The McNeill family has been named Cypress County's 2025 Farm Family of the Year.--Image courtesy Cypress County
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Cypress County’s Farm family of the year for 2025 believes it isn’t over until the yield is in the bin, but they can already count the award as something to take home this summer.
Devin McNeill and his wife Danielle started farming in 2008, purchasing their family farm in 2016. Their grain operation hosts a five-year crop rotation including pulses, cereals and oil seeds, with a focus on keeping up with the technological changes in the field to ensure their success.
“If you want something, you’ve got to work for it,” says Devin, a third-generation farmer who grew up in Bindloss. “You can’t make any major decisions until the crop is in the bin. Even then, issues can arise.”
Together with their four children – Tyson, Emit, Aria and Boyd – they will by enjoying festivities this July after being selected months ago by the Cypress County Agricultural Service Board. The family will be feted as one of the 19 BMO Farm family Awards at the Calgary Stampede on July 7, as well as receive a plaque as county award winners during the Medicine Hat Stampede’s evening show on July 25.
Their nominee wrote in that the family is deeply involved in the Hilda community, and has been since they moved into the area initially.
“From volunteering in the fire department, Hilda and Community Association and at Schuler School, they are willing to work with their hands and their minds to make the area a better place,” said the nominee.
We enjoy helping where we can and have always believed that these positions are very important in small communities,” said Danielle. “If we don’t have enough involvement, they may disappear and never return again.”
Danielle grew up in Cypress County and is involved in myriad volunteer opportunities, from school council in Schuler to the Elkwater Ski Club, various community and school committees, among others.
Currently captain of Station 8, Devin has earned his 10-year award from fire services, and was one of the directors on the 2017 wildfire recovery committee. He remains with the community association to this day.
In their operation, Devin said one of the most important things is to follow your gut and do what feels right, and take care of the land you rely on.
“They don’t make any more land, so you’ve got to make sure it’s in the best interest of the land, always,” said Devin. “You’ve got to find that balance.”
With the current dry conditions in recent years, that has meant looking into more drought-resistant crops and products to prevent damage to the land in the years to come, and always working to improve his soil health.
“It’s nice to feel appreciated for our hard work and the contributions that we make within our community” says Devin. “We are lucky to live this blessed lifestyle.”
