Agriculture

The history of Cardston County is deeply rooted in the agricultural way of life.  Mormon pioneers travelled to Alberta in one of the last covered wagon migrations of the century and immediately began building what would become Canada’s first major irrigation project.  This back-breaking work would establish Cardston County as one of the richest expanses of irrigated farm land in the country.

Today, farming and ranching continue to be the economic backbone of Cardston County, with nearly half of the labour force in Cardston Counry employed in the agricultural sector.  Our strength also lies in the diversity of the agricultural products we grow, including:

• wheat
• barley
• alfalfa
• vegetables
• greenhouse products

Ranching has also diversified in Cardston County.  With more than 100,000 head of cattle, we continue to produce some of the finest Alberta beef in the world.  In addition to beef, our ranchers also reflect the growing market demand for other types of livestock, including:

• pigs
• sheep and lamb
• buffalo
• poultry

Equine breeding is also a growing industry in Cardston County, with more than 2,700 horses and ponies bred in the area. 

Farmers and ranchers in Cardston County are a diverse group of rural entrepreneurs who have built a strong and vibrant approach to agri-business.  Not only are they committed to growth and sustainability in the agricultural industry, they maintain the traditional values of rural lifestyle, proving that in Cardston County, you really can have it all.