Sustainability & Trailblazer of the Year Award
- Nomination -
The Sustainability and Trailblazer of the Year Award Honours a business, farm, or individual demonstrating excellence in environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. This award also recognizes individuals or groups who actively contribute to their community through education, mentorship, and volunteerism, sharing knowledge, supporting peers, or leading initiatives that strengthen the long-term resilience and wellbeing of Alberta’s farm and agritourism sector. The Sustainability Trailblazer of the Year Award recognizes a business, experience, tourism organization or individual, leading with an innovative strategy to improve the agritourism or farm experience through a sustainable tourism lens, aligning with the United Nations World Tourism Organizations (UNWTO) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).
The recipient will be an individual, farm, or organization that:
– Demonstrates excellence in environmental stewardship through responsible land management, resource conservation, and sustainable practices
– Leads with innovation by integrating sustainability into agritourism or farm experiences in thoughtful, practical, and forward-looking ways
– Actively contributes to community wellbeing through education, mentorship, volunteerism, or knowledge-sharing
– Supports and strengthens the broader agritourism and farming sector by collaborating with peers or leading initiatives that build long-term resilience
– Aligns its practices with sustainable tourism principles, contributing positively to environmental, social, and economic outcomes in Alberta’s rural communities
How nominations are evaluated
Nominations are reviewed by a selection committee using a structured scoring process. Judges evaluate each nomination across five areas that reflect excellence in agritourism, farming practices, business development, sustainability, and community leadership.
Each category is considered carefully, with the goal of recognizing farms that balance strong operations with meaningful visitor experiences and long-term impact.
Submission Notes
– Self-nominations and peer nominations are welcome
– Nominees do not need to be members of AFFPA to be nominated or to receive an award
– Individuals, farms, businesses, and organizations are all eligible
– Supporting materials are optional but encouraged
– All nominations are reviewed by a selection committee using a structured scoring process aligned with the published criteria
– Finalists will be contacted directly ahead of the AGM, and award recipients will be announced at the 2026 Annual General Meeting and Conference