A British Columbia publication that has been the go-to source for provincial agriculture news since 1915 is the latest recipient of a Century Farm Award. Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick presented the award to Country Life in BC publisher Peter Wilding last evening at the annual BC Agriculture Council Agri-Food Industry Gala in Abbotsford.

For the first four years, Country Life in BC was initially known as Garden, Orchard and Farm. There have been seven owners over the past century including the BC Fruit Growers Association in the 1930’s and the newspaper was once the voice of the BC Federation of Agriculture.

Today, Country Life in BC has the distinction of being one of the very few Canadian farm publications to reach the 100 year milestone and is the longest-running independently owned farm newspaper in the country. Published monthly, Country Life in BC has more than doubled its size in the past decade and it covers all of B.C.’s agricultural commodities.

Century Farm Awards honour agricultural organizations that have been active for 100 years. The Century Farm award program was created in 1994 to mark the centennial of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Quotes:

Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick -

“I look forward to when a copy of Country Life in BC arrives on my desk each month as the newspaper is always filled with the latest information on B.C. agriculture. Congratulations to everyone at Country Life in BC on reaching this milestone. Century Farm awards are a great way to recognize organizations that have made an impact to the provincial agriculture sector - in the past, present, and well into the future.”

Cathy Glover, assistant editor, Country Life in BC -

“We are very proud to be a part of the legacy of publishers and writers that have been the voice of record for B.C.’s agriculture industry for over 100 years. Country Life in BC has been an institution in farm homes across B.C. for generations and we are honoured that farmers and ranchers come in for coffee and open up our newspaper for their news. We share this milestone with all of them.”

Learn More:

Country Life in BC: http://countrylifeinbc.com/index.html

For more information about B.C.’s Century Farm Program: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/regional/CenturyFarmAwards/CenturyFarms.htm

Media Contacts:

Dave Townsend
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Agriculture
250 356-7098
250 889-5945 (cell)

Cathy Glover
Assistant Editor
Country Life in BC
604 328-3814