BMO FARM FAMILY AWARD: Huston/Lyster Family celebrates 115 years on family farm
One of the greatest joys of Clark and Byrne Huston’s life has been being able to carry-on the family farm tradition from their grandparents and parents; and witnessing the tradition move onto the fourth and fifth generations of their family through their daughter, Marika, and son-in-law, Trent Lyster, and their children. The Huston/Lyster family is the 2025 BMO Farm Family from Special Area No. 3 and are celebrating 115 years on their family farm.
From left: Macy, Brianna, Brandt, Trent, Marika, Byrne and Clark. The Huston/Lyster family was one of three nominated by their local Agriculture Service Boards within Special Areas 2, 3 and 4. Every year the Calgary Stampede and the Bank of Montreal recognize outstanding farm families in southern Alberta. These families were invited to receive this award at the Calgary Stampede. To find out more about the Farm Family Awards, visit: https://ag.calgarystampede.com/events/bmo-farm-family-awards
The Huston family has long ties to the Sibbald and Esther areas, as both of Clark and Byrne’s grandparents homesteaded in the area and grew up there. Clark’s grandparents homesteaded in 1910 on the same farm they live on today. After marrying in 1976, Clark and Byrne began farming with Clark’s parents, Murray and Jean Huston, along with Clark’s sister and brother-in-law, Georgine and Jim Westgard. Together they raised purebred Herefords and grew cereals and grains. After Murray and Jean passed away, the siblings moved on with their own farming operations.
While Clark and Byrne started to acquire more acres, in 2006, they also changed over to a Commercial herd. “There was a lot of work with the purebreds, such as attending bull sales, cattle shows, paperwork and hosting our own production sale for 22 years,” reflects Byrne. “Our lifestyle was busy with raising six children and me teaching full-time, so it was time for a change.” In 2015, they incorporated as Clarbyrn Farms; and in 2016 Marika and Trent moved to the farm and became shareholders. Trent had previously worked as a mechanic and salesman for John Deere, but he and Marika were eager to get back to the farm life they enjoyed growing up. Clark and Byrne are now semi-retired and Trent and Marika, along with their three children – Brandt (15), Brianna (13) and Macy (10) – are taking care of the day-to-day operations.
Clarbyrn Farms Ltd. farms 6,000 acres focusing on crops such as durum, mustard and pulses (peas & lentils) that they market; as well as corn, barley and hay they grow to feed their cattle. They utilize continuous cropping and a four-year crop rotation, while having an agrologist test their soil annually to carefully plan out the fertilizer and chemical applications. Other practices such as seeding with a minimum disturbance air drill and spraying with a high clearance sprayer are commonplace for them.
They run 250 cow-calf pairs and custom background feed about 400 calves each winter. Their Commercial cattle are a cross between Simmental and Charolais, and they have a closed herd, as they use their own heifers as replacements. Based on practices from their purebred days, they have birth records dating back to 1944, and they utilize this information when picking replacement heifers. They closely monitor the number of cows they have per acre and their grazing time. “Currently, more cross fencing is being built so cows can be rotated, and we can make better use of the grass and help maintain and improve the land,” Byrne shares.
The Hustons and Lysters have been involved in their community and in different capacities over the years. When Byrne was teaching, she coached almost every sport and was a student council advisor. She and Clark also started the Prairie Rose 4-H Club and served as leaders when their kids were younger. They have also been active in the Sibbald Community Club, Big Country Agricultural Society and the East Central and Alberta Hereford Associations. Clark also took over the task of keeping the Sibbald Cemetery records from his parents. He played with a band for many years and now enjoys entertaining at local senior facilities and various local events. Trent and Marika are also very involved with their kids’ sporting activities; Trent coaches baseball and hockey and Marika serves as hockey team manager and coaches softball. Their children are active members of the East Sounding Creek 4-H Beef Club and participate in 4-H beef and breeding projects. Marika also plays a major role in organizing the 2-day Beef Pen and Youth Show held annually each February in Oyen.
While Clark and Byrne have much to reflect and appreciate about Clarbyrn Farms, they are equally looking forward to the future of the operation as the fourth and fifth generations carry on the Huston farming traditions. They hope it will remain a special place – not only them – but all 18 of their grandchildren, as their family tree continues to grow.