(Brandon, MB June 17, 2022)- Dairy Producers Richard & Kristy-Layne Carr of Rich Lane Farms located in Marchand were named Manitoba’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2022. The winners were announced at the Manitoba regional event held in Brandon, MB on June 15-16.
Rich Lane Farms began in 2006 when Kristy-Layne’s 4H beef herd was brought from Portage la Prairie to La Broquerie. They operated as a hobby farm while working full-time off farm. Gradually they built up the herd to 250 head and farmed over 1000 acres. In 2018, being selected for the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba New Entrant Program helped Richard and Kristy start in the dairy industry.
Richard & Kristy-Layne milk fifty-five Holstein cows in a double eight parlour. The milk cows are housed in a straw pack barn, and the youngstock are raised outdoors. In addition, they run 60 Black Angus beef cows. The majority of the feed for both herds is homegrown. Crops grown include silage corn, alfalfa, millet, forage oats and ryegrass. Rich Lane Farms operate minimal equipment and utilize custom operators for most fieldwork and harvest.
Both Richard and Kristy-Layne are active on social media and in 2021 they started a YouTube channel, The Big Small Farmer.
The Manitoba Region of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program were pleased and proud to have three diverse and impressive operations at the 2022 Regional Event. The Nominees recognized were:
- Richard and Kristy-Layne Carr- Rich Lane Farms- Marchand, MB
- Tyson Martens- Seven Stones Inc.- Kola, MB
- Harley Siemens- Rosenort, MB
The region was honoured to have in attendance Manitoba’s Agriculture Minister, Honourable Derek Johnson and Deputy Minister Dori Gingera-Beauchemin as well as Steve Cooper, President of the National OYF board. President Steve’s comment on the event was, “A great bounce back event for the Manitoba Region. This set of nominees proves once again that the expression “you can’t do that” is not part of any Outstanding Young Farmer’s vocabulary.”
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 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,CIBC, John Deere, Bayerand Sollio Agriculture and national media sponsors Glacier FarmMedia and WS. It is supported nationally by BDO.
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2022 will be chosen at the National event in Saskatoon, SK from November 23-27, 2022.
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For more information or a photo of Richard & Kristy-Layne, contact:
Carla Kaeding, Program Manager,
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers
306.896.7833 ·kaedingc@hotmail.com · www.oyfcanada.com