The Rocky South 4-H Club is celebrating a $3,000 windfall after being named one of the winners in Cleanfarms’ 2025 Great Twine Round-Up contest.

The annual contest recognizes Alberta farmers and 4-H clubs that take action to collect and return used agricultural plastic baler twine for recycling.

Rylan Katona, leader of the Rocky South 4-H Club, said the initiative began with a group of parents.

“The kids seemed interested in it and took to it wholeheartedly,” he said. “It’s a great initiative to keep twine out of landfills.”

The contest, which ran for seven months and wrapped up on May 31, 2025, received 660 entries from 33 participants across all categories.

While Katona was unsure how many bags were collected in the Rocky area, Cleanfarms estimates that about 16,500 kilograms of twine were collected provincewide.

As a plastic product, Katona said it’s important that twine stays out of landfills. He added that with net wrap becoming more common in farming operations, twine is becoming increasingly rare.

In the Rocky area, twine was collected at the Central Waste Transfer Station.

Katona said the Rocky South 4-H Club hasn’t yet decided what to do with the $3,000 prize—a decision that will be made when the club resumes operations in the fall.

Contest winners:

• Individual Category ($3,000): A ranch in Special Areas 2

• 4-H Club Category ($3,000 each):

  • Rocky South 4-H Beef Club

  • Hanna Rangeland 4-H Multi Club

• Early-bird 4-H Club ($3,000):

  • Lethbridge Northern 4-H Beef Club

“This contest shows the real impact Alberta’s farm communities can make when they come together to protect the environment,” said Barry Friesen, executive director of Cleanfarms. “We’re pleased with the participation and proud to support these leaders in agricultural recycling.”

Cleanfarms is a national stewardship organization that promotes a healthier environment and a sustainable future by recovering and recycling agricultural plastics, packaging and related products. It is funded by members in the crop protection, seed, fertilizer, animal health medication, peat moss, animal bedding, feed, ag plastics and maple tubing industries.

Cleanfarms has team members located in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes.