Grainswest - Fall 2024

Fall 2024 grainswest.com 23 W ith seven decades of work in agriculture, Dale Caskey just can’t get enough. Recently, he has chosen to slow down a step or two, but he hasn’t quite figured out how to truly retire. At 81, he can still be found at the shop or office at Barr-Ag, a hay export farm and business a stone’s throw from his house in Olds. He has worked for Barry Schmitt, the company’s owner, for more than three decades across multiple businesses. Born and raised on a mixed farm near Cereal, Caskey did childhood chores alongside his three brothers. As a young man, he bought a farm of his own 10 minutes up the road near Chinook with his wife Betty and three kids. While he operated the farm, he also worked lots of years in custom spraying. As Caskey pointed out, working as a custom spray operator in the ’70s and ’80s was quite different than it is today. “You should be looking for something to do to keep yourself active. If you don’t keep active, you’re dead. When I retire, I’ll be dead.” Age: 81 • During a few summers, he also helped manage the irrigation system at the Siksika First Nation. Working as a custom spray operator in the ’70s and ’80s was quite different than it is today