Better Farming February 2017

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Better Farming February 2017 Story Idea? Email 43
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ment; I’m more hands-on. The
bookwork is minimal in my facility.
What do you like best about farming?
I like producing quality Canadian
milk with quality care from my
animals. I like how dairy farmers are
part of a community and are always
willing to help everyone out. And I
like being able to walk to work. Other
than that, I love the lifestyle.
What do you like least?
There are a few things, like when
something breaks, like my manure
pump yesterday. It gets frustrating
when my day doesn’t go as planned
because of (a breakdown).
What is the single most important advice
you’ve received or lesson you’ve learned?
This is a tough one for me. When I
was working in Alberta, the hospital
(herd) manager sat me down and said
“Paul, if you take away one thing from
this farm, it’s to work smart, not hard.”
He’s a really good guy and I learned
a lot from him. If he didn’t have to
break his back over something, he
didn’t. Farmers work hard enough.
Even today I thought of (this advice)
when using a leaf blower instead of a
broom. Get the job done, but save
your body pain.
What’s your management philosophy or
guiding management principle?
Treat employees with respect and
you’ll receive it in return.
What’s your top tip about farm succession?
Having a succession plan is key to
organizing farm assets for a smooth
transition from one generation to the
next. Also, hold regular meetings.
Whether (they’re) over coffee or
breakfast.
In my case, and probably a lot of
people’s cases, we’re family, so we get
together and discuss (plans). No one
is left in the dark, and everyone’s on
the same page. For us, we meet
normally over breakfast.
Are you involved in any committees, boards,
associations, or volunteer efforts?
I volunteer with a 4-H dairy club. Last
year, I was the leader. This year, I took
a step back but still help out, judge
4-H dairy Holsteins and hold meet-
ings.
For the 11 years I was (eligible), I
was in a dairy 4-H (club). I also was in
cropping 4-H, farm safety 4-H, and
horse 4-H – one year of horse 4-H was
enough for me.
I am also a Royal Canadian Legion
member at the Russell Branch. When
things slow down a bit, I have some
plans.
What are your hobbies?
I play softball and basketball. I
snowboard. Any sports in general I
enjoy watching and playing, but those
are my big ones. I’m wearing a Jays
shirt right now, actually.
What was the last book you read?
I’m not a huge reader. I read a lot of
dairy magazines – a favourite of mine
is Holstein International.
What does your family think of farming?
I’m the fifth generation, (so) it’s a
passion that runs deep in my family. I
also live with my girlfriend on my farm.
She loves agriculture and works in the
industry.
Dianna isn’t a farm employee but
she’s in the barn everyday helping out.
It’s nice to have her support. She may
argue a bit when I don’t get the week-
end off that I planned to have off. But if
she didn’t, then I would probably be
working every weekend.
What’s your most important goal?
My most important goal is to run a
successful dairy operation and to
produce quality Canadian food in an
evolving industry.
How do you define success?
Waking up every day and enjoying
what I do. Feeling proud to call myself
a dairy farmer, and to build a life and
to live off the farm.
Is your vehicle messy or neat?
I’d say it’s neat. I don’t have a desig-
nated farm vehicle myself yet but I
like to keep my car neat. It’s in the
process of happening.
What are three items on top of your desk?
It’s not a typical office, it’s more my
own space built into the barn. But it
always has my CQM (Canadian Qual-
ity Milk) binder, an employee hour
log book and yesterday’s coffee mug.
What was the last piece of equipment you
bought for your shop?
It was a piece of machinery – a
22-tonne silage wagon we bought last
spring.
We ordered another one, we like it
so much. It’s another way to make our
operation more efficient.
What’s the best time of day?
Just after morning chores, breakfast
– a.k.a. coffee time and SportsCentre.
What’s your most memorable
crop/production year?
For us, it would have been 2015. It
was a great growing year for eastern
Ontario.
We had record yields in our corn
silage and our haylage. BF