The treeless, dry land in southern Alberta was a tough sell to new settlers, so the CPR adopted a new sales approach––the package deal.

Their Ready-Made Farm packages were promoted heavily, especially in the rural United States and Denmark.

Aksel Nielsen purchased a Ready-Made Farm near Standard, Alberta, which included:

• 160 acres of land, fenced and ploughed
• A house, shed and barn
• A drilled well and pumphouse

Aksel married Marie, his Danish sweetheart and raised seven children on their Ready-Made Farm. The children grew up and moved on but returned every year for a Danish-style Christmas Eve feast.

When the farm changed hands, the house sat empty. In 2007, it was moved to the Museum to be restored.

In the not-so-distant future, we'll announce that one of Alberta's few remaining CPR farmhouses is Ready-Made for your visit!

When you visit:

• Find: Plans for a CPR Ready-Made Farm
• Stump our Guide: What's a Ready-Made Farm?
• Solve the Mystery: Where did the seven children sleep?
• In our Gift Shop: Danish Christmas decorations and more