Representatives from seven regions will compete for the national prize in November
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Seven Canadian farmers and farm families will be competing for nationwide bragging rights at the Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers national event in Quebec in November.
Each representative won a regional event showcasing farmers between the ages of 18 and 39.
Representing the B.C./Yukon region at the national event is the Hopcott family.
Travis, Jenn and Brad run different divisions of Hopcott Farms in Pitt Meadows. The farm operation includes a feedlot, 70 acres of cranberry bogs, agritourism opportunities and an on-site abattoir.
The Alberta/NWT representatives are Greg and Sarah Stamp.
The second-generation farmers from Enchant own and operate Stamp Seeds and Stamp Farms along with Greg’s brothers and parents.
The farm has 5,000 irrigated acres and 2,000 dryland acres where the family produces pedigreed seed like wheat, barley, faba beans, peas and more.
Moving further east, the Leguee family will carry Saskatchewan’s flag into the national competition.
Sarah, her brother Jake and their brother-in-law Erik Nikolejsin help grow canola, durum, wheat, lentils, peas and flax on about 15,000 acres between Weyburn and Filamore.
The team at Leguee Farms believes in the importance of continuous improvement, always seeking to find new ways to look after both their soils and margins.
Representing Manitoba ag in Quebec in November is Harley and Brooklynn Siemens.
The 95,000 layer and 15,000 pullet producers from Rosenort renovated four barns in four years to help give their flock more space to move around and engage in natural behaviour.
Stewart Skinner and Jessica Kelly of Imani Farms in Listowel will be Ontario’s spokespeople during the competition.
The farmers started their operation in 2015 after taking over part of Stewart’s family farm.
Together they raise 25,000 hogs for conventional and niche markets. They also produce cash crops on 167 acres.
Farmers from Saint-Dominque, Que., will be the home team in November’s national competition.
Rémi Taillon & Sophie Brodeur raise 1,200 grain-fed calves annually and also grow the grain corn used for feed on 476 acres.
Last but not least, potato farmers from P.E.I. are representing Atlantic Canada in the national event.
Marijke Oudshoorn and Willem van de Wetering were born in Holland and moved to Ontario before making the move to Morell, P.E.I. to start Spud Isle Farms.
They moved to P.E.I. from Ontario in 2017 with zero knowledge of how to grow potatoes. The farm’s previous owners stayed around for the first two years to help the new farmers settle in.
Farms.com wants to wish each of the nominees good luck in the upcoming national event!