Kelowna, B.C.

Grand Okanagan Resort

Richard Stamp

Richard Stamp along with his wife Marian and their children own and operate Stamp’s Select Seeds, a first generation irrigation farm which they established in 1978, at Enchant, Alberta.  The Stamps are select seed growers producing and marketing pedigreed barley, wheat, durum, oats, flax, and hybrid canola.  In addition, they manage a warehouse facility on their farm and operate a custom landscaping business which includes the installation of irrigation systems.

Their farming experience also includes green house production of nuclear seed potatoes as well as the field production of elite seed potatoes.  In addition, they have grown dry beans, sugar beets, lentils and have conducted research crop trials for specialty items such as spinach and radish seeds.  For several years, the Stamps have processed flax straw for soil reclamation use in oilfield pipeline construction.

Locally, Richard served as a director and vice-chairman of the Bow River Irrigation District for seven years, as well as serving a term with the Water Institute at the University of Lethbridge, the Enchant Seed Cleaning Cooperative Association, and Chinook Community Futures Development Corporation.  In addition, he has served as a volunteer for the Enchant Fire and Rescue Department and is presently a member of the Canadian Food Grains Bank supporting the Vauxhall and District Growing Project.

Provincially, Richard completed a seven year term with the Farm Implement Board of Alberta where he was chairman for the last year and also served a three year term as Chairman of the Alberta Seed Potato Growers Association.  At the same time, Richard was the chairman and co-owner/founder of Alberta Seed Potatoes Incorporated.  Currently, he is a director with the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Seed Growers Association with the additional responsibility of Education and Promotion. 

Nationally, Richard has served as an advisor for Agriculture Canada’s Research Center located in Lethbridge and currently serves as national vice-president of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program.

A highlight for Richard and his family was to be nominated and selected as co-winners of the Outstanding Young Farmers of Canada in 1998 at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.  In addition, they received a Farm Family Award for the Municipal District of Taber, at the Calgary Stampede in 1999.