Craggan Farms, located east of Charlottetown in Marshfield, overlooks the beautiful Hillsborough River. The farm is operated by John Wood, his wife Jill (who is a vet and does all herd health), his father David, and their three children Jonah (14), Samantha (12) and Zach (10). One full-time employee and two part-time evening and weekend helpers aid them.

The Wood family has been farming the property in Marshfield for over 100 years, and John is the 4th generation; however, Craggan Farms was only established 16 years ago upon completion of their current dairy barn. They currently milk 60 cows in a tail-to-tail tie-stall and boast a herd classification of 8EX, 39VG, 22GP, and 2G. The herd production is 11,230 kg on a 12-month average with a herd BCA of 241-244-235.

The Wood’s farm approximately 200 acres, 40 of which is for corn silage with balance as mixed forage for round bale silage and pasture. Being in close proximity to Charlottetown, land availability is an issue and with the barn being full, current management and breeding emphasis is being placed on maximizing the most kilograms of fat from a moderate-sized, good-typed, productive, long-lasting cow. High milk quality is also of great importance with the farm being recognized with many Milk Quality awards. John is currently the President of Amalgamated Dairies Limited (ADL) and has been on the board for 10 years.

In the eastern end of the province in the picturesque community of Little Pond sits Pondsedge Holsteins. Currently operated by brothers Kent, Robbie and Michael MacDonald, this large herd boasts an 11,500 kg production average with a BCA of 265-270-260. The 70 VG 200GP and 70 G herd is housed in a newly constructed six-row centre feed alley 130’ x 300’ Wolf Structure barn complete with a 30 stall DeLaval Internal Rotary.

Occupied by Scottish settlers in 1840 and now in the hands of a sixth generation, the farm now crops 1750 acres of barley, corn, and forages. This well-rounded, award-winning farm was the top producing large herd in PEI from 2013 to 2015, while picking up an ADL Top Quality Milk Producer award in 2017 and the 2017 Soil Conservationist of the Year Award. Having just completed a large expansion, there are no immediate plans for further growth.

The brothers plan to transition the farm gradually to the next generation, including Kent’s son Alex, who will be joining the farm following the completion of his college degree.

Royal Water Holsteins resides near Mount Stewart, PEI, and is owned and operated by Alvin and Margie Jay and their son Nathan and his wife Crystal. They milk 150 cows three times a day in a tie-stall with the assistance of four full time employees and a few part time employees made up of local youth and students from the local Atlantic Veterinary College.

The herd comprises of 8ME, 7EX, 83VG, 70 GP and 10 G. The herd boasts an impressive BCA of 302-293-290, which put them at the top of the production list for their herd size on PEI. The farm has been in operation since 1976 starting with 30 cows; it’s had several expansions over the years, including the last one in 2010, which saw a large expansion of both the barn and cow numbers. All heifers are raised on the farm until 10 months of age, at which point they are custom-raised, returning as springers. Dry cows are housed at an adjacent farm that they rent.

The Jays grow all their own forage, consisting of corn silage and a grass and alfalfa mix. A 1-group TMR is fed, consisting of these forages as well as corn, barley, roasted soya beans, canola, and a mineral premix. With a focus on cow comfort and good nutrition, the Jays look forward to continuing to breed a high-type, productive Holstein cow.

Winterbay Farms, located near Covehead, PEI, is a 100-cow Master Breeder herd operated by Jeff and Amy Bysterveldt, along with help from Jeff’s parents, John and Janet and herdsman David Gormley. The herds boasts an impressive 22EX, 75VG, and 37 GP with a 12 month rolling herd average of 11,000 kgs of milk at 4.3% Fat and 3.4% Protein, which consistently earns them a spot near the top of the production list in PEI.

Cows are housed in a recently expanded tie-stall, along with an additional 120 head of dry cows and youngstock also on-farm. 600 acres are cropped to feed the herd, growing mixed grasses, corn, and barley. Some highlights of the Winterbay breeding program are the Winterbay Lindy Gale VG, former National Fat Champion, and Winterbay Goldwyn Lotto EX95 who was Grand Champion at the 2010 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

With recent farm succession to Jeff and Amy, and the dairy barn expansion completed in 2018, plans involve expanding the farm’s land base and improving calf-raising facilities, with the farm’s primary goal being to improve its efficiencies.

Located minutes outside of Charlottetown is the well-known Master Breeder herd Goldenflo Holsteins. Owned by Gordon and Merle MacBeath and Chris and Maureen MacBeath, they milk 100 cows in a head-to-head tie-stall with the huge help of Malcolm Macbeath and Kyle VanderKloet. Starting in the late 1800s, the farm has grown to 600 acres today, and they crop a mixture of forages, corn, soybeans, barley and pumpkins.

The Macbeaths focus on the idea that "if you’re going to milk a cow two times a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, you might as well milk a good one”, and it has served them well. Having bred several All-Canadian and All-American nominations, the herd classification is currently 28EX, 74VG and 19GP and with a herd production of 12,686 kg of milk. The Lheros Bubblegum, Jed Nifty, and Lee Angel cow families continue to produce the herd’s top production, classification and show results.

Looking to the future, they plan to continue to increase productivity and efficiencies as they lay the foundations for an expansion and new facility in the future. Convention Chair Chris and his family look forward to inviting visitors to their farm in April!

Crasdale Farms is perched on a hill overlooking PEI’s North Shore. Operated by Brian, Amber and Aleah Craswell, with help from employee David Younker, they milk 110 cows in a fully automated barn with two DeLaval Robots. This Master Breeder herd comprises of 3EX, 28VG, and 54 GP with a production of 12,315 kg and a BCA of 288-298-300, earning them the top spot for their category in 2017 on PEI.

Brian’s father, Athol, founded the herd in the 1970s, and it has garnered many awards over the years, including several All-Canadian and All-American awards and the "Cow Comfort Award” from the Atlantic Veterinary College in 2016. The farm’s current goals are to maximize their current facility by filling 200 kg of quota from their two VMS while maintaining a 30% pregnancy rate. To achieve these goals, the Craswells focus on breeding balanced, high component, productive cows with good fertility and health traits.

The MacQuarrie Family operates Mactalla Holsteins, and this 7th generation family farm is located in the rolling hills of Bonshaw near the south shore of PEI. Starting in 1854 as a mixed farm with dairy and beef cows, hogs, and turnips, the MacQuarries became full time dairy farmers in 1981 beginning with 30 cows. They now milk 100 cows in a new freestall tarp barn built in 2016.

Allan and Coleen MacQuarrie, their son Jeff and Jeff’s wife Jessie run the farm, with help from Wendy Ulvstal, Jeff Verge, and grandson Matt Jack. A recent Master Breeder Herd, it comprises of 8ME, 7EX, 45 VG, 58 GP and 3G with a herd BCA of 244-261-257. They crop 450 acres, of which they own 250. The herd is a fed a TMR comprising of the homegrown grass and alfalfa silage, corn silage, and high moisture corn, as well as purchased canola meal, soybeans, and premix.

They also grow some barley for heifers and have some pastureland as well. The MacQuarries place an emphasis on cow comfort, breeding for high typed cows with good udders, feet, and legs, and low somatic cell score towards earning a second Master Breeder Shield. The ultimate goal is being able to provide a farm from which the next generation can make a living in the Canadian dairy industry.

New Lands Farm is a large operation near Hunter River run by Kees and Elly Verhulst, as well as their son Erik, his wife Danielle, and their young family of four. The Verhulsts, along with three full time employees and some seasonal help, milk around 300 cows three times a day in a newly built deep-bedded free stall barn with a 40 cow external rotary.

Current production is 238-269-246 with 20 VG, 147 GP, 91G and a few grades purchased during the recent expansion. Established in 2002 after emigrating from the Netherlands, they own 1150 acres of which they grow 200 acres of corn silage, 200 acres of corn snaplage, 300 acres of grass/legume mix, and 200 acres of grass hay for heifers and dry cows.

They rent out 240 acres for potato and grain production. One of PEI’s top Valacta Management herds last year, they place an emphasis on breeding a uniform herd of cows that milk out fast with solid feet and legs, high components and a focus on fertility and longevity. Looking to the future, they hope to maximize profit from their new barn and keep things up to date and modern to make a future possible for the generation to come.

Bloyce and Terri Thompson operate Eastside Farm in idyllic Frenchfort with their children Taylor, Alyson, and Jenell and herdsman Mitch Johnson. This iconic Master Breeder consists of 27 EX, 58 VG, and 10GP and a herd production of 10,600 kg with 4.1% fat and 3.2% protein.

This third generation family farm crops 400 acres for corn and alfalfa/grass mixes, housing their herd in a 75-cow tie-stall and a 25-cow pack facility. Well known for breeding top quality cattle, Eastside has bred numerous All-Canadian and All-American nominees, won Premier Breeder at the Royal Winter Fair in 2011, and are the co-breeder of Eastside Lewisdale Gold Missy EX95-2E, who was Supreme Champion at World Dairy Expo and the Royal Winter Fair in 2011. They are also a partner in 21st Century Genetics. The breeding philosophy at Eastside is "Breeding tomorrow’s cows today”.

Red Oak Farms, located in Oyster Bed Bridge, is owned and operated by Pat, Judy and Ben Versteeg. Purchased in 1998 as a beef farm, it was converted to dairy, and they now milk 60 cows with the help of valued employees Thomas Kirkham and Jon Raymond Dykstra, as well as some volunteers from extended family. They crop 300 acres, 150 for grass/alfalfa mixtures, 100 for corn silage and grain corn, and 50 for soybeans.

They feed the herd a PMR and grain through a computer feeder, with the hopes of going to TMR in the very near future. The herd is housed in a simple freestall facility and milked three times a day. Current production is 11,500 kg of Milk, 453 kg of Fat, and 364 kg of Protein. The herd classification is 6 EX, 37 VG, 21 GP, and 1G, with the philosophy of breeding cows that have great functional conformation, exceptional health traits, and yield a high dollar value of milk solids.

A farm that pays attention to details, in 2017 they were the #2 Valacta Management herd in PEI, and are regular recipients of milk quality awards. The future goal of this well-managed farm is to develop a more sustainable business model through expansion and innovation.

Redview Farm started in 2016 when Alain and Janna Remond, their daughter Deanna, and Deanna’s husband Rob Doctor purchased Sudview Holsteins from the Sudsbury Family. Overlooking the beautiful North Shore near Kensington, the farm comprises of 320 acres and 135 head in total, with 50 Holsteins and 20 Jerseys in lactation.

70 acres is used for pasture, going along with their farm philosophy to "make money with milk, not milk with money.” Herd production is 226-238-226 and classification is 1 EX, 13VG, and 34GP on the Holsteins, of which 41% of the herd are 1st lactation. The family likes to be involved in the industry: Janna is a previous president of Jersey Canada, Deanna is on the Convention committee, and in 2018 they hosted Open Farm Day.

With quality milk awards already coming, and future succession plans already under way, the future is very bright at Redview.

Located in beautiful Lot 16, Tiny Acres Holsteins is operated by Wade and Cathy Bryanton and their son Logan. The Tiny Acres herd was established in 2006 after converting their existing beef operation to dairy, and it is housed in a large tarp free-stall barn with flat-barn parlour. Working closely with advisors Sterling Dorrance and Byron Andrews from Valacta, veterinarian Frank Roblee, and nutritionists Rob Lister and Carrie Mitham from Shur-Gain, this 125-cow classified herd boasts an impressive herd BCA of 299-351-297.

The Bryantons crop 750 acres of alfalfa, barley, corn and soybeans, and place a wide focus on making quality forages and being stewards of the land using as much no-till as possible. Recently, the Bryantons have made a large investment in their herd with genomics, purchasing many females and working closely with ST-Genetics and Semex with the ultimate goal of increasing and maximizing production through genetic gain.

You will find Gardenvale Farms located just outside of Charlottetown in Frenchfort. The herd is housed in a tie-stall facility and has a herd classification of 13 EX, 28 VG, and 19GP and a herd production of 230-265-223. Ron and Joy Stewart and their teenage children Maddie and Owen, with help from valued employee Donnie McCaffery, operate the farm. Started in 1964 by Ron’s parents Wilfred and Willena, they crop approximately 310 acres of grass/alfalfa mixes for forage and pasture and purchase a complete feed for the herd.

The Stewarts are very active in 4-H, with both Maddie and Owen having attended the Classic in Toronto. When breeding for the next cow they select bulls with high conformation, while still keeping an eye on milk and components. With the current barn maxed out and the next generation showing an interest, the Stewarts are starting to explore options for the future.

Jewelldale Farms was founded in 1957, and is currently run by Kevin and Cheryl Jewell and sons Kyle and wife Jane, Logan and wife Megan, and Joel. This third generation farm totals 250 head and 1000 acres in crop production, including forage, corn, soybeans, barley, wheat, and pasture.

The herd consists of 43 VG, 57GP, and 25G which produce 39kg of milk per cow per day and has a herd BCA of 243-273-246. The Jewells breeding philosophy is to breed high producing, healthy, efficient cows that produce high quality milk. The herd is housed in a modern three-row barn and double 8-parabone parlour, with a recently updated dry cow facility.

This well-managed farm was awarded 1st place in PEI for the Valacta Herd Management Score, as well as many milk quality awards. Future goals are to expand the farm as a whole without sacrificing quality and efficiency. They look forward to hosting you during Convention!

Located in York, just a few minutes outside of Charlottetown you will find Yorkton Holsteins. This 6th and 7th generation family farm is operated by Jamie and Jana Vessey, son Luke and wife Brenna, and Jamie’s parents Gordon and Ethel. The farm was established in 1853, and they became members of Holstein Canada in 1958 after purchasing their first purebred Holstein. The Vesseys milk 65 cows in a beautiful new tiestall built in 2016 and crop 300 acres, allocated to corn, barley, forages and pasture. Herd classification is 11 EX, 43 VG and 34 GP with a herd BCA of 228-236-224. Goals of the Vesseys are to hopefully be able to continue dairy farming as a family farm and to expand at a moderate pace. A Master Breeder Shield has also always been a goal.

Eastriver Farms is a third generation family farm that began as an Ayrshire herd, before converting to a Holstein herd in 1990. Owned and operated by Bruce Wood along with his partner Dr. Bronwyn Crane, they are assisted by Kathryn McCully, their herdsperson of five years. This 6 ME, 14EX, 64VG, and 18GP herd usually counts between 80 and 100 head housed in a tie-stall facility. They have also developed a market for a large quantity of private commercial sales each year, meaning there is usually an additional 250 head from calves to dry cows on farm or boarded at other facilities.

Approximately 300 acres of forage and 80 acres of corn are grown on Eastriver Farms, with additional rations purchased. Their continuous goal is developing a herd that has something for all dairies, while at the same maintaining their integrity. They believe all dairymen should strive for a True Type model Holstein that is a high producing, strong component cow with a wealth of health traits. By taking a balanced approach, using all the genetic tools available to continue being unique, Eastriver Farms wants to maintain a strong identity in the Holstein world.