Ontario farmers awarded for entrepreneurship, innovation

Three Ontario farmers were recognized by Sollio Agriculture at its Next Generation Award gala  last week.

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MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company in Bath earned the top prize in the New Farm Enterprise category, ahead of the other finalist, Matt & John McRae of Alvinston.

 Luymes Farms & Custom Farming in Moorefield earned the top prize in the Farm Succession category.

Sollio Agriculture, the agribusiness division of Sollio Cooperative, said in a release the Sollio Next Generation Award is the only recognition of its kind for Canadian agricultural businesses. For the second year in a row, the contest included a category for clients of The Agromart Group, a Sollio Agriculture partner network in Eastern Canada.

“The Sollio Next Generation Award plays an important role not only by recognizing entrepreneurs who have successfully managed a farm succession or started a new farm enterprise, but also by highlighting innovative farming practices from across Canada,” said Casper Kaastra, chief executive officer of Sollio Agriculture.

“When farmers share their best practices and inspiring stories, everybody wins,” he said.

About the winners:

MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company (Bath)

MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company produces its own beer using malted barley and hops from the MacKinnon family farm, which has been in operation since 1784. The brothers behind the brewery, Ivan and Daniel, are an engineer and an agronomist who decided to pursue their passion for brewing. The farm takes a strong sustainable approach to brewing and is also a destination for agritourism, with a tasting room, a reception hall, and a music festival. The Sollio Next Generation Award aims to celebrate farmers like the MacKinnons, who are innovating and adding value to their products.

Matt and John McRae (Alvinston)

Matt and John McRae are brothers who grew up dreaming about having their own farm, following the footsteps of their parents Alfred and Joan. Today, they run an 870-acre grain farm while working day jobs at a refinery and a chemical plant. They grow a variety of crops including soybeans, corn, and wheat, in addition to producing high-quality seed for both their customers and their local Agromart retailer. They also extend their services to neighbouring farmers, and tend to a maple grove, adding another dimension to their farm enterprise. Their passion for innovation is evident in their constant search for new opportunities and avenues for expansion within the agricultural industry.

Luymes Farms and Custom Farming (Moorefield)

Luymes Farms and Custom Farming is a family business that specializes in grain production and contract farming. The enterprise is the brainchild of brothers Rob and Mark Luymes, who took over from their parents John and Elaine. The contracting service started in the 1970s as part of John and Elaine’s dairy business, which was struggling to expand at the time due to the lack of available quotas. They’ve since diversified, and revenues are growing steadily and organically by word-of-mouth alone. The family business has 2,000 acres under cultivation and services 8,000 acres in 500 fields for neighbouring companies. They excel at managing their machinery fleet and have extensive knowledge of the area’s specific needs. Their transfer plan focuses on communication strategies and the family values of the Luymes clan. They take pride in maintaining good relations and creating jobs for the future generations – should they want to take over the company.

Farmers who would like to apply for the 2024–2025 Sollio Next Generation Award can now talk to their Agromart partner or visit the Sollio Group Cooperative website. Applications must be received by April 1, 2024.