The Rural Extension Program is available to help you learn about agriculture, where your food comes from, environmental stewardship, conservation and watersheds.

A wide variety of programs and technical services are available:

  • Providing technical assistance to producers for development of Environmental Farm Plans
  • Watershed projects in the County
  • Help with Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) funding applications
  • Workshops on a variety of topics: Shelterbelts, Ecobuffers, Native Pollinators, Well and Dugout Maintenance
  • Field Tours (in-person and virtual)
  • Youth Agriculture Tours and Classroom Agriculture Presentations
  • High School Environmental Education
  • Support for Watershed Societies
 Watershed Projects

Everyone lives in a watershed. Watersheds influence the landscape and in turn are impacted by human activities. 

The Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance has produced a State of the Watershed Report. It is meant to document and identify significant stewardship challenges and options. 

We are excited to share some projects that have already made a positive impact in our watershed!

 

Alberta Environmental Farm Plan

Alberta Environmental Farm Plan logoThe Alberta Environmental Farm Plan is a voluntary self assessment tool that helps producers identify their environmental risks on the farm.

Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) Funding

Are you a farmer or rancher looking to access funding from the various Canadian Agricultural Partnership – Alberta (CAP) programs?

Your farm or ranch is eligible for grant funding depending on your operation.

Funding opportunities on popular programs such as solar watering systems, fencing, shelterbelts, dugouts, wells and more are available, and still accepting applications. Apply now!

The Primary Producer Farmer Rancher programs have many eligible activities:

For help with the developing an application, contact the Rural Extension Officer.

Workshops

Join us for our upcoming webinar: Species at Risk!

Tune in to learn all about species at risk in the County of Grande Prairie! Guest speaker Lisa Wilkinson (Senior Species at Risk Biologist with Alberta Environment and Parks) will help you understand which species may be near your property, why they are important, and what you can do to help them. This webinar will also provide information to help you complete the new Species at Risk chapter in your Alberta Environmental Farm Plan.

Click here to register!

 Thank you to all who registered for the Planting for Pollinators webinar!

 Whether you are an acreage owner or a producer, these workshops are sure to be of interest and are free to attend!

  • Dugouts
  • Well Maintenance  
  • Shelterbelts and Eco Buffers
  • Grant Opportunities for Producers  
  • Environmental Farm Plans
  • Beavers in our Landscape
  • Native Pollinators and Beneficial Insects
  • Livestock Crossings
  • Watersheds
  • Riparian Health 
  • Regenerative Agriculture Topics 

Check the Events Calendar for upcoming workshops.

Workshops for agriculture producers and other popular stewardship topics are offered throughout the year. 

Tours

Virtual Farm Tours

Grab a coffee and join us for a virtual tour of local farms! Meet the producers in the County of Grande Prairie and learn where your food comes from!

High School Riparian Tour - stay tuned for a virtual tour in 2021!

Riparian Tour

Full-day field trip for high school students that takes place in the springtime.

Students rotate through learning stations along the Beaverlodge River to hear speakers discuss various environmental topics, including:

  • Soils
  • Watersheds
  • Revegetation
  • Wildlife habitat

The tour also includes a sponsored BBQ and various in-class sessions.

Any high school teacher is eligible to enroll their students in the tour by contacting the Rural Extension Officer.

Open Farm Days

Farms across Alberta are opening their gates!

Check out Open Farm Days for a province-wide open house weekend where you can meet your rural neighbours. You'll learn about how food gets to your table, share stories and learn more about the farmers who grow their food.

Plan My Trip

Alberta Envirothon
Unfortunately, the 2021 Alberta Envirothon has been cancelled. Stay tuned for updates in 2022!

Alberta Envirothon helps high school students develop the knowledge, skills and experience they need to actively participate as stewards of natural resources.

Aimed at students in Grades 9-12, the Alberta Envirothon is an annual environmentally themed education competition. The winning team has the chance to represent Alberta at the National Conservation Foundation NCF-Envirothon International competition in addition to receiving cash awards.

This academic-level competition tests students on:

  • Forestry
  • Soils
  • Aquatic ecology
  • Wildlife
  • A current environmental issue and its solutions

 

Photo Gallery: Envirothon will appear here on the public site.

Weed Warriors
Calling all nonprofit groups! This is a win/win fundraising program to help combat scentless chamomile and other noxious weeds in the County of Grande Prairie.
  • Your group will first attend an educational session and orientation before heading out to the site with the County's own Agriculture Assistants.
  • Receive a $500.00 donation plus an extra $100.00 incentive for team spirit or by picking the most weeds!
Requirements
  • Participants must be a minimum of 9 years of age.
  • Participants must wear a team Weed Warriors shirt, gloves and sturdy footwear.
    • The shirt and gloves will be provided

Register Your Group

  

Classroom Agriculture Program
Classroom Agriculture ProgramThis program is temporarily suspended due to COVID restrictions.

Learn where your food comes and why agriculture is so important.

Register for a Classroom Agriculture Presentation for your Grade 4 classroom and you'll receive a one-hour, in-class presentation from a local producer or agriculture professional.  

Register Here!

Classrooms that have taken part in the Classroom Agriculture Program are eligible to take part in the Youth Agricultural Tour, a hands-on experience with local farmers in the County of Grande Prairie.

 

Youth Agriculture

 

West County Watershed Society
The West County Watershed Society is proud to be in partnership with the County of Grande Prairie and other agencies such as:

"Working together to create awareness and takes action to improve water quality and riparian health in the Beaverlodge River watershed."

This community-based organization consists of local producers, recreational users and community members.

The group works to:

  • Increase the adoption of better management practices
  • Increase awareness of water conservation and local water quality issues
  • Take community-based action
  • Monitor watershed health
  • Support educational programs for watershed users 

Clairmont Lake Bioswale Project 

Did you know that the health of Clairmont Lake is protected by Bioswales? 

Bioswales are landscape elements designed to concentrate or remove debris and pollution from surface runoff water. They are a natural filtration system that consists of a drainage swale with gently sloped sides, filled with vegetation, compost and/or riprap.

Here is an overview of the Bioswales in Clairmont:

With urban areas generating as much as 20 times more runoff than natural landscapes, these bioswales minimize erosion, filter and cleanse runoff from roads in a small footprint using carefully placed vegetation, plants and soils.

Bioswales have tremendous environmental benefits, including:

  • Treating stormwater and reducing polluted stormwater runoff
  • Minimizing erosion
  • Helping to maintain the health of the Clairmont Lake

Resources

Looking for more information about conservation, land stewardship, watersheds or agriculture?