Quebec City, QC (August 28,2018)– At the 37th Quebec Gala was held on August 28 at the Saint-Hyacinthe Convention Center, dairy producers, Philippe Laurendeau and Kristina Roarke from Ferme L’Authentic located in Warwick QC were named Quebec’s Outstanding Young Farmers.
Philippe claims to have answered hundreds of times that he would be a farmer when asked what he would do “when he grew up”! As a student in Natural Sciences, then a Bachelor of Science in Administration, he always kept a connection with the cows by continuing to work on the farm during the summer and school holidays. Nurse clinician, Kristina is involved in various oncology and oncology programs at the regional level. After several years as a manager for local businesses, they decided to buy their own animals. Kristina agreed to share Philippe’s dreams, they sold their Orford house in the city and moved to Warwick, on leased land, with 55 dairy cows.
The installation of cattle in new buildings, the stress of being a tenant rather than the owner for the first eight years, the maintenance of work-life balance were all challenges they faced. Over the years, they were able to establish themselves by buying land that required heavy upgrading. Reflection on minimum tillage, the use of intercrops, cereal rotations soon provided 100% of the herd’s forage needs. Contract work reduces machinery expenses.
Now with a herd of 70 cows, Philippe says profitability is based on maximizing the amount of milk produced per stall or cow. Forty animals will soon be added to achieve this result, without the need to transform the buildings.
Their previous city life, their professional and social commitments make them natural ambassadors of agriculture and their life in rural Quebec has proved to them that their place in is the countryside.
The Quebec Region of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program were pleased to have over 500 in attendance to honour the three couples at their 2018 Regional Event. The couples recognized were: Jean-Pilippe Côté & Julie Richer, Magog; Martin Dion & Mélanie Deslandes, Roxton Pond; and Philippe Laurendeau & Kristina Roarke,Warwick.
Celebrating 38 years, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ program is an annual competition to recognize farmers that exemplify excellence in their profession and promote the tremendous contribution of agriculture. Open to participants 18 to 39 years of age, making the majority of income from on-farm sources, participants are selected from seven regions across Canada, with two national winners chosen each year. The program is sponsored nationally by CIBC, John Deere, Bayer, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and LaCoop Fédérée. The national media sponsor is Annex Business Media, and the program is supported nationally by AdFarm, BDO and Farm Management Canada.
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2018 will be chosen at the National Event in Winnipeg, MB from November 29 – December 3, 2018.
-30-
For more information or a photo of Philippe Laurendeau and Kristina Roarke, contact:
Carla Kaeding, Program Manager, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers
306.896.7833 ·kaedingc@hotmail.com · www.oyfcanada.com