Back, l-r: Karen Rosvold, Cori Blum with children Daniel and Emilia, and Sarah and Olin Rosvold with children Lennyn and Torin.  Front, l-r: John and Helen Evjen, Tarril Rosvold with granddaughter Keatyn Rosvold, and Councillor Bob Chrenek. 

By Erika Rolling

Agriculture

Evjen Family honoured with Pioneer Farming Family Award in County of Grande Prairie

Jun 14, 2022 | 4:54 PM

The Evjen family has been given a Pioneer Farming Family Award by the County of Grande Prairie.

They have been ranching in the Valhalla-La Glace area since 1914.

On Saturday, June 11, family members were recognized by the County’s Agricultural Services Board for their contributions to the area over the past century and their heritage in an award presentation on their farm in La Glace.

The family farm spans over five generations, which started out with Ingebrigt Evjen immigrating from Norway in 1912 and arriving in Bawlf, Alberta. He spent a year learning English at the Camrose Lutheran College and applied for a homestead in the Peace County. In 1914. He settled at SW-17-74-9-W6M, east of Valhalla Centre, and in 1922 married Ane Velve.

Tarril Rosvold and his wife Karen, who has served as a County Councillor since 2016, began renting land in 1980, taking over the family operation from his parents, Oleif and Ella in 1985 when his father passed away. Daughters Cori Blum and Jenna Kemp also helped on the farm.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

Tarril says it is a great honour to have his family’s farming legacy acknowledged with an award.

“Our operation has since grown to well over 200 head of cattle. Everything has changed since my grandfather’s time when a half section was a big farm,” Tarril says.

Olin Rosvold, the great-grandson of homesteaders Ingebrigt and Ane Evjen, runs over a 200 cow-calf, Simmental purebred operation with his father and mother (Tarril and Karen), and wife Sarah.

Olin says the award is all from a lot of hard work and good farming.

“It’s a good honour, a lot of people don’t realize how hard it was to start out in this country, I’m pretty proud of my great-grandfather for the effort he put in to help build the community of Valhalla and La Glace area and we do our best to continue on,” Olin says.

“It helps bring pride to our community and very much pride in our family,” he notes.

The Pioneer Farming Family Award recognizes those that have lived and farmed or ranched within the County for over a century, providing the family with a sign to put on their property in recognition of maintaining and farming the homestead through the generations.