Source: Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers
Alumni gathered to celebrate Justin & Laura Rogers of Picturesque Farms from Coleman, PEI as Atlantic’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2019. The announcement was made at the Atlantic regional event held in conjunction with The Atlantic Farm Mechanization Show March 8-10.
As owners of Picturesque Farms, Justin & Laura Rogers maintain a diverse business model. They produce beef, seed grain, commercial grain & soybeans and corn & forages on their 500+ acre farm.
Justin began his farming career when he purchased a calf at the age of 8, his first tractor at 13 and 50% of the 6th generation family farm from his uncle at the age of 21. This was the start of his seed potato business. While attending College Justin met Laura, they married in 2004, and purchased the remaining 50% of the family farm from his parents.
In operating their 7th generation farm, the Roger’s mission is a diverse business model, quality products, good customer service, strong financial health, secure future land health while making contributions to their community. In order to achieve their missions they have converted some of their commercial grain production into pedigreed seed. With the pedigreed seed has come grain cleaning, custom seed treating, a focus on genetics and assisting customers with agronomics and crop planning.
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer Program 1st VP, Franck Groeneweg was in attendance and commented “Only passion and determination empowered the Roger’s to start their operation from scratch, something that most people say is impossible today in agriculture”.
The Atlantic’s Region of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program were pleased to honour two couples at their 2019 Regional Event. The finalists recognized were:
- Kyle & Bryan Maynard- Farmboys Inc, Tyne Valley PEI
- Justin & Laura Rogers- Picturesque Farms, Brae, PEI
Celebrating 39 years, 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, La Coop fédérée and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and supported nationally by BDO and Farm Management Canada.
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2019 will be chosen at the National Event in Fredericton, NB from December 3-8, 2019.
