While the Stanger roots of farming in the area go back more than 100 years, it was 65 years ago that Ron Stanger began building his own family homestead in the Munson- Michichi area.

His father, James, came from the Orkney Islands to the Orkney District in 1908.  Of course, the area west of Drumheller had no name when the land was opened to homesteaders shortly after the turn of the century, but there was an influx of Scottish settlers that made it home.

“That is why it was called Orkney, because so many from the Orkney Islands settled there. They were all friends,” explains Ron.  He came with his sister-in-law as his brother was already in Canada. 

 The first few years were trying, James wasn’t able to put up much of a crop, and then World War I broke out. By 1919, he was able to go back to Scotland to pick up his sweetheart Isabella. They were married in 1920 and had four sons.

By 1951, it was time for Ron to strike out on his own. He rented some land in the Munson-Michichi area. With equipment on loan from his father, he planted his first crops. He was married to Marie that fall. 

“We rented land for a few years and then started buying, so I have been farming ever since,” he said. 

“I didn’t even have equipment when I started. I was using my dad’s equipment working together with him,” said Stanger. “We had a tractor, an old tiller, a small swather and combine, not too much.”

He started out growing primarily wheat and then brought on some barley, and then Canola, flax and peas. The family also has cattle, with a herd of purebred Red Angus.

He had two sons, Donald and David, and a daughter Jeanette. 

Today, his grandson Aaron works most of the land, although Ron still tends to a quarter section.  He began cutting back in 2000 and moved to Drumheller. Even at  age 89, last year he ran the combine, and hopes to be out this season as well.

“I’ll be there part time this year. I’m still interested in the farm, I don’t want to quit!” he said.

He has always loved the country way of life.

“I just love farming. It is not like any other job. You are at one job for a month, and then you go, change, and are at another for another month. You work out in the field, and then you are in the shop,” he said. 

“You are a jack of all trades, you might be a mechanic one day, and then a carpenter or anything else. Nothing is the same each day.”

image from Google Streetview

Starland County is working with Alberta Transportation on a plan to replace the Morrin Bridge.

The replacement of the Morrin Bridge is on the Alberta Transportation 2016-2019 Major Construction list. CAO of Starland County, Ross Rawlusyk, says the project has not yet gone to tender, but much work is being done to prepare for the project. The government department has been working closely with the County.

“It is going to be a two year project at least,” said Rawlusyk. 

 Plans for the construction, says Rawlusyk, include an uncovered bridge with improved sight lines and realignment of the road to make it safer. Starland owns some of the land where the new bridge could be positioned, and is working with the government to improve the area. 

“One nice thing for us, we have been negotiating with them for a boat ramp,” he said. “If we could get a decent boat launch put in somewhere, it could facilitate everything from emergency services to people recreationally canoeing and that type of thing.” 

The County would also like to see flood elevation markings on the bridge. 

‘It gives us one more site to use to check elevation levels,” he said.

The open bridge will be advantageous to all users.

“It would be able to accommodate wider loads and bigger loads. The realignment will give us additional safety,” he said.

He explains it will allow area users with machinery to better transport their equipment and will eliminate height restrictions. Currently taller loads have to use either the Drumheller crossing or the Rumsey crossing.

Rawlusyk says they have a very good working relationship with the department on this. 

“We are working with them on advertising the environmental permits as well because we are the land owner on part of the site still,” he said. “They have been very good to deal with. A lot has to do with their willingness to work with us.”