Alberta Farmers and 4-H Clubs Earn Recognition for Recycling Agricultural Baler Twine Through the 2026 Great Twine Round-Up Program.
The winners of the 2026 Great Twine Round-Up have been announced, recognizing Alberta farmers and 4-H clubs for their efforts to recycle used agricultural baler twine.
The contest forms part of the ‘Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It!’ pilot program, an initiative led by the Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG). Funding is provided by the Government of Alberta and administered by Alberta Beef Producers.
The competition, which ran for five months and concluded on May 31, 2026, attracted 76 entries from 17 participants across multiple categories. Every entry represented one bag of baler twine collected and diverted from the environment for recycling into products such as automotive components, dimensional lumber, and other useful materials.
The contest featured one early-bird prize awarded in February, followed by a final draw at the close of the competition. Three $3,000 prizes were presented to 4-H clubs, while the individual category winner selected an Alberta-based agricultural charity or non-profit to receive its $3,000 award.
The 2026 winners include:
- Individual Category ($3,000): MTM Agricultural Society
- 4-H Club Category ($3,000 each): Rocky South 4-H Beef Club and Hanna Rangeland 4-H Multi Club
- Early-bird 4-H Club Prize ($3,000): Lethbridge Northern 4-H Beef Club
“The continued engagement from the Alberta ag community in this contest reflects the value Albertans place on taking care of their environment,” said Shane Hedderson, Cleanfarms Interim Executive Director.
“Every individual who took time to collect and drop off bags of used baler twine for recycling is a leader in agricultural recycling, and we’re thrilled to have been able to give back with cash prizes for good causes thanks to our partnership with the APRG.”
“The 2026 edition of the Great Twine Round-Up continued to provide opportunities for farmers to conveniently participate in agricultural recycling,” says Assar Grinde, cow/calf producer and Chair of the APRG.
“It’s inspiring to see so many members of the Alberta ag community of all ages doing their part to keep twine out of the environment. We look forward to continuing the Great Twine Round-Up contest with Cleanfarms again in the fall of 2026.”
Photo Credit: cleanfarms.ca