Armstrongs celebrate 100 years of farming
By Joan Armstrong Times Submission
Photo Courtesy of Armstrong family
Rick and Harriet and their son Jamie and his wife Lisa along with daughter Riley still live and farm at the original homestead. Families came from Vancouver Island, Edmonton, Medicine Hat, Calgary, Red Deer, Strathmore, High River, Hanna, Trochu, Drumheller and of course Hussar.
This long weekend is the usual gathering of many of the descendants for the Armstrong reunion; however, to celebrate the 100 years, Rick, Harriet, Jamie and Lisa worked to make it special.
As usual, the day began at the Sundowners Senior Centre in Hussar for a wonderful meal. Ben Armstrong made presentations of certificates from the federal government, provincial government and a plaque from Wheatland County to honour this milestone. Ben told some stories that included how young Chris Armstrong was when he left Ontario to find his way at 14 years of age. He worked his way across the United States and Canada at ranches and railroads and ended up in Oregon with his wife, Lulu. They left a farm that was just four miles from town, had electricity and running water and moved to the shack in the middle of the Alberta prairie. No electricity, no running water – heck, they had to trade their car for a horse and buggy because there weren’t roads. And as Ben said to the young people attending, he did this without a cell phone, credit cards or any way to get assistance from the family he was leaving.
Then Gordon Armstrong presented rocks that he and Joan had picked from the land to the first cousins. The rocks were polished and had a small plaque on each one that stated: Remember Your Roots – Armstrong Heritage Farm 1919-2019.
The afternoon then included a visit out to the original homestead where Rick, Harriet, Jamie and Lisa had many antiques on display for the family visitors to look at and learn about. There were relatives that had never been on a “working farm,” thus the time spent was very interesting as many farming family members explained what the various implements and household items were for. It was interesting to hear how Rick and Jamie had pulled some of the older machinery out of weeds to put them on display (all might not have been fun – old wagon wheels do not always move well after many years).
Many then left from the farm; however, others came back to the Sundowners Centre to enjoy more of the ample food that was there for their enjoyment. Visiting continued and then as they left we heard, “this was awesome – see you next year.”