28 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | August 2024 Nutrient Loss FUNK FARMS: NAVIGATING TRANSITION ‘You’ve been there as you’ve built & grown everything you have.’ By Emily Croft UP CLOSE The Funk family owns and operates Funk Farms, a commercial vineyard in the Niagara Region near Jordan. Some 45 years after starting the farm, Doug Sr., along with his sons Doug and Derek, are well on their way to tackling the transition planning process. “My grandfather and uncles had a farm – they had layer chickens and a grape farm – and I think it was a part of my DNA,” says Doug Sr. “I loved the farm and tractors and equipment from three years old, when I was first put on a tractor to steer it down the road. It started very young, and I loved it.” Doug Sr. explains that support from his family was instrumental in starting his own vineyard from scratch in 1979. “My two uncles helped me along tremendously. I was able to use their equipment and offset it by helping them when they needed an extra hand. “My father also lent me money to buy my first farm. It was from the mortgage that he put on his house. His peers told him he was foolish and crazy, but he said he knew me, and eight months later I had paid him out and was on my own. “Everybody needs help to get started, and that was significant for me.” Doug Sr. farmed with his brother Randy, who also had a full-time offfarm job. They were then joined by Doug Sr.’s sons – Doug came home almost 20 years ago, followed by Derek 12 years ago. Over the past 15 years, the Funk family has been working through transition planning. “Up until two years ago, I virtually supervised 100 per cent of the labour in the field. In the last year or two, Derek has been assuming a lot of that responsibility. I spend a lot of time at my desk doing accounts payable, and fill in with smaller tasks on the old Derek and Doug Funk operate a commercial vineyard near Jordan in the Niagara Region. Lisa Funk photo
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