Bishops Named Best

An Annapolis County couple has been named Outstanding Young Farmers of 2011.

Geoff and Jennifer Bishop, of Bishop Farms Ltd. in Round Hill, were one of two winners named from among seven regional finalists at a gala event held in Manitoba last month.

This third generation dairy farm has grown from a small one-cow operation purchased in 1969 when Geoff’s grandfather emigrated from the UK to a 750-acre, 160-head modern milking operation with a geo-thermal heated milking parlour.

“It was his dream for us to be where we are today,” said Geoff. “He wanted this farm to continue generation after generation.”

While best farming practices are a mixture of hard work, science, and smart business management, Geoff credits part of the farm’s success to his grandfather’s progressive attitude. His family always looked for the latest technologies and stayed informed about the best practices.

“They always tried to stay on top of the best farming practices,” said Jennifer, who also grew up on a farm in Prince Edward Island and met Geoff while they were attending the Nova Scotia Agricultural College.

After graduation Geoff decided to spend some time travelling and worked on dairy farms in New Zealand and England, while Jennifer continued her education.

The couple returned to the family farm in Round Hill in 1997 where they worked with his parents. One of the things they say they value about the Outstanding Farmers program is the planning and goal-setting part of the application process.

While the paperwork may discourage some people from applying, the Bishops say it’s a great way to gauge where the farm is and plan where it can go in the next 10 years. Geoff set short-term goals to improve herd genetics and feeding systems to increase overall milk production.

He says that while farming can be a challenging, seven-day-a-week labour-intensive lifestyle that isn’t for everyone, it reaps rewards for him every day. He loves to see each new generation of some of their prized Holstein lines.

“He knows every one of the cows by looking at their feet,” said Jennifer. “I don’t know how he does it.”

Being able to tell the cows apart is pretty black and white, according to Geoff. Every one is different and each has a distinct personality.

Other major changes he has made since his grandfather’s day is the new energy-efficient dairy barn and milking facility.

Their newest innovation is a soybean extruder to press oil out of raw beans. The solid byproduct can be fed to the cows and the oil for feed mix or as fuel.

To be eligible for the Outstanding Young Farmer award, applicants must be between 19 and 40 years of age, draw at least two thirds of their income from farming, and demonstrate progress in their agriculture careers.

Nominees are judged on elements of their operation such as conservation practices, production history, financial and management practices, and community contributions. Two national winners are crowned each year.

Kevin and Annamarie Klippenstein of Cawston, British Columbia were the other couple chosen at the annual national event held recently in Brandon.

“This year’s OYF winners demonstrate the tremendous diversity that makes up the Canadian agriculture industry,” says Brian Newcombe, OYF president. “The Bishops and Klippensteins represent the refreshing evolving landscape of farming – next generation farmers steeped in rural family tradition to young farmers who bring experience from other industries home to their new operation. It takes a country full of innovative entrepreneurs to help feed our growing population and contribute to the vital industry that OYF so proudly promotes and recognizes.”

Story by Heather Killen

The Annapolis County Spectator

December 8, 2011