The winner will be announced on March 28
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Some of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer award winners for 2023 will be revealed later this month.
Three farmers are in the running to receive the BC/Yukon Outstanding Young Farmers award.
Johannes and Julaine Treur, owners and operators of Creekside Cheese + Creamery in Agassiz, are among the nominees.
Johannes is a sixth-generation dairy farmer who immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands in 2002 to realize his dream of having his own farm. He and Julaine, who isn’t from a farming family, married in 2005.
Together they raise and milk Brown Swiss cows, and also make multiple kinds of cheese including Gouda and garlic Belper.
Their farm has been certified humane since 2017 in addition to being certified organic and meeting requirements set out by Canada’s ProAction Initiative.
Linden Lane Farms in Kestova B.C., run by Matthew Carr, is also up for the outstanding young farmer honour.
This 150-acre farm has been in the Carr family for over 40 years with Matthew representing the third generation.
The farm produces certified organic greenhouse and field produce, as well as small fruits and berries.
Customers can purchase products from Linden Lane Farms at local farmers’ markets, through a CSA box program or local grocery stores.
In addition, the farm runs its own Eco-Farm Initiative.
Through donations, farm tours and product purchases, Carr reinvests portions of collected funds to projects on the farm.
One project, for example, is to create a permanent pond on the farm to increase habitat for frogs and other amphibians.
To date, they’ve raised $350 for the Eco-Farm Initiative, which has led to the planting of 30 trees and installation of five bird, bat and bee houses.
The third farm vying for the BC/Yukon Outstanding Young Farmer award is Hopcott Farms from Pitt Meadows, B.C.
Jenn, Travis and Brad Hopcott represent the third generation of the family farm.
The family raises and processes its own beef on the farm. The farm has its own grocery store and an on-site bistro to serve customers.
In addition, in 1997 the family converted 70 acres used for corn into five cranberry bogs.
The farm also has its own grocery store, bistro, sells hay and steer manure, and hosts weddings and other events.
The winners of the regional event will represent the BC/Yukon region in the national event.
The national event is scheduled for November 22 to 26 in Quebec.