Isidore (Joe) Mancini came to Canada from Italy in 1904. The coal mines of Staffordville, which was annexed to the City of Lethbridge in 1913, provided him with employment. 

The Retlaw area was opened for settlement by the Dominion of Canada in 1908, with the advertising slogan "The Last Best West" to entice settlers. NE 24-13-18-W4 became Isidore's 160-acre allotment. Neither the Town of Retlaw nor the railway (CP Rail) was present at the meeting. A major irrigation project spearheaded by the Canada Land and Irrigation Company became a reality years later. This was short grass prairie country in its truest form — barren, dry and challenging. 

Isidore usually spent the winter working in the coalmines and returned to the farm in the spring when seasonal workers were laid off. Breaking sod, planting and harvesting crops, as well as making the necessary improvements to the property were all requirements for receiving a homestead title. He had "proved up" by 1913. 

In 1918, he persuaded Christina and Angelo Geremia, his daughter and son-in-law, to leave Montreal and move to the farm with him. Angelo secured employment with Retlaw's CP Rail Depot as a section hand for their rail lines. Continuing this until 1927, Joe (Isidore) felt that the west coast should be his next adventure. With everything appearing to be going well, Angelo intended to begin farming full-time. The 30s however, were years filled with disappointment and struggles; Retlaw was not spared the economic and environmental hardships this era was defined by. They stood steadfast. Before Angelo and Christina moved to Lethbridge to retire, a family of seven grew up on this farm. 

By 1958, Norman and Bertha Geremia had acquired the homestead's title, raised a family of four, and purchased adjacent parcels to grow the farm. Before this, Norman served overseas with the Calgary Highlanders Signal Core during World War II in the 30s, as his prospects on the farm seemed bleak. Upon his return in 1946, the area appeared to have been revitalized. 

David and Fran, the eldest son of Norman and Bertha, operated their farm until 1984. The original quarter and nearby holdings were purchased in 1992. Bertha lived on the homestead until 2015. David and Fran have a family of three sons, Travis (Janae) an engineer with St. Mary Irrigation District (SMRID), Laine an independent precision agrologist based in Lethbridge, and Bryden (Taylor), (daughter, Teagan) who is employed with the Bow River Irrigation District (BRID) and operates Dead Horse Coulee Farms. 

During the past 115 years and six generations, their families have lived and worked in these arid lands. Since that time, some dry land parcels have been converted to irrigation. Retlaw, its grain elevators, and the local rail lines have all changed over the years. There is only the "Big Ditch" (BRID canal), which was carved from the lands in the 1920s. 

"We have always been mindful of the experiences of the generations before us and those who worked so hard to keep this farm in the family. This land has required each generation to demonstrate self-reliance, fortitude, diligence, ecological sensitivity, and the ability to seize opportunities. As the farm's present custodians, we have learned to appreciate the land, working within its potential and confines. The 160 acres where prairie sod was first broken many years ago remain an integral part of our farm. And will continue to be so, as new generations take up the torch and find opportunity and promise on the Geremia Family Farm."

Division 6 Councillor, Murray Reynolds, present Geremia family members with the Century Farm Plaque.
Family members are, left to right, Janae, Travis, David, Fran, Laine, Taylor holding daughter Teagan, and Bryden.