31 It’s Farming. And It’s Better. Better Farming | April 2024 farm,” she says. “Right now, the people on the farm are my dad, my uncle, my brother, and myself. My mom, aunt, and uncle also help with other jobs on the farm. Everyone works together every day.” Most of the jobs on the operation are shared and are typically allocated based on the demands of the day. Before returning home full-time after graduation in 2017, Amelia attended the University of Guelph and completed her Bachelor of Science in agriculture with a major in crop science. While she was at school, a 150acre farm across from theirs was purchased for a subdivision. “Our farm is right beside a subdivision already. Cornerways from our farm, they are building another big subdivision. The farm sold when I was in university but there are no houses on it yet. Once that subdivision is built, it will be a very different road,” Amelia explains, noting that safety on the roads is a growing concern for farmers in increasingly populated areas. “It’s a busy road as is, and after adding all those homes it will get busier. Driving machinery on-road is interesting in this area. We drive the TMR mixer between farms to feed cattle and you have to time it right to avoid traffic.” Amelia says that they’ve seen a lot of changes to the dairy industry around Caledon, including many dairy farmers leaving the area. “Our dairy farm used to be on Airport Road. Over 50 years ago, there were 20-some dairy farmers on that road and then we were the last ones. And now there’s none because we’ve moved our dairy farm around the corner.” With more urban expansion and the purchase of farms by non-farmers, local agricultural associations have been dissolved or amalgamated with other counties. Peel Region’s Beef Farmers’ Association was joined with Halton’s, and the Peel’s Junior Farmers’ Association, one of the first to be formed, was dissolved. Amelia with her dog, Bella. The family’s farm is beside a subdivision. Amelia Judge photo Amelia Judge photo UP CLOSE
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