CALGARY,             July 2, 2008 –  The Calgary Stampede and BMO Bank             of Montreal will present 18 southern Alberta families with the 2008             BMO Farm Family Awards on Monday, July 7 at Stampede Park.
Alberta Agriculture Service Board representatives chose hard-working         southern Alberta farm families for this honour. The awards bring attention         to the importance of farming to the Alberta economy as well as the contributions       and sacrifices made by our rural Alberta families.
    
        
            | WHAT: | 
            Presentation of the BMO Farm Family Awards | 
        
        
            | WHO: | 
            The Honourable George Groeneveld, Alberta Minister of Agriculture,             Food and Rural Development 
            Ted McCarron, Senior Vice President, Prairies Division, BMO Bank of Montreal 
            Dr. David Chalack, Vice-Chairman, Board of Directors, Calgary Stampede; and 
            Award-winning farm families 
             | 
        
        
            | WHEN: | 
            Monday, July 7 at 10 a.m.  | 
        
        
            | WHERE: | 
            Palomino Room, Roundup Centre, 20 Roundup Way SE, Stampede Park | 
        
    
In addition to attending a           special reception and brunch, each family member will receive free           admission to the Park, a BMO Farm Family Awards         limited edition pin, a farm gate sign and tickets to the world's       richest and roughest afternoon Rodeo.
The officials and farm families will be available for interviews. Media         are invited to attend the brunch and awards ceremony. Please RSVP to         Shelley Knapp, Media Relations Advisor at 403.261.9140 or sknapp@calgarystampede.com
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