Agricultural Service Board
The Agricultural Service Board (ASB) is a sub-committee of Council working to preserve, protect, and promote agriculture through the development of programs and policies implemented by the Agricultural Services Department.
2023/2024 Agricultural Service Board
Councillor Dallas Ekstrom
Councillor Anthony Heinrich (chair)
Councillor Glen Gunderson
Member at Large Jeff Bundt (vice-chair)
Member at Large Shirley McConnell
Member at Large Elizabeth Seutter-Rosell
Manager of Agricultural Services Dawnia McCann
ALUS Coordinator Nancy Chambers
Vision, Mission, and Values
The Agriculture Service Board recognizes the need for a well thought strategy in order to be effective in achieving its mandate as set out by Brazeau County Council and Provincial legislation. To help guide and focus the strategy the following mission statement identifies the purpose for the Brazeau County Agriculture Service Board:
“The Brazeau County Agriculture Service Board is committed to the promotion, protection and enhancement of a diversified sustainable agricultural industry within the County and the province of Alberta.”
To achieve the mission, the Agriculture Service Board has two visions for the agriculture department. The first vision identifies what kind of organization Brazeau County wants the Agriculture Service Boardto be for the agricultural community and ratepayers in general. The second is a vision for the agricultural industry in the County that the Agricultural ServiceBoard will work to encourage, foster and enhance.
- The Agriculture Service Board will continually improve its capacity to provide leading edge agricultural knowledge, research, tools and services that are valued by the agricultural industry, ratepayers and other departments of Brazeau County.
- The Agriculture Service Board will encourage continual growth of a diverse agricultural industry in order to increase prosperity for individual producers conducting their operations and by utilizing best management practices which maintain and enhance the environmental integrity of Brazeau County land and water resources.
To fulfill its mission and achieve the agreed upon visions, the Agriculture Service Board will be guided by the following set of core values:
- Agriculture is and will continue to be an integral part of Brazeau County’s economy and contributes significantly to the social and environmental wellbeing of the community.
- Brazeau County through the Agriculture Service Board believes other industrial, commercial or residential use of land must be compatible with and have a minimum impact on current and future expansion opportunities for agricultural operations.
- The Agriculture Service Board as a department of Brazeau County is to provide resources, superior service and timely advice in a professional manner to agriculture producers, ratepayers, council and administration.
- Brazeau County is committed to maintaining its integrity by developing a communication environment that is open, honest and effective for users of the county’s agricultural services.
- The Agriculture Service Board believes in continual improvement of service and value to the county through on going learning and research of leading edge technologies and best practices.
- The Agriculture Service Board will lead by example, and encourage and promote good stewardship along with environmental management practices of the land and water resources within Brazeau County.
- The Agriculture Service Board believes the quality of its services is directly related to the quality of human resources. The Board intends to recruit and retain talented committed staff by providing a work environment that encourages respect, learning, personal development, initiative and creativity.
- The Agriculture Service Board is committed to the effective and efficient use of financial resources provided by the Brazeau County Council and Alberta Agriculture and Food by maximizing value for the users of its services.
ASB Student Bursary
The Agricultural Service Board of Brazeau County will provide up to two (2) $500.00 bursaries to students residing in the Brazeau County enrolled in a post-secondary institute in pursuit of the following:
a) Bachelor of Science in Agriculture or Environment from a recognized University
b) Diploma in Agriculture or Environment from a recognized College
c) Degree or diploma directly related to Agriculture from recognized community colleges or universities
Bursaries must be used in the year awarded. In the case of the recipients not completing their
studies in year of award, all or a portion of the bursary may have to be refunded. The amount
will be determined at the discretion of the awarding committee.
Bursaries will be awarded on the basis of the following, in no particular order:
a) Academic achievement
b) Agricultural background
c) Community and social participation
Deadline for applications is October 31 of the current year. Awards are contingent upon successful completion of Grade 12 and registration in a post-secondary institute.
Application forms are to be mailed to:
Brazeau County
Box 77
7401 TWP RD 494
Drayton Valley, AB
T7A 1R1
Attention: Agricultural Service Board
The application form is available below.