Gerald Perry, with family behind, addresses the crowd at the Dhillon School of Business Scholarship Dinner on October 20, 2023. (Photo: University of Lethbridge)

By Joel Mendelson

Dhillon School of Business honours Perry Family Farm

Nov 1, 2023 | 11:32 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The University of Lethbridge’s (U of L) Dhillon School of Business honoured the Perry Family Farm at its scholarship dinner on October 20, 2023, for its contributions to sustainability in agriculture.

The Perry family are farmers from Chin, Alberta who have owned and operated their 5280-acre potato farm since 1909 (four generations). The Perrys are industry leaders in data driven and sustainable agriculture. They won the 2011 McCain Foods’ Canada National Environmental Award, and in 2013, they designed and engineered the GrowTEC Biogas Plant, which provides over 4,000 MWh of renewable electricity per year from manure and organic waste, which is enough to power 1,000 homes.

The event honoured Gerry and Birthe Perry, as well as their children Harold, Chris and Karen and their families. The cause was able to raise $65,000, which was matched by the U of L Board of Governors totalling $130,000. The funds will go toward scholarships for the Dhillon School of Business students, in the name of the Perry Family.

Harold Perry, President of Perry Quest Ltd. said, “We were very grateful for all the individual and full table sponsors who came to celebrate agriculture in southern Alberta, graciously helping us hit our target number to sponsor $5000 in scholarships each year in perpetuity.”

The Perrys are a major supplier for brands such as Frito-Lay, McCain Foods and Bonduelle. They have earned numerous awards for their produce, including McCains Top Potato Grower and Frito-Lay’s Canadian Supplier of the Year. They have also spoken at the Paris Accord and Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue about their sustainable agricultural practices.

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Dhillon School of Business Dean and Vice-Provost, Dr. Kerry Godfeey said, “We’re a school that encourages our students to collect and analyze data to make informed business decisions while also ensuring long-term sustainability.”

He continued, “The Perry family’s commitment to these practices in agriculture has created a business where success is not only measured by today’s performance, but also by how sustainable the business is for future generations.”

Chris Perry is the President of CKP Farms Ltd. and Grow the Energy Circle Ltd. He said, “Interdisciplinary thought across ULethbridge leadership, students, business curriculum, regenerative agriculture and integrated bioenergy must play a part.”

He continued, “We look forward to helping establish the scholarship representing what so many of us in the agriculture industry in southern Alberta stand for.”

Since 1988, the Dhillon School of Business Scholarship Dinner has generated more than $80,000 annually in business student scholarships.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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