The Maranda Family - Keeping the Dairy Tradition Alive in Quebec

May 24, 2017

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is proud to present the book Dairy Farmers, Deeply Rooted for a Strong Future, which features, representing Quebec, the Maranda family of the Roémax farm, in Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île d'Orléans, in Quebec. Showcasing the contributions of Canadian dairy farmers in the building and growth of our country, the book was created in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Canada. The book traces the emergence of dairy farming in each of Canada's provinces through the personal stories of a family of dairy farmers who have been farming for many generations.

"Our ancestors settled here in 1666 and it is a testament of their perseverance and ingenuity that today we continue to farm and produce milk in a sustainable manner on this same piece of land," said Éric Maranda. "Dairy farming has evolved over the last few centuries, but our commitment to protecting the environment and taking care of our animals has not wavered. We want to produce the best quality milk in the most efficient way so future generations can continue the dairy tradition established by the first Marandas of Île d'Orléans."

Éric Maranda recently took over the farm from his father Roger. Along with his young son, three generations of Marandas today live in the ancestral home built in 1749. Éric credits a profound love of farming, an entrepreneurial spirit and perseverance for the farm's success over such a long period of time. Today, the Marandas milk 35 to 40 head of cattle on 85 hectares of land.

"By feeding the country in a sustainable way, Canadian dairy farmers have withstood the test of time, from even before Confederation, to produce Canadian quality milk," said Wally Smith, DFC's President. "I am honoured to introduce the Maranda family, whose story shows a great love for dairy farming, and a deep sense of community."

Source: Dairyfarmers

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.