INSIDE: Chilliwack Chiefs snap losing streak by blistering Trail Pg. 12 T H U R S D A Y
December 26, 2013
Year in back at Review 3 Looking first half of 2013 ❭❭ N E W S ,
SPORTS,
WEATHER
&
E N T E R T A I N M E N T ❭ ❭ chilliwacktimes.com
Farm roots
run deep
Sharron Ho/TIMES
Richard and Jacqueline Boer watch as their son, Cohen, 5, leans in to say hello to Otis, a family favourite calf, along with their two other children, three-year-old Kesler (centre), and Kaelen, 7, on Dec. 16 at Elmido Farms. BY SHARRON HO Chilliwack Times
A
local couple is in the running for a prestigious award that re cognizes young farmers who uphold outstanding conservation, community-relations and business practices. Jacqueline and Richard Boer are finalists for the 2014 BC & Yukon Outstanding Young Farmer Award, which makes them the second area-farmers to be shortlisted in the last two years, after Peter and Nicole Tuytel won the award in 2012.
Third-generation dairy farmers honoured to be up for prestigious Outstanding Young Farmer Award Jacqueline, 31, was born and raised on Elmido Farms in Chilliwack and husband Richard, 30, grew up on a dairy farm in Agassiz. Both are third-generation dairy farmers and family shareholders of Elmido Farms, which they have been operating alongside family for the last eight years. “I was surprised that we got nominated because I think what we do is
fairly ordinary in the realm of farming,” Jacqueline says. “I think we would like to win but it’s an opportunity . . . and just an honour to be able to go out and be involved in the process.” Together with Jacqueline’s parents and her three brothers, the Boers take on the task of managing a dairy farm with 320 registered, purebred holstein dairy cows—the clas-
sic dairy cow with black and white colouring—on their sprawling 350acre property that borders Evans and Lickman Roads. The property is divided into two farms, with cows on the larger farm currently producing 37.8 litres of milk a day on average, and the smaller, 27 litres. The husband and wife team are also co-operators of the Lower Nico-
la Cattle Company in Merritt, where their young stock of cattle reside. In May 2013, they diversified into specialty broiler production with the establishment of Brightside Poultry. As Elmido’s herd manager, Richard takes care of farm operations and everything related to animal health, husbandry and welfare. “I’m in charge of everything with a heartbeat,” Richard says. “I have people that help me milk the cows, and I have a really good herdsman that helps me manage counting cows and See FARMERS, Page 23
8645 Young Street, Chilliwack 604-792-5151 www.jadamandsons.com
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