March 27 Page 16_Layout 2 13-03-26 1:56 PM Page 1
Page 16 The Chesterville Record
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Arnie Hakvoort is Farmer of the Year Nelson Zandbergen Record Staff — AVONMORE Hanging on and even thriving for decades in the otherwise challenging hog industry earned Arnie special Hakvoort recognition last week as Stormont County’s Farmer of the Year for 2012. Born to Dutch immigrants in Almonte, Hakvoort founded Hog Haven Inc. on Goldfield Road outside Finch in 1981, an operation that has spun off into two — soon to be three — separate farms as the next generation follows in their parents’ footsteps. Contacted after the honour bestowed on him at
the annual March 22 Celebration of Stormont Agriculture evening, the honouree said he viewed the recognition very much as one for his entire family, including his wife, Marion, secretary-treasurer of the business. “Absolutely, if it wasn’t for my family, I wouldn’t be here,” said Hakvoort, also accompanied that evening by son Devon, 28 — now the owner operator of the 225-sow farrow-to-finish operation at the original Goldfield Road farm — and daughter Rebecca, 31, and husband, Lee her Schwerdtfeger, 33, who run the Hakvoorts’ Kittle Road hog farm purchased from
Arnie’s win a family win
From left, Lee and Rebecca Schwerdtfeger (nee Hakvoort) and their son Griffin, Stormont County Farmer of the Year Arnie Hakvoort and wife Marion Hakvoort, and Devon Hakvoort. Harold Douma several years ago. Ownership of the latter concern — the 150-sow farrow-to-finish Acre Ridge Farms — is slated to fully transfer to the Schwerdtfegers in the next three or four years,
Award of Merit for McMaze AVONMORE — McMaze of St. Andrews West was honoured by the Stormont Agricultural Society at the recent Celebration of Agriculture evening held Fri., March 22 with an Award of Merit. McMaze is a family owned and operated fun farm established in the summer of 2001 by Sandy McDonald, eldest son of Stephen and Valerie McDonald. McMaze has continually grown with many new additions and services guaranteed to entertain the whole family. New improved expansions have included “The Haze Maze”, “The Door Maze”, “Haunted Barn”, and “Horse Drawn Wagon/Sleigh Rides” just to name a few. Their customers have helped them achieve many accomplishments such as winning the South Stormont Chamber of Commerce & Women Entrepreneur-Entrepreneurs of the Year Award in 2003 and 2005 and the Premier’s Award for Agricultural Innovation in 2008. McMaze prides itself with
according to Hakvoort, who lives in Berwick with his wife and retains an 1,800acre cropping and custom harvesting operation. This land base is collaboratively cropped by himself and his hog-farming children, he acknowledged,
adding that family members “certainly” help each other out in other ways when needed on their respective farm sites. And it all stems back to that original piggery established 32 years ago with 100 sows (farrow to
recently was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee medal for air cadets. Anthony is working with North Stormont Township and Keshia is a day-care worker. McMaze started out with a 3.5 acre corn maze in the shape of four trees, each in a different season, that challenged navigational skills and the mind by having patrons answer questions to get to the next station, and has grown into a favourite attraction no matter what the season.
Now in its 13th year, McMaze is a year round business with such activities as Farm Adventure Day Camps, five mazes, Old McDonald’s Playground, hosting birthday parties, family reunions, horse drawn sleigh rides, Easter egg hunts, a haunted season and much more. In reaction to the award, the McDonalds said: “We were very surprised at winning this award. We would like to thank everyone who thought we were deserving of the great award.”
finish) and 450 acres. “When I started, there were 69 pork producers in Stormont County,” he said, marvelling at Hog Haven’s status as the sole remaining example. Upgrades were done over the years but on October 16, 2011, a devastating fire levelled the facilities, also destroying the animals inside. Devon had taken over ownership in the spring of 2010, but the decision to rebuild was made quickly, and the replacement barn — similar to the old one in size at 26,500 square feet — was unveiled the following June. Both Arnie and Marion Hakvoort said they were “completely shocked” when his name was announced as Farmer of the Year at the North Stormont Place shindig. In a fortuitous turn of events, Marion happened to be in attendance, having made recent progress against the migraine headaches that have prevented her from going to the annual celebration in recent years. Now grandparents to a five-month-old grandson, the couple were at one time Ontario Young Farmers Winners and Runners-up at the national level. An active director in the Nation Valley Pork Board, Hakvoort has also served on the Bank of Montreal Ag committee.
Valerie and Stephen McDonald of McMaze were honoured with the Award of Merit from the Stormont Federation of Agriculture. contributions to many community groups and organizations and annually employs over 50 people per year. Stephen and Valerie continue to see this family adventure grow into a family business and have recently celebrated their 29th anniversary. Valerie also works at the Upper Canada District
School Board as an educational assistant and is also Stormont’s dairy educator. Stephen continues to work part-time as a heavy equipment operator. As for the other members of the McDonald family who were instrumental in making this attraction such a success, Sandy is now teaching at a local high school and
Customer Appreciation Days at Weagant Farm Supplies Ltd.
Please Join Us Saturday, April 6, 10 am-2 pm Brockville Store - 5077 County Rd. 29 N.
OR Wednesday, April 10, 10 am-2 pm Winchester Store - 11250 County Rd. 43
Delicious Oktoberfest Sausage While they last, enjoy Oktoberfest Sausage, served on a fresh sweet roll, garnished with sauerkraut, relish or mustard
Breeder’s Cup winners
The Stormont Holstein Club recently visited participating farms in the area to judge for the Breeder's Cup competition. Out of 18 entries, the top three were Armin and Monica Kagi for Redlodge Gold Avery in first place, second place went to Phillipe and Laurence Gutknecht for Saziemaz Airraid Radeau, and in third place Bernard and Tracey-Lee Grady for Grady Acres Matson Hannah. Shown here are winners Laurence Gutknecht, Phillipe Gutknecht, Queen of the Furrow Fabienne Kagi, Armin Kagi, Monica Kagi, Tracey-Lee Grady and Bernard Grady.
Drop by at your leisure, talk to the Factory Representatives and take a careful look at some exciting new products for 2013. Both stores feature special discounts on parts purchases, open house 1-day only specials, door prizes and product demonstrations.
Winchester 613-774-2887 Brockville 613-342-0668
CELEBRATING 60 YEARS IN 2013!