Posted on 2026-05-01 21:23:51.67 +0000 UTC
High Prairie School Division is pleased to announce The Buchanan Family Foundation as the division’s nominee for the 2026 Zone 1 Friends of Education Award. The ASBA Friends of Education Award recognizes individuals or organizations that have shown a commitment to improving education in the community and/or made contributions to education in an ASBA member school board.
The Buchanan Foundation was a principal donor that provided a significant and substantial donation to the High Prairie School Division in order to launch our agriculture and vertical farm project next to Prairie River Junior High School. This vertical farm and the subsequent expanded agricultural program is teaching students about agriculture, hydroponics farming, marketing and sales, and distribution of food products across the Division.
Through this project, High Prairie School Division has developed a revenue stream for food products. The produce, grown and harvested by students, is sold to local businesses, at farmers’ markets, and on the vertical farm’s website, alwaysgrowing.ca, for pickup in High Prairie at Marigold Enterprises. Produce is also distributed to schools for their nutrition programs, including the free salad bars at a number of HPSD schools. The vertical farm has also partnered with the local food bank and the local Children's Resource Council to provide fresh produce on a weekly basis to these community organizations.
The investment in the vertical farm and agriculture program is showing students different career pathways in the agricultural sector. Students are also exploring topics such as food sovereignty and how local production can contribute to the regional economy.
Without the generous donation from The Buchanan Family Foundation, this project would not have been possible. On behalf of High Prairie School Division, please accept our sincere thanks for making this vision a reality.
The winner of the Zone 1 Friends of Education Award will be announced later this month.