40 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | November 2024 Nutrient Loss REBUILDING THE FAMILY FARM ‘I appreciate the family history on the farm.’ By Emily McKinlay UP CLOSE Lisa Wilson is working to bring the family farm back into production with her father Darryl and brother Peter. After living off the farm for most of her life, Lisa’s parents had the opportunity to purchase and move on to the 100-acre family farm near Kolapore Uplands two years ago. A family effort has gone into developing a flock of 50 ewes, and Darryl has started farming hay and mixed grain acres. They also have laying hens and broiler chickens for personal use. “The farm has been in the family for a long time. My family and I moved in when I was getting settled into the University of Guelph,” says Lisa. Her ancestors settled in Kolapore in the 1880s. Six generations later, they are now two farms north of the original homestead. “Then it took around a year of getting the farm ready. We began getting the barn ready for sheep last fall. It was January when we started our flock.” Lisa is in the third year of her zoology degree at the University of Guelph and intends to apply to the Ontario Veterinary College for entry within the next two school years. She is eager to be more involved on the farm, gaining insight and knowledge as a primary producer and honing the skills that she will use as a veterinarian. “My main goal is to become a vet and I have a really strong interest in animals,” says Lisa, noting that this was a large part of the motivation to raise sheep on the farm, in addition to the hay and grain. “Since we are on the farm, I thought we should have some sort of animal.” She explains that her love of animals and her generational farming history have drawn her toward the agriculture industry. “I appreciate the family history on the farm. We have generations of family who have been farmers. That’s something I’d like to continue if I can, and pay homage to that history. “If I become a vet, it would be hard to do full-time, but I’d like to continue to be a part of the farm and keep it going. We fought hard to keep it after my grandpa died, and it’s not something you want to lose again after just a few years.” As the farm has evolved over the past two years, Lisa is happy to spend time working alongside her family. “My dad and I, as well as my brother Peter, divide what we do for farm work. “In the summer and on weekends, I do routine barn chores in the morning and evening. I feed hay and grain, check waters, do some pen mucking and general tidying up, and help with record-keeping.” Darryl and Peter are contractors off the farm and do the equipment work on-farm. During barn setup, these off-farm skills made it easy for the Lisa Wilson loves working with animals and intends to apply to the Ontario Veterinary College. pWilson Family photo
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