B.C. kicks off regional OYF awards in Western Canada

Jan 08, 2026
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

Three farms are nominated in 2026

Just over a month has passed since Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) program jointly recognized farmers from Quebec and Ontario as national winners for 2025, but the regional award season is upon the ag community.

In Western Canada, farmers in the B.C./Yukon region will be the first recipients.

Three farmers have been nominated to represent B.C. in the national event this November in Vancouver.

One is Liam Ritchie, representing S. J. Ritchie Research Farms, a commercial broiler trial facility in Abbotsford.

Ritchie, son of the late Stewart Ritchie, works with universities and industry partners to improve broiler performance and environmentally sustainable farm designs.

“We provide veterinarian-monitored Commercial Floor Trials & Commercial Mini-Pen Trials,” the farm’s website says.

Corne Quiks, co-owner and general manager of Quiks Farm Ltd., a flower operation in Chilliwack, is another nominee.

The farm includes 20 acres of greenhouses and another 40 acres of outdoor production.

“Corne completed 2 years of post graduate business schooling at UFV (University of the Fraser Valley) which taught him the basics of business but his greatest career growth has been a product of being hands-on involved each and every day alongside his team,” his bio says.

And the third nominee is Annelise Grube-Cavers of Fresh Valley Farms in Spallucheen.

The certified organic farm uses regenerative practices to raise beef, poultry, turkey, and pork

Grube-Cavers has served as a director of the BC Agriculture Council, and in 2025 was nominated to sit on Premier Eby’s Task Force on Agriculture and the Food Economy.

The regional event is scheduled for Jan. 21 and 22 at the Clarion Hotel in Abbotsford.

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm