Cypress County council backs advocacy to province for Suffield Grazing Co-op

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on August 21, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

Cypress County has agreed to a letter of support regarding the future of the Suffield Grazing Co-op.

The land has seen interest from private farms now that the province seeks a longer lease, and as such the co-op requested support in regards to being able to continue to operate the community pasture, in the form of a letter.. The co-op consists of roughly 70 producers which use the land for grazing.

Concerns were raised in discussion in regards to the fairness of the county putting in support for a specific group or person over another involving the bidding process for the lease and the purview of council in such matters, especially when two councillors are members of the co-op themselves.

The affected councillors did recuse themselves from the corresponding vote, which ultimately passed the motion to send the letter supporting the continued use of the land by the Suffield Grazing Co-op.

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