DEADLINE NEARS FOR 2007 CENTURY FAMILY FARM AWARDS

Information Services Corporation of Saskatchewan (ISC) is now accepting applications for the 2007 Century Family Farm Awards.  Introduced in 1981, the award honours the contributions of families who have farmed the same land continuously for 100 years or more.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the Century Family Farm Award:

• Members of the same family have farmed the land continuously for 100 years or more.
• Applicants are eligible for one award per family.
• The family must live in Saskatchewan and continue to operate the farm.
• The application form must be completed in full, and ISC will search for all required historical documentation on the applicant’s behalf, free of charge.

ISC and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food first partnered on the awards in 2005 as part of the province’s Centennial celebrations.  This is the first year ISC will manage all aspects of the program.

“Combining the distribution of historic documents with the Century Family Farm Awards is a natural evolution for ISC and will simplify the application process,” Minister responsible for ISC Eric Cline said.  “Applicants previously had to supply all required historical documentation with their application.  As the provincial Crown corporation responsible for the administration of land titles, ISC will now conduct a search of its online database on the applicant’s behalf, free of charge.  Each recipient will also receive a copy of their original land grant along with their award.”

“The family farm represents the traditions and heritage upon which our province was built,” Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said.  “Now, we are making it easier for families to apply for the Century Family Farm Awards and be recognized for their perseverance and their contribution to Saskatchewan’s agriculture industry.”

The deadline to submit an application to receive a 2007 Century Family Farm Award is April 30.  Awards will be handed out in-person at events held at ISC’s customer service centres around the province in June.

For more information on Century Family Farm Award options and to download a copy of the application form, please visit www.isc.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Grant Bastedo
Information Services Corporation
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3447
Email: grant.bastedo@isc.ca 

Scott Brown
Agriculture and Food
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4031
Email: sbrown@agr.gov.sk.ca