Churchbridge, SK (Sept 17, 2021)–Jenny Butcher & Wes Kuntz from Brantford, ON were named Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2021. Little Brown Cow Dairy Farm & Store, operated by Jenny & Wes, is a dairy and beef farm that pasteurizes and processes its milk into cheese products which are sold in the on-farm store. The winners were announced at the virtual regional event held September 14, 2021 in Ingersoll ON.
After leaving the family dairy operation, Jenny and Wes set out to start their own farm that would become a unique and innovative farm experience. It began by acquiring the license to process the milk, obtained from their twenty jersey cows, into cheese. That value add has developed into a one stop shop for all good food items that are produced by them or within 100 km of Brantford.
Now thirteen years later, Jenny & Wes are redefining local food by providing artisan cheese, milk, and beef direct from their farm as well as homemade meals made in the onsite commercial kitchen. Jenny states “I am what I wanted to be when I grew up.”.
Christina Pyke, Ontario regional chair of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program, commented, “The three couples in this year’s competition were excellent candidates with fascinating and interesting presentations. This made for a very difficult decision for the judges!”
The nominees recognized were:
Jenny Butcher & Wes Kuntz, Little Brown Cow Dairy Farm & Store from Brantford
Mike & Danielle Cornelissen, Twin Creeks Greenhouse Inc from Watford
Ryan & Romy Schill, Circle R Lamb from Wallenstein.
Celebrating 41 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, Sollio Agriculture and CN. The program is supported nationally by media partners WS and Glacier FarmMedia and BDO.
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2021 will be chosen at the Virtual National Event being held Dec 1-3, 2021.
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For more information or a photo of Jenny & Wes, contact:
Carla Kaeding, Program Manager, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers
306.896.7833 ·kaedingc@hotmail.com · www.oyfcanada.com