Reading Time: 5 minutes Four generations of Doerksens have managed their mixed farm and ranch operation in Gem, Alta. Today, they are proudly raising the fifth generation while carving out a successful pasture-to-table business model and enhancing the sustainability of their land, herd and future. Together with their parents, families and employees, the Doerksen brothers — Daniel, Lorin and […] Read more
Alberta farmers map out sustainability of their farm’s future
Country Guide sat down with several 2024 Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) to learn about their experiences and plans for the future. For this second article in the series, we spoke with Alberta OYF regional winners and Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers national winners, Daniel, Lorin and Barry Doerksen.
Building a resilient food chain
Canadian farms are connecting both ends of the food chain through sustainable and regenerative practices
Reading Time: 6 minutes Dianne Wolters wants to build connections. As a farmer and food processor, she is in a unique position to show her food manufacturing customers the benefits of regenerative agriculture practices. Wolters wants to help these customers market their baked goods and consumer products as sustainably sourced, while also supporting fellow farmers in their sustainability efforts. […] Read more
Advancing regenerative farming practices
One company is helping Ontario farmers adopt sustainable practices to reduce risk
Reading Time: 3 minutes Last year, Griffith Foods launched a pilot program to promote regenerative agriculture in Ontario wheat in partnership with Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited (P&H), Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association and the Sustainable Food Lab. Through the Advancing Regenerative Agriculture Farming Practices program, the global food company set out to support and incentivize the adoption of […] Read more
An experience to phone home about
Country Guide sat down with several 2024 Outstanding Young Farmers to learn about their experiences and plans for the future. In this first instalment, we speak with the Atlantic regional winner, Geena Luckett
Reading Time: 4 minutes Geena Luckett confesses she often feels she has imposter syndrome. At the age of 11 she transitioned from city girl to farm girl when her dad became a fruit and vegetable producer to supply his specialty grocery stores. Today, she is the co-owner and general manager of Luckett Vineyards in Wallbrook, N.S. Despite taking a […] Read more
A guide for farm growth
Vision statements are more common on today’s farms. How can creating one help you?
Reading Time: 6 minutes Why does your farm need a vision? To Jeannette French and her husband Brian, co-owners of Lennox Farms in Melancthon, Ont., the answer is simple. “No matter your farm size, a vision is something that drives you every day. It’s born from your values and is the backbone of what you believe.” Six years ago, […] Read more
How these Canadian farms thrive
Like a roadmap, these farms are setting goals to make sure they end up at the right destination
Reading Time: 8 minutes Every January business partners DJ Wassenaar and Matt Bergman take a day to set goals for the coming year. It’s a practice that’s proven successful for their partnership and an integral part of their planning process. “We always need something to aim for, and whether the goal is attainable or not, giving ourselves a direction […] Read more
One page at a time
After 16 years and more than 4,000 stories, Tom Button, Country Guide’s editor, has turned a page in his career
Reading Time: 5 minutes For those who missed our December issue where Button thanked his readers for their almost two decades of support, you’ll have missed the announcement that Country Guide’s long-time editor is headed for retirement. What started as an opportunity to have fun producing a business publication for Canadian farmers soon transformed into the humble pursuit of […] Read more
Finance 101 – What is a business plan?
There’s more at stake this winter, and more than ever to gain
Reading Time: 5 minutes A business plan is like a road map for your farm. You can plan your route, set a destination and track progress. But without a map or a plan, how does a farm business owner know what success looks like, or even what you’re capable of achieving? Or, most importantly, how do you know when […] Read more
Diversifying the farm helps build a new business
Who has time to manage a bigger, more diversified farm? The Boldts found how to say, “We do!”
Reading Time: 11 minutes When Melanie Boldt pivoted her business from a grain farm to the first vertically integrated meat producer and market in Saskatchewan, she took a “just do it” approach and leaned into the challenge to change, diversify and expand her family farm. That was 26 years ago, and looking back, Boldt says she’s not sure she […] Read more
Information sharing on the family farm
Like it or not, it makes a lot of sense to get much more formal about who you show your business numbers to, and when
Reading Time: 5 minutes Affectionately, on the farm, it gets thought of as “the boardroom.” It’s the kitchen table, but the conversation around it isn’t always so affectionate, or so gentle. The kitchen table can also be host to plenty of uncomfortable questions and conversations, especially if the person asking the questions isn’t getting to see the numbers they […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
