They say that history repeats itself and usually it is used in a negative context. But a recent presentation to Strathmore Town Council has revealed that repeating history isn’t all bad.  

Bruce Klaiber presented an idea to the council on December 1, something that he has been working on for five years. Klaiber and a team of over 25 people have been looking into rebuilding the old CPR demonstration farm just outside of town.  

After the Western Irrigation District was established in 1910, a demonstration bard was built to showcase the benefits of irrigation and entice settlers to become farmers.  

“They decided that Strathmore was an ideal place to build that farm and was noted across the world. At one time, the demonstration farm had the largest dairy herd in North America,” explained Klaiber during the presentation.  

“By 1928 the farm had produced and sold 10,000 head of livestock, 7,000 Sheep, 1,300 head of hogs, and 1,000 horses. It was really quite important to the development in the area here.” 

Klaiber went on to say that the demonstration farm not only shaped how Strathmore was built but also the agriculture in the area and the world.  

“The irrigation project and the demonstration farm, they changed Canadian history. And all you have to do is look at the development that happened around here in the county and southern Alberta.” 

The team behind this project is hoping to turn the new and improved demonstration farm into a tourism destination in Strathmore educating on agricultural practices.  

The council accepted this presentation as information and an Area Structure Plan will be presented to the council in the new year.