Abbotsford, BC (May 11, 2020)–Due to COVID 19, the BC/YK Outstanding Young Farmers regional event was cancelled in March but the alumni are pleased to introduce the region’s 2020 winners, Raymond and Tracey Bredenhof, owners of R & T Poultry and Bredenhof Hop Farms located in Abbotsford BC.
After 15 years of farming together, the Bredenhof’s believe every day on the farm is a blessing and every day is an opportunity to improve. Raymond and Tracey run a commercial broiler farm, R& T Poultry, producing 225,000 broiler chickens each year. A few years ago, Raymond and Tracey participated in the resurgence of the Fraser Valley hop industry, planting 12 acres of hops. Now Bredenhof Hop Farms is fully immersed in the hop sector, processing and marketing its own hops and helping other farmers with their crops.
The Bredenhof’s and their sons manage and run all the day to day operations of the farm along with a great team of employees. They are always striving to increase quality, production and sustainability. Raymond and Tracey plan to grow the chicken production by 25% as the barns get upgraded to handle higher density, and they want the hop farm to grow to be the largest and most respected hop farm and distributor in the province.
Farming plans (Integrated Pest Management, Energy Efficiency, Nutrient Management, and Environmental Farm Plan) that the Bredenhof’s have implemented will ensure their land will continue to produce food for many years to come and be a great place for future generations to live, work and play.
Celebrating 40 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, Sollio Agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. National Media Sponsors are WS and Glacier FarmMedia and the program is supported nationally by BDO and Farm Management Canada.
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2020 will be chosen at the National Event in Saskatoon, SK from December 3-6, 2020.
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For more information or a photo of Raymond and Tracey, contact:
Carla Kaeding, Program Manager, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers
306.896.7833 ·kaedingc@hotmail.com · www.oyfcanada.com