Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely dropped by the Tom and Laurie Leslie farm on Friday, Aug. 28 to present the family with a Century Farm and Ranch Award. Tom (seated, with the plaque) and his wife Laurie, along with their children Chuck (top left) his wife Brooklyn, and daughter Michelle, with their grandchildren Leo (left of Tom) and Axel (on Laurie’s lap) were very pleased to receive the award. Grandsons Leo and Axel represent the fifth generation of Leslies, the great-great-grandchildren of Thomas Lyon and Ella Leslie.

Tom and Laurie Leslie are the latest Flagstaff recipients of the Alberta Century Farm and Ranch Award, representing 100-plus years since Thomas Lyon and Ella Leslie settled on the farm at SW 33-41-13-W4, south of Merna Church.

The Leslie’s immediate family, son Chuck and his wife Brooklyn, with their two children Axel and Leo, and their daughter Michelle were on hand to celebrate the occasion, along with Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely, who travelled to the farm to present the plaque in person on Friday, Aug. 28.

Thomas Lyon Leslie came west in 1905 as far as Winnipeg to help a cousin harvest, and was convinced to homestead himself.

He originally purchased land at Wavy Lake near Strome, but when he found his land covered with water, cancelled that purchase, moving to a CPR quarter south of Strome.

He stayed there for one year, and after harvesting his first crop, moved to the Gretna district in 1907, building a frame house and barn before returning to Ontario for Christmas.

Shortly after Christmas, he married wife Ella, returning west that February, in 1908.

After proving that homestead, he purchased another quarter, this time NW 33-41-2 from cousin Frank Leslie.

In 1915, their house was destroyed in a fire, and the family, grown to four children, stayed with the neighbours until spring, when they built a new house on their present location at SW 33-41-W4. They went on to have three more children.

Thomas Lyons Leslie was interested in raising cattle, and during the depression, the family milked cows and had a small dairy.

When Ella passed away in 1945, son Tom and his family moved in with Thomas, staying at the home quarter when Thomas moved to other land then retired.