The Province recently recognized the Brady Ranch with a Century Farm Award for a century of hard work and contributions the family has made to B.C.'s agriculture industry and economy.

Century Farm Awards honour pioneers whose farms and ranches have been in families for 100 years or more, as well as agricultural organizations that have been active for a century or longer. Each Century Farm Award celebrates the rich heritage of farming and ranching families and organizations in British Columbia.

Baxter Brady came to British Columbia in 1905 and first settled along the Fraser River. He later decided that he wanted to go farther north and obtained land near the Halfway River in the Peace River district.

In 1911, he erected some buildings on the new land and, over the course of a few years, trailed his cattle to the new location. In 1914, he traded for land farther north in the Cypress Creek area near Pink Mountain which is a rural farming area situated 125 km northwest of Fort St. John. Baxter did all his farming with horses and dogs, and the cattle were divided among the three quarters of land that he managed.

In 1957, the home quarter was transferred to Patrick Brady. Pat now works the home quarter and raises hay, green feed and horses. He also leads trail rides. Besides the home quarter, Mr. Brady owns two other parcels of land.

To view downloadable photos of the award presentation, please visit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgovphotos/sets/72157626295553182/show

Quote:

Minister of Agriculture Don McRae -

"Congratulations to the Brady family for reaching this exciting and impressive milestone in their ranch's history. Their dedication has contributed to British Columbia's long legacy of food production and agriculture."

Quick Facts:

• To date, 95 family farms or organizations have received the Century Farm Award.
• The Century Farm award program was created in 1994 to mark the centennial of the Ministry of Agriculture.
• Nine out of ten B.C. farms are family owned and operated.

Learn More:

For more information about B.C.'s Century Farm Program, see:

http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/regional/CenturyFarmAwards/CenturyFarms.htm

Media Contact:

Kathryn Hardy
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Agriculture
250 387-1693