Churchbridge, SK (March 23, 2017) – Lauchie and Jolene MacEachern of have been selected as the Atlantic region’s Outstanding Young Farmers for their achievements on their Holstein operation, Folly River Farms Ltd. The event in Moncton, N.B., on March 10 recognized their accomplishment of becoming dairy farmers through a unique succession plan.
Folly River Farms Ltd. is a 100 head purebred Holstein operation in Debert, NS that includes 350 acres of crop land managed in accordance to the farm’s nutrient management and environmental farm plan. With a strong work ethic, a lean approach to management and measured growth strategies, Lauchie and Jolene have been able to introduce new technology to the farm, make investments in infrastructure, significantly enhance forage quality, and increase milk production by 20 per cent.
The succession planning process for the MacEacherns was a bit unorthodox as it was between non-relatives, but they have proven to be a positive example to those who are interested in farming but do not have a family farm to take over.
“Our farm was in the Eisses family for over 50 years,” says Lauchie MacEachern. “We are grateful to the entire family for allowing us to work with them for seven years to learn and grow the operation, and also for trusting us with such an important piece of their history.”
Since taking full ownership of the farm in 2013, energy consumption and management have been a top priority for their operation. They have adopted many options for reducing energy consumption for milk cooling and are currently involved in an energy research project with the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture to analyze where further efficiencies can be made.
Lauchie and Jolene have a young family with three children; Ewan, Allister, and Adriana. In addition to the demands of raising a young family, Lauchie and Jolene are busy community leaders. Their involvement in agricultural organizations stretches from the Central Nova Holstein Club to Nova Scotia Livestock Health Services Board, Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia Milk Committee, and Agri Futures.
“Congratulations to Lauchie and Jolene MacEachern of Folly River Farms Ltd.,” says Nicole Kilfoil Oulton, regional chair representative on Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers national board. “Their desire to become dairy farmers led them to a positive and unique succession plan that has them milking 75 purebred Holsteins on their own farm.”
Celebrating 36 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, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through Growing Forward 2, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative. 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 2017 will be chosen at the National Event in Penticton, BC from November 29 – December 3, 2017.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Carla Kaeding, Program Manager, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers
306.896.7833 ·kaedingc@hotmail.com · oyfcanada.com