Through ALUS Seine Rat Roseau, his leadership has helped restore more than 353 acres along the Marsh River.
Harold Janzen stands at Marsh River Farms, his family farm in Manitoba
As Marsh River Farms marks its 100th anniversary, Harold Janzen is looking ahead to what the land will need for the next century.
His family farm in the Rural Municipality of Montcalm, Manitoba, lies along the Marsh River. Flooding and erosion are familiar challenges in this landscape, and Harold has responded by finding practical ways to protect streams and soil while strengthening his farm.
His work with ALUS Seine Rat Roseau, and the watershed-scale impact he has helped build through the program, has earned Harold recognition as a runner-up for the 2026 Dave Reid Award.
Named in honour of ALUS co-founder Dave Reid, the national award recognizes farmers whose practical leadership is creating new acres of nature on farmland, improving water, habitat and ecosystem health for farms and communities. Harold was recognized in July during the 2026 ALUS National Field Conference in Steinbach, Manitoba, as the ALUS community marked 20 years since the program first began in Manitoba.
Harold shows ALUS CEO, Jordan Sinclair a floodplain on his farm that has been converted to perennial grasses. Scroll through to see more photos of participants touring Marsh River farms during the 2026 National Field Conference
Restoring flood-prone land through ALUS
With technical guidance and financial support from ALUS Seine Rat Roseau, Harold has restored more than 37 acres of floodplain to perennial grasses, established buffers along municipal ditches and experimented with cover crops.
Together, these projects and practices help reduce erosion, protect streams and soil, build healthier soil and provide habitat for native pollinators. They also allow areas that are difficult to farm because of flooding or sensitivity to serve a different and valuable role on the farm while contributing to a healthier watershed.
Conference participants saw the results firsthand when Harold opened Marsh River Farms as a demonstration site during the 2026 ALUS National Field Conference. The visit showed how restoring flood-prone areas can strengthen both an individual farm and the surrounding landscape.
Scroll through to see an 11.5 acre floodplain restored to perennial grasses on Marsh River Farms
From 37 acres to more than 353 through ALUS
Harold’s influence reaches well beyond his own property. Through ALUS Seine Rat Roseau, farmers along the Marsh River have now restored more than 353 acres of floodplain.
Harold is a founding member and current chair of the ALUS Seine Rat Roseau Partnership Advisory Committee. Through this community-led model, local farmers and community members identify priorities and review projects, while ALUS provides the technical and financial support that helps turn local decisions into acres on the ground. Harold also serves as a councillor for the Rural Municipality of Montcalm.
Through these roles and his willingness to share his experience, Harold has helped other farmers see new possibilities for their own flood-prone land. Each new project adds to a connected effort to reduce erosion, protect streams and soil, create pollinator habitat and strengthen the Marsh River watershed for communities throughout the region.
“It is an honour to be recognized as a runner-up for the 2026 Dave Reid Award,” said Harold. “I am grateful to work with ALUS and the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District to manage and protect the streams and soils, not only on our farm but throughout the watershed.”
Harold, his daughter Virginia, and members of the ALUS community gather at the Dave Reid Award celebration in Steinbach. Swipe through to see Harold speaking at the event, followed by a photo of Harold and Virginia with ALUS Seine Rat Roseau Coordinators Joey Pankiw and Dani Gosselin
Harold’s story reflects how ALUS can turn farmer leadership into community-scale impact. The work began with practical choices on one farm, but through local decision-making, peer learning, technical expertise and financial support, it now contributes to a healthier Marsh River watershed for generations to come.
Continue exploring the 2026 Dave Reid Award series. Read highlights from the 2026 ALUS National Field Conference, where this year’s recipients were recognized, and meet 2026 Dave Reid Award winners Sean and Holly LaBrie and fellow runner-up Larry Zieger.
