January 30, 2012

Chilliwack – BC’s youngest-ever Holstein Master Breeders are not only outstanding in the dairy show arena but outstanding among all BC young farmers.

Peter and Nicole Tuytel of Elmbridge Farms in Chilliwack were named the winners of the 2012 BC & Yukon Outstanding Young Farmer Award in front of about 400 people at the annual BC Agriculture Gala in Abbotsford, Jan 25th. The Tuytels received their award from BC Minister of Agriculture Don McRae and BC OYF Regional Chair Suzanne Cuthbert, who is also a BC Outstanding Young Farmer 1996 alumni .

Last year, Peter Tuytel was named a Master Breeder by Holstein Canada, an award which recognizes at least 15 years of superior dairy cattle breeding. Both Peter and Nicole have a lifelong passion for cattle and a keen understanding of what makes a superior cow. Peter began building his herd at age 14 while Nicole began even earlier, tracing her herd back to two calves her grandfather gave her when she was just four. Their most famous cow, Elmbridge FM Loveable, a two-time Canadian national champion, is actually a cross of Pete’s maternal line with Nicole’s paternal line and was named the best bred and owned cow in the red-and-white Holstein show at the 2011 World Dairy Expo. The Tuytels also own Davidsons Raider Bronze, the first Canadian cow to receive a 97/100 rating.

After beginning with a small dairy and broiler chicken farm in 1996, the Tuytel’s dairy farm now consists of 125 acres with 130 cows. Along the way, they have increased their production from an average of 24.5 kg/day in 2000 to 43.6 kg/day in 2011.

Runners-up for the 2012 BC OYF award were hog producers Chad and Angela Goertzen of Sundance Farms in Chilliwack. To be eligible for the Outstanding Young Farmer award, farmers must be between 19 and 39 years of age and derive at least two thirds of their income from farming. Nominees are judged on their progress in agriculture, conservation practices, production history, financial and management practices, and community contributions. Selecting the 2012 winners were BMO agriculture account manager Lana Dueck, Ritchie Smith CEO Des Gelz and 2001 Outstanding Young Farmer alumni, Karen Brown.

The BCOYF program is sponsored by BMO Bank of Montreal, BC Broiler Hatching Egg Commission, BC Egg Producers Association, BC Chicken Growers Association, BC Chicken Marketing Board, BC Milk Marketing Board, Bobcat Country Sales, Clearbrook Grain & Milling, Farm Credit Canada, Golden Valley Foods, Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC, Prairie Coast Equipment, Ritchie Smith Feeds, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust, TerraLink Horticulture, and United Agri Systems.

Celebrating 32 years of identifying great agricultural successes, 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 CropScience, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and supported nationally by AdFarm and Canadian Farm Business Management Council.

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2012 will be chosen at the National Event in Charlottetown, PEI, from November 28 – December 2, 2012.