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Happy Birthday Columbia Valley agriculture association

Contributor
By Contributor
July 27th, 2014

The name has been changed several times but the commitment to promoting agriculture and rural life has remained the same.

The Windermere District Farmers’ Institute and Livestock Association (WDFI) was presented with a Century Farm Award at a Centenary Celebration in Windermere Sunday.

The WDFI was incorporated in 1914 under the B.C. Agricultural Association Act as the Windermere Farmers’ Institute – Incorporation #91. The institute’s first membership fees were set at “Fifty Cents”.

“We are very pleased to be the recipient of the Century Farm Award which demonstrates the long history the WDFI has in working to achieve and maintain a thriving agricultural community in the Columbia Valley,” Brian McKersie, president, Windermere District Farmers’ Institute and Livestock Association.

“Since 2010 we have been planning to build a locally operated, provincially inspected abattoir and we are excited to combine our Centennial Celebration with the sod turning for this facility.”

In 1964, the WDFI started co-operatively buying fertilizer and feed for its members and three years later they purchased a store in Athalmer and opened the doors of their first Co-op. In 1973, the institute acquired a 20 acre fairground property and moved the Co-op to this new location.

“It is through the hard work of volunteers in organizations such as the Windermere District Farmers’ Institute and Livestock Association that provides British Columbia with our rich agriculture history,” said Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick.

“I want to congratulate the WDFI on their century of success and for being great ambassadors for the entire Columbia Valley.”

Today, the fairground property, now called Agri Park, is still proudly owned by the WDFI. The institute plans to develop the property for the benefit of agriculture and food security in the local area starting with the construction of an abattoir. The WDFI is looking forward to another 100 years of representing the interests of the agricultural community from Canal Flats to Golden.

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

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