(Abbotsford, BC Mar 29, 2023) – Brothers Brad and Travis Hopcott, from Pitt Meadows BC were named BC/Yukon’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2023 at the BC/Yukon Region’s Recognition Event held in Abbotsford Mar 27-28. Over fifty industry people were in attendance.
Brad & Travis Hopcott, together with their parents and sister Jenn operate Hopcott Farms located less than 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver. What began as a dairy farm became a feedlot in 1957, which Brad now manages. After one year of composting the manure produced on the farm, it is sold to the public. Because they sell 70% of their meat production through their retail store, which sister Jenn manages, Hopcott Farms built a five-million-dollar abattoir in 2022 to reduce their processing costs
In 1996, the farm entered a partnership with Ocean Spray to produce 72 acres of cranberries. Travis, as manager of that production, hosts harvest tours to the public in six different languages. Cranberries have low input costs and produce for over 80 years, making them very sustainable.
Hopcott Farms expanded their retail sales when the store was increased to 15000 sq ft in 2015. They have hosted weddings on sight the last five years in that expanded venue Brad & Travis believe quality and transparency are key to their business and especially when dealing with their eighty employees from around the world.
The BC/Yukon Region of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program were pleased and proud to have three diverse and impressive operations at the 2023 Regional Event. The Nominees recognized were:
Matthew Carr- Linden Lane Farms- Krestova
Brad & Travis Hopcott- Hopcott Farms- Pitt Meadows
Johannes & Julaine Treur- Creekside Dairy- Agassiz
In attendance, Program Manager, Carla Kaeding, had this to say about the nominees. “The judges had a difficult job with three very excellent nominees. Matthew, at a young age knew he wanted to propagate plants. He built on that love to become an impressive plant nursery and organic vegetable supplier. Brad & Travis, sustain a third-generation farm while working with their siblings. Johannes and Julaine used their brown swiss dairy cows and their passion for cheese making to built an organic business they share with their children. The future of agriculture is in very good hands!!”
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, Bayer, Sollio Agriculture and CN with media sponsors Glacier FarmMedia and WS. It is supported nationally by BDO.
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2023 will be chosen at the National event in Laval Quebec from November 22-26, 2023.
-30-
For more information or a photo of Brad & Travis, contact:
Carla Kaeding, Program Manager,
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers
306.896.7833 ·CanadaOYF@gmail.com · www.oyfcanada.com