Bouchers win Family Farm Award
Richard Froese
Smoky River Express
A Jean Cote family was one of several recipients in northern and central Alberta honoured with the 2011 Northlands Park “Farm Family Award” presented in partnership with Alberta Treasury Branch.
This year’s recipient for the Municipal District of Smoky River was Boucher Farms with Lucien and Pierrette Boucher, their sons Jean (wife Florence) Boucher and Bert Boucher as well as grandson Denis (wife Lizanne) Boucher.
“We were very surprised and honoured to be chosen for this award,” said Bert Boucher.
All families were honoured as local recipients who were presented their award November 9 at a ceremony in Edmonton during Farmfair International.
The Bouchers were delighted that M. D. Councillor André Trudeau joined the celebration.
These awards recognize outstanding northern and central Alberta farm families who best reflect the values of the family farm and their communities.
Recipients are nominated by the Agricultural Service Boards and evaluated by their farming expertise and community involvement.
The Boucher family is the type of family that works hard yet gets involved in every aspect of the community, states Florence Boucher who summarized their life on the farm and in the community.
It’s safe to say that if anything worthwhile happens in Jean Cote, the Bouchers are involved.
That is true whether it’s a huge, widely-successful event like the Jean Cote 75th anniversary homecoming that took place in 2010 or simply keeping the outdoor arena and the cultural centre parking lot cleared of snow.
Lucien and Pierrette have instilled a love of family, of community, and of farming in their children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren.
An attitude of “If am able to do this for my community, I will” has been passed through the generations.
The Boucher farm was established in 1931 by Lucien’s father, Henry Boucher. Lucien took over from his father in the late 1960s.
Then sons Jean and Bert then started farming with their father at an early age before they took over the farming operation in 1984.
Fourth generation
In 2008, the fourth generation family joined the farm.
This fall the Boucher family celebrated 80 years of farming – something they are all proud of. Bouchers farm a total of 4,000 acres of grain crops, usually wheat and canola.
The main farm is located half a mile west of the Jean Cote turn off and the secondary farm located three miles down the road.
When asked about why they still remain in farming and what has kept the family going on despite economic tough times and challenges, the answer is simple;
“Everything today has a risk factor, we love doing what we do.”
They are well respected for their farming practices.
“When you sit down with this family, it’s easy to see the respect, love and admiration they feel for each other,” said Norm Boulet, agricultural fieldman for the Municipal District of Smoky River.
“One generation is not more important than the next, everyone’s opinion and ideas are worthwhile, and the natural abilities and gifts of each are used to the best effect in the farm, or in the community.”
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