Fourteen connected ALUS projects are protecting water and habitat on Difficulty Ranch and beyond.
Sean and Holly LaBrie, 2026 Dave Reid Award Winners, riding horses on their ranch in Alberta
On Difficulty Ranch in Mountain View County, Alberta, Dogpound Creek has shaped how Sean and Holly LaBrie care for their land.
The spring-fed trout stream runs through the ranch before eventually reaching the Little Red Deer River. As the creek continues downstream, it connects the choices Sean and Holly make on their land to water quality, habitat and communities beyond the ranch.
Over the past decade, Sean and Holly have worked with ALUS Mountain View to establish 14 interconnected projects spanning 80 acres. Through ALUS, they receive local technical guidance and financial support to help establish and steward projects that work together across the ranch. Their long-term commitment to protecting the creek and sharing what they have learned has earned them 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. Sean and Holly received the award during in July at the 2026 ALUS National Field Conference in Steinbach, Manitoba, as the ALUS community marked 20 years since the program first began in Manitoba.
Sean LaBrie accepting the Dave Reid Award on behalf of his family in Steinbach, Manitoba and hugs Jordan Sinclair, ALUS CEO. Scroll through to see the land they protect.
A connected approach to land and water
Sean and Holly’s ALUS projects are planned to complement one another across the ranch. Fencing keeps cattle out of sensitive riparian areas, while solar-powered off-site watering systems give livestock reliable access to clean water. Wetlands and tributaries along the creek are protected, and newly planted native trees are helping stabilize creek banks and store carbon.
The result is a network of projects that supports the farm while protecting water and habitat. Ducks return to nest each spring, and the occasional moose travels through the property. The work also helps keep water clean as it leaves the ranch and flows toward the Little Red Deer River, extending the benefits to wildlife and downstream communities.
“Sean and Holly are showing that stewardship is not separate from running a strong farm; it is part of it. Their work supports healthy livestock and soil, clean water and biodiversity, and by opening their ranch and sharing what they have learned, they help others see what is possible when agriculture and nature work together,” said Jordan Sinclair, ALUS CEO.
Leadership that extends beyond the ranch
For Sean and Holly, caring for the land also means contributing to their community and helping other farmers learn.
Sean has served for nearly a decade on the Mountain View County Agricultural Service Board and the ALUS Mountain View Partnership Advisory Committee. Together, Sean and Holly contribute through conservation partnerships, industry events, volunteer work and youth coaching.
They also regularly welcome farmers, partners and members of the public to Difficulty Ranch. These tours give visitors the opportunity to see how ALUS-supported fencing, alternative watering systems, tree planting and wetland protection can function together as part of a working farm, giving other farmers practical ideas they can adapt to their own land.
“The land always tells the truth about the choices we make. Our family has learned that there are times when you must decide whether to invest in the bank in town or in the bank of your land,” said Sean and Holly.
“Working with ALUS has helped us clearly see the value of the ecosystem services our management provides. We are grateful recipients of the Dave Reid Award, as it affirms that Difficulty Ranch, together with its many valued partners, is making a lasting and meaningful impact on our community’s landscape. Our farm is always open to you.”
Participants learn about conservation projects during a farm tour on Difficulty Ranch
Sean and Holly’s leadership shows how ALUS can help turn a farmer’s long-term vision into coordinated projects with benefits beyond a single property. By caring for Dogpound Creek and opening their ranch to others, they are helping protect water and habitat while giving farmers, partners and the public practical examples they can carry into other farms and communities.
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 runners-up Harold Janzen and Larry Zieger.
