Saskatchewan and Ontario couples named Canada's outstanding farmers

A grain farming couple from Saskatchewan and market gardeners from Ontario were named Canada’s newest Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF), Friday, at a national awards ceremony held at the elegant Empress Hotel in Victoria, B.C.

Ryan and Lauren Maurer, who crop 11,300 acres with their family at Grenfell, Saskatchewan, and Steve and Lisa Cooper, who along with their family, grow vegetables and involve the community in their farming operation at Zephyr, just north of Toronto, were selected the two national winners in a competition that involved several days of interviews and presentations before a panel of three judges.

(Pictured, making their acceptance remarks, from left Lisa and Steve Cooper, and Ryan and Lauren Mauer)

The Maurers and Coopers were among a field of seven OYF couples from across Canada who were selected as regional winners earlier this year. Also vying for the national award were Josh Oulton and Patricia Bishop of Port Williams, Nova Scotia; Jean-Francois Lemieux and Mylene Gagnon from Saint-Vallier, Quebec; Jan and Tracy Bassa of La Broquerie, Manitoba; Ryan and Annette Mercer of Lethbridge, Alberta and Gene and Shelly Covert of Oliver BC.

For the first time in the history of the program, a federal agriculture minister, Gerry Ritz was on hand for the awards banquet, and was given the honor of announcing the winners. Also among the guests at the gala event was Steven L. Pointe, Lieutenant Governor of B.C.

Senior OYF judge Garry Meier, who farms with his family near Tisdale, Saskatchewan described the difficult task of trying to select only two winners from a field of excellent candidates, all deserving of the award. He said the judges were recommending to the OYF board that in the future the number of regional nominees be trimmed to six (instead of seven) making it easier for judges to “roll the dice” to select winners. Completing the judging panel were Ross Hudson, an agriculture consultant from BC and James Peel, general manager of Holstein Quebec.

It was the 30^th year of the awards program, which was launched in 1980 by the Jaycee organization as a means of recognizing the talents and achievements of young farmers across Canada. Although the program is now managed by the alumni of the OYF program, hundreds of farm couples from all parts of the country, involved in all sectors of agriculture have been honored for their abilities as regional winners over the three decades.

As Derrick Rozdeba, on behalf of long-time OYF sponsor Bayer Crop Science told nominees in remarks at the awards banquet, as the best of the best “this program is not about winning. With the skills and knowledge you have it is about going forward to mentor other young farmers to be successful.”

The Maurers and their four children operate Land & Sky Grains Inc., an extensive cropping operation they have expanded and developed since 1992.

They produce a wide range of grains, oilseeds and specialty crops including spices, with 75 percent of their operation today involving production of crops under an Identity Preserved system for specific end users.

The Coopers and their two children started with a mixed farming operation, but have developed it into a successful market garden operation producing a wide range of vegetables crops. They have also developed a successful agri-tourism operation that each year hosts about 12,000 urban visitors who come to participate in the farming “experience” and also wander through an elaborately designed corn maze. Another aspect of their farm business is an expanding Community Shared Agriculture program that involves supplying some 400 subscriber or member families with fresh vegetables throughout the year.

Along with Bayer Crop Science, other long-time national sponsors of the OYF program include CIBC, John Deere and Agriculture Canada.

Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary, Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com