began grain farming four miles north of Costco in 1999. Ken and Sherry continued to grow the grain farm and maintain the family values of agricultural excellence and helping others in the community.
“I am very humbled that our family has received this honour,” said Ken Drysdale upon receiving the news of their award. “Knowing the calibre of past Farm Families, it is incredible to me that we are included in the same category.”
Ken and his family have been active in their community, supporting the Evergreen Park Agricultural Society, local 4H clubs, Sexsmith Heritage Society, area curling rinks and Rotary Clubs. Ken and Sherry have also been instrumental in the development of Maskwa Medical Clinic which will provide advanced diagnostic services for the local area. The family has also been involved in raising funds for aid for Ukraine families. In 2022, Kendal Farms donated 80 acres to grow sunflowers that were harvested and sold locally for birdseed. All funds raised went to the Rotary Clubs Ukrainian Relief Fund to assist families in settling in the region. Kendal Farms also allowed members of the public to use the sunflower field for family and wedding photos.
The Drysdale Family will be officially acknowledged at a banquet at the Peace Country Classic Agri-Show on March 10, 2023. Tickets are available for purchase by contacting the Agriculture department at 780-532-9727. The Farm Family Award is a tradition in the County dating back to 1969. More information about the Farm Family Awards Program is available at www.countygp.ab.ca/farmfamily.
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Media Contacts:
Sonja Raven, P.Ag
Agricultural Fieldman
County of Grande Prairie
780-876-6936
Ken and Sherry Drysdale
2023 County of Grande Prairie Farm Family Award Recipients
780-831-0796
Photo caption:
The Drysdale of Kendal Farms is the County of Grande Prairie’s 2023 Farm Family. Pictured (back, l-r) are Ken and Sherry Drysdale with grandsons (seated l-r) Ari and Nate Jones. Standing, (l-r) their son-in-law Dave Huntus and daughter Sarah Huntus; sons Kyle and Craig Drysdale, grandson Kaden Drysdale, daughter Tegan Martin-Drysdale, son-in-law Richard Jones, and granddaughter Gwen Jones. Seated in the front are grandchildren Kobe Drysdale, Haley Fenton-Drysdale, and Aria Huntus.