Board of Directors

• Prefix: SILVERMAPLE
• Milking 120 cows, which presently includes 14 EX and 62 VG. Cow families in the herd are Camomile, Roy Frosty, Lily, Beauty, Elegance, Topper, Hezbollah and Roxies
• The herd is milked with two VMS robots installed in early 2017
• Our farm is 335 acres of which 200 is under irrigation. We grow 85 acres of silage corn and 250 acres of grass
• Broiler chicken operation on farm

Silvermaple Holsteins is operated by Ben, his wife Suzanne, their son Thomas and his wife Catherine. Thomas and Catherine also own and operate the broiler farm. Daughters, Erin and Natalie. Erin is presently working for B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, in Dairy Branch, and Natalie is living in saskatoon and working as a Dental Hygenist.

• On the Board since 2015
• Served on Awards, Governance, Audit & Risk, Finance and Breed Advisory committees

• President of B.C. Milk Producers Association 1995/96
• Vice Chair of B.C. Milk Marketing Board 1996-2015
• Chairman of B.C. Council of Marketing Boards 2005-2010

"To maintain and enhance the relevance of the breed and Holstein Canada to all dairy producers.”

• Prefix: PEARTOME
• Milking 70 head
• Tie-stall setup with a coverall free-stall barn for dry cows & heifers
• Three time Master Breeder Herd
• Current herd classification: 10 EX, 42VG, 32GP
• Cash crop 700 acres in Haldimand County with crop rotation of corn, hay, wheat, rye

Partnership with wife Mary-Ann and daughters, Jennifer & Heather.

• On the board since 2014
• Served on Awards Committee, Audit, Risk Management & Finance, Governance Committees

• Served as Chairman of the 2013 National Holstein Convention in Niagara Falls

"Keep Holstein Canada relevant for our members in the dairy industry.
Topics to be investigated in the future:

• Bull proofs containing calcium information
• Research on resilience
• The need for minimum and maximum SCC scores
• Include rump in the LPI
• Investigate the high reliability of genomic young sires
• Strive for more accuracy in genomic information”

• Prefix: VAL BISSON
• Master Breeder in 2012
• Milking 70 cows in a tie-stall facility with a Roboléo Robot
• Growing 325 acres of alfalfa, corn and soybeans

Elyse farms with her life partner Jean Bissonnette.

• On the Board since 2010
• Served on: Breed Advisory, Governance, Awards, National Joint Branch, Audit, Risk Management and Finance Committees

• President of Quebec Agricultural and Agri-Food Reference Centre Dairy Committee
• Held positions in various agricultural organizations

"To develop tools and services that generate better revenue for members. To work with industry partners to maintain a healthy and strong industry, and to make Holstein Canada and our breeders successful internationally.”

• Prefix: BUCKLAND
• Milking 150 cows, including 18 VG and 85 GP, with his brother Peter. They farm 1200 acres of which 800 are in crops.

Married to Jennifer Mungham; they have four daughters.

• On the Board since 2015
• Served on Awards, Governance, Young Leaders, Joint National Branch Committees
• Co-chair of the 2014 National Holstein Convention

• President of Sherbrooke Holstein Club 2006 – 2009
• Chair of Holstein Québec Picnic 2010 at Lookout

"Holstein Canada’s first responsibility is to its members. We must provide the tools and promote efficient dairy management practices, while also promoting the advantages of the high producing Holstein cow. We must work with industry partners for the advancement of clear and useable information delivered directly to our members. We play an important role in shaping the cow of the future and her impact on the world.”

• Prefix: LUCKY
• Milking 230 cows in a free-stall barn
• Breeding for longevity
• Farming 1,000 acres
• Family farm with 2 employees

• Immigrated to Canada to fulfill dream of being a dairy farmer
• Along with wife and partner bought a farm of 60 cows in 1997
• Willem and wife Joanne have 5 children

• On the Board since 2019
• Served on Young Leaders and Joint National Branch committees

• Board member of the Central Alberta Holstein Club
• President of the Alberta Holstein Association
• Delegate for Alberta Milk since 2012

"Maintain communication between Holstein Canada and Branches. Expand cooperation between industry partners and Holstein Canada.”

• Prefix: LOA-DE-MEDE
• Milking 80 head
• GEA Robotic compost pack barn
• 4th generation dairy farm
• Partnership with wife, Cindy, and son and daughter-in-law, John and Heather Werry
• Current herd classification: 21 EX, 50 VG, 17 GP
• Farm size: 550 acres

Dennis and his wife Cindy have 2 sons, both married, and 3 granddaughters and 2 grandsons.

• On the Board since 2016
• Served on Joint National Branch, Show & Judging, Classification Advisory and Cow of the Year

• President of the Ontario Holstein Branch, 2009
• Director on the Ontario Holstein Branch Board of Directors from 2002-2010
• Ontario Summer Show Committee Member since its conception

"My vision for Holstein Canada is to maintain communication between Holstein Canada and its provincial Branches and, in turn, the member producers across the country. Additionally, I feel I can bring perspective as a producer operating with robots; insight that will be increasingly important as our industry continues to change quickly, as more and more dairy producers are installing robotic equipment in their operations.”

• Prefix: CHERRY CREST
• Milks 120 cows with 11EX, 62VG, 42GP; the remainder good or not classified
• Grows hay, corn and soybeans on 405 owned and 115 rented acres

Nancy farms with her husband, Don Johnston, son Kevin, and daughter-in-law Tammy. Her daughter Merina is the General Manager of Holstein Ontario and lives with her partner Matt McEwen in Kingston, Ontario.

• On the Board since 2015
• Served on Awards, Show & Judging, Audit, Risk Management and Finance, Governance Committees

• Past Glengarry Holstein Club Director, Secretary and President
• Past 4-H leader
• Past Glengarry Holstein Club
• Representative on the Eastern Ontario Council for the Ontario Holstein Branch

"I believe Holstein Canada should be relevant and responsive to all dairy producers.”

• Prefix: WILLOWLANE HOLSTEINS
• Milking 38 head
• Total of 105 cows in a tie stall operation
• First generation dairy farm
• Current herd classification: 15 EX, 24 VG, 12 GP
• Farm size: owns 100 acres and rents 38

• Brian and his wife Judy have two children, Kyle and Michelle.

• Chair of the 2008 National Convention Sponsorship Committee
• Participated in two Joint National Branch workshops representing Holstein Ontario
• Sat on Classification and the Goverance committes
• Currently sitting on Show and Judging and Audit and Finance committees

• Past President of Holstein Ontario, 2010-2012. On the Branch Board 2006-2013
• 4-H leader for over 25 years
• Past President of the Forest Fall Fair, 2013-2016 and Director for over 25 years
• 25 years plus as Director of the Lambton Holstein Club, also a Past President
• TD Dairy Classic Committee member since 2015
• Past President of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies 2020-2021
• Ontario Dairy Youth Award winner, 2004
• Judging for over 14 years

My personal Vision for Holstein Canada is to retain membership through transparency and open communication with members.
Promoting collaboration to ensure sustainability will be top of mind, especially considering the challenges 2020 has brought to our industry. I believe that working in concert with our Sister Breeds will contribute to the Association’s Vision of a "Healthy Dairy Industry For All”.

• Prefix: JEANRI
• Ferme Lacnor
• Milking 160 cows
• Operates 1400 Acre farm with his two brothers Daniel and Dominic

Married to Helene Gagnon; they have two daughters, Anne Sophie and Alice.

• On the Board since 2014
• Served on Breed Advisory, National / Branch Joint Meeting, and Audit, Risk Management and Finance Committee

• Lactanet Board
• CDN Forum & Board
• Holstein Québec Genetics Committee
• Holstein Québec Judge
• Past Club President (five years)

"Holstein Canada needs to focus on the following:

• Retaining members through new technology
• Maintaining leadership in Dairy Genetics and continuing to promote the Canadian kind internationally
• Working with members to develop an even more productive Holstein with greater longevity"

• Prefix: BEAUÇOISE
• 600 head housed in free-stall facility
• Milking 250 cows
• 1,100 cropped acres

Benoît co-owns the farm with his brother and cousin. He is married and a father to two sons.

• On the Board since 2019
• Served on Breed Advisory and Classification Advisory

• College Diploma in Animal Sciences
• BA in Ag. Business from Laval University
• Worked for animal feed company before rejoining family farming business in 2007

"The herd is the most important asset on a dairy farm. My objective is for Holstein Canada to become a vital tool for all Holstein dairy producers in Canada and to help them succeed and promote this asset.”

• Prefix: SOULANGES
• Ferme Holstein Soulanges Inc.
• Born and raised in the Eastern Township of Quebec, on a Dairy Farm, with the prefix Mahvhays.
• 2000 was a return to the farm with my husband. He was also born and raised on a Dairy Farm in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges area, in the small town of Saint-Télésphore, Quebec with the prefix Soulanges. He is the third generation on the farm with his parents. The farm was transferred to us in 2003.
• Milk 80 cows in a tie-stall barn and have 70 replacement heifers.
• Breed for conformation and milk.
• 350 acres of land.
• Cash crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat.
• Self-sufficient in corn silage and haylage.

• 4 beautiful children.
• Laurie is 20, Jackob 18, Ulrick 16 and Yannick 15.
• They all work hard and enjoy going to fairs and showing their calves.

• Grew up in the local 4-H Club of Cowansville.
• Provincial Coordinator of the Quebec Young Farmers.
• Sat on the National 4-H Canada Board.
• Coordinator of the World Ayrshire Canada Conference Tour in 1996.
• Quebec Farmers Association
• Graduated from Saskatoon University in the Canadian Agricultural Leadership Program
• Held and still hold position as Secretary and Publicist of our local Holstein Club.

"I would like to better understand the ongoing challenges other Provinces face in the Dairy Industry, and find a way to work hand in hand to further our passion and help the world understand what we do.”

• Prefix: COMBINATION
• Milks 80 cows in a single-12 parallel parlor with 33EX 45 VG 16GP. BCA 200 215 208
• 2X Master Breeder

Karen farms with her husband Paul Gaunce and she has 4 children who are involved with the farm.

• Over 6 years as a Director on the New Brunswick Holstein Branch
• On the Convention Committee in 2003 and co-chaired the 2015 Convention
• Attended National Joint Branch meetings

• Secretary of local Milk Committee
• Director on the Fredericton Holstein Club for about 25 years
• One of the organizers of the New Brunswick Holstein Show
• Director on the New Brunswick 4-H Council

"I would love to see more involvement from members at Holstein events and for all breeders across the country to see the value in HC services to make their herd more profitable.”