Brady and Lindsay Funk received the honour during Canada’s Farm Show in Regina, which recognizes farmers under the age of 40.

The Funks are involved in a family farm operation with Lindsay’s parents and her brother and sister-in-law in the Wymark area, about 25 kilometres south of Swift Current.

Brady and Lindsay started a solo venture in 2021 (Braylin Acres) when they purchased 923 acres of dryland at Lucky Lake, which is about 180 kilometres northwest of Wymark. The plan was to use water from the South Saskatchewan River for the country’s largest sub-surface drip irrigation project.

The first step of subsurface drip irrigation is installing water lines about 11 inches below the topsoil. Various valves and pressure compensators and pumps are used to deliver the water to the field edge. It is then pushed through the underground waterlines which pulsates water up to the plant’s root zone.

It took a couple of years to install the system. Khabuli chickpeas were grown on half the land in 2023 and last year Brady seeded durum, which produced yields 500 per cent better than nearby dryland crops that were severely distressed by the July heatwave. This year’s plan is to grow black beans as well as setting aside one acre for vegetables, such as sweet corn, cucumbers, green beans, romaine heart lettuce. Brady will take the information and present it to the Saskatchewan Vegetable Association with the idea of increasing production next year.

Lindsay works as a Registered Nurse in the mental health unit at the Swift Current Hospital. She also has a small business venture with his sister-in-law Alyssa, who is an agrologist. Two Sisters Flower Co. grows a variety of flowers using drip tape irrigation. The sisters sell to florists, market on Facebook and Instagram, and host “you-cut” events when people come to the farm and cut their own flowers. The sisters also provide advice on flower arrangement.

The Funks have three children between the ages of four and eight.

CJWW Agriculture Director Neil Billinger interviewed Brady and Lindsay and you can listen to the couple’s story in greater depth.