ATHABSACA – When we think of a pioneer, we think of someone who has blazed the way and endured the hardships and hard work encountered on that journey, and yet survived and thrived through all the ups and downs.
And that pretty much describes Minnie Skiba of the Prosperity area of Athabasca County near Boyle who has been honoured as the 2022 Pioneer Farm Woman of the Year.
She was presented with the award at the 39th-annual Farm Women’s Conference and Awards presented by Athabasca County and the Agriculture Service Board Feb. 9 at the Grassland Community Hall.
In the nomination from Eileen Hoffman and Nellie Cholach, we learn that 82-year-old Minnie Skiba grew up on a farm and has significantly contributed to the farming community all her life in the Prosperity area since the 1960s as a farmer’s wife, but also on her own for a time, working to keep her four young children fed and cared for.
In 1972, when her children were just 13, 12, 10 and seven, she lost her husband in a tragic accident. But she pioneered on to keep food on the table for her growing family, milking 10 cows to have cream cheques for groceries. And meanwhile, all the farm work continued with her at the lead, which included caring for pigs, cows, and broiler chickens and doing tractor work in the fields. She also sold eggs to Amber Valley and Prosperity residents (and still does to this day). Minnie’s garden was a staple to provide food, and excess produce was either sold or given to neighbours.
She remarried in 1975 but continued to work hard with farm tasks. The nominators for her award notes life was a bit easier with another adult on the farm to help grow the farm and fix and maintain equipment. Minnie was again widowed in 2002 but continued the farming operation with her adult sons.
They also note, “Minnie’s determination to succeed on the farm may have been slowed down twice during grief and loss, but her fortitude and willpower to continue on through the seasons has proven how tough she is.”
“(But) no matter how tough times are, the highs and lows of life on the farm, Minnie remains positive and looks optimistically towards happiness, health and welfare to others.”
In addition to working directly on the farm itself, still working around the barn and garden, she has taken produce to sell at Long Lake Farmer’s Market and has gifted many more vegetables to family and neighbours. “Minnie has the greenest of thumbs and consistently cans, pickles, bakes and freezes goods to last the year.”
They also note: “Within her immediate family today, she is probably best known for her culinary skills. Meals around her kitchen table are precisely hosted at 7:30 a.m. and noon daily for her sons, who actively farm together, and the table always has open seats additionally for her daughters, and any partners, grandchildren, family or friends who wish to drop in.
“As with any farm operation, regular and reliable hotshot taxi service for parts and sustenance is needed — to town and the field and is often completed by Minnie when her sons require assistance.”
Skiba also has an active life beyond the farm as her nominators noted she has been a strong contributor towards her immediate and surrounding communities, volunteering her time at community halls including, but not limited to Provista Hall, Grassland Hall and Boyle Hall. She is currently a board member for the Boyle Drop-in Centre, working bingos and other activities to help keep the centre going.
Minnie has also helped at weddings, funerals, farm sales, and any other time that a community event was in need of kitchen help.
In addition to all of this, she has assisted with church and graveyard cleaning in Spruce Valley, and her nominators add, “Minnie is ‘good people’, she has been an excellent community member, neighbour, and friend.”
Each year, during the annual Farm Women’s Conference and Awards event, presentations are made to both a Pioneer Farm Woman of the Year and a Modern Farm Woman of the Year. The 2022 Modern Farm Woman of the Year award was presented to Shannon Knott of Rochester (see story next week).
Although the formal event was held the past two years due to COVID-19 restriction, presentations were still made as Beth Gunderson was named the 2020 Pioneer Farm Woman of the Year, and Carol Burden was the 2020 Modern Farm Woman of the Year, while last year Gladys Markowski was named the 2021 Pioneer Farm Woman of the Year, and Candice Gislason the 2021 Modern Farm Woman of the Year.