Your grandma's farm life just won an award
Morning from the Central Plains — here's what's moving through Portage today.
You hear a lot about what's new in the world, what's changing. But sometimes, what's been here all along gets the recognition it deserves. There's an award-winning documentary making the rounds called *Agatha's Almanac*. It captures the life of 92-year-old Agatha Bock, working her ancestral farm out in southern Manitoba. It's a look at the grit and grace of farm life, the kind of quiet dedication that built this province, not just in Winnipeg or Brandon, but right through our corridor.
### Why This Matters for Us
It’s easy to get caught up in the big movements—the traffic on the Trans-Canada, the output from the potato plants, the constant hum of the rail yards. But this film, it reminds you of the deep roots here. Agatha Bock’s story, it’s not unique in its spirit to her farm. Think of the folks out past the Diversion, near the Delta Marsh, working the land that feeds us all. That quiet, steady rhythm of life, the knowledge passed down. It's the backbone of places like Portage la Prairie.
* **Honours Our Heritage:** This film brings a spotlight to the multi-generational farms, the kind you still see west of Island Park and around Fort la Reine. * **A Different Kind of Progress:** While we talk about expansion and new builds at Stride Place, this reminds us of the value in preserving what's already here and strong. * **Portage's Identity:** We're the hub, the crossroads. But we’re also surrounded by this very history, this agricultural legacy that makes us who we are.
This documentary isn't just about one farm; it's about the spirit of Manitoba's agricultural heartland. It’s the kind of story that makes you think about your own family's history here, whether they were working the fields or building the businesses that support them. It’s what grounds us, even as everything else keeps moving.
Darren Flett, MiTL Sports Desk, Portage la Prairie.
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