Raised on a Saskatchewan family farm, Judy Lunde has spent her entire life rooted in agriculture. She carried those values with her to Alberta, where she and her husband, Gord, continue to run a grain and cattle operation east of Airdrie. Their farm (now a century old) grows peas, canola, barley and wheat, and supports a mixed beef herd.
“Being a farmer’s wife, there is no set hours of work, you do the work for the love of it!” Lunde says. “How many people get to go to work and look forward to what every day will bring?”
Lunde’s rural journey hasn’t been without hardship. After Gord lost his right arm in a farm accident in 1995, the couple pushed forward while raising their two young children.
Their resilience is a point of admiration in their community.
“The Lunde family has shown great courage and tenacity through the years as they navigate through the challenges they have been faced with,” says nominator Norma Bilben.
Agriculture remains central to Lunde’s life, from volunteering with 4-H to teaching grade-school students where their food comes from. Her painted seasonal straw bale at the end of the road where they live welcomes neighbours year-round, a joyful reminder of her deep rural roots and enduring positivity.
“A positive attitude has always benefited me on getting through all the ups and downs that life has thrown at us,” she says.
The AAWAs are celebrating their Sweet 16 in 2026. What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?
I would tell her to put away the electronic device and spend time socializing, face to face with her peers. Get out and have fun with your friends, get involved in clubs that will improve your social skills.