BC Outstanding Young Farmer Program                
c/o 4048 Tolmie Road
Abbotsford, B. C.    V3G 2V3

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2009 Spirit of Agriculture

for more details visit:

http://www.bcac.bc.ca/documents/Gala2009/gala_announcement_2009.pdf

2009 RECIPIENTS

Press Release

Abbotsford – February 18, 2009 – A focus on innovation, diversification and agricultural education

earned Ian and Jennifer Woike of Running W Egg Farm and Farmer Ben’s Eggs of Duncan the

prestigious 2009 BC Outstanding Young Farmer Award. The Woikes received the award from BC

Minister of Agriculture and Lands Ron Cantelon before over 400 people at the annual BC Agriculture

Gala in Abbotsford, Feb 18th.

 

Ian’s father, Ben, began Running W Eggs in 1981, with Ian joining the operation following his graduation

from Malaspina College in 1992. Ten years ago, he and Jennifer took over day to day management of the

operation which now includes a 44,000 bird layer flock, a wholesale egg grading company which markets

white, brown and ‘dark yolk’ eggs all over Vancouver Island, an on-farm egg market, a 140 cow Black

Angus cross cow/calf operation and a hay farm producing over 20,000 bales/year. They are also adding a

specialty layer flock this year to further diversify an already incredibly diverse farm.

 

The Woikes have emphasized agricultural education, going into schools to speak to students at all grade

levels, and hosting numerous tours of their farm and egg grading station.

The Woikes were also finalists for the 2008 award, when they were narrowly edged out by David and

Lisa Taylor of Courtenay. The Taylors went on to be named one of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers

for 2008, an honour the Woikes hope to duplicate at the 2009 Canadian Outstanding Young Farmer finals

in Ottawa in December.

 

Runnersup for the 2009 award were Gene & Shelly Covert of Covert Farms and Dunham & Froese Estate

Winery in Oliver. The Coverts are the third generation to operate Covert Farm, which they have taken

from commercial field tomato production to production of specialty organic tomatoes and 20 other crops,

most marketed through their on-farm Pancho’s Country Market or their estate winery. Covert Farms is

also home of the Festival of the Tomato, one of Oliver’s major tourist attractions.

 

“The agricultural industry should be very proud of both finalists,” said judge Barry Remus, a recently

retired RBC financial specialist. “ They both embrace change and are very adaptive and innovative and

provide awesome customer service.”

 

To be eligible for the Outstanding Young Farmer award, farmers must be between 19 and 39 years of age,

derive at least two thirds of their annual income from farming and demonstrate progress in their

agriculture careers. Nominees are judged on conservation practices, production history, financial and

management practices, and community contributions. Helping Remus judge the 2009 competition were

1984 BC OYF winner Louis Schurmann and consultant Dr Chris Byra of Greenbelt Veterinary Services.

 

The BCOYF program is sponsored by Agri Digest, Bank of Montreal, BC Broiler Hatching Egg

Commission, BC Chicken Growers Association, BC Chicken Marketing Board, BC Egg Producers

Association, BC Holstein News, BC Landscape & Nursery Associaton, BC Milk Marketing Board,

Country Life in BC, Farm Credit Canada, Golden Valley Foods, Island Milk Producers, Pioneer HiBred,

Ritchie Smith Feeds, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust, TerraLink Horticulture and United

Agri Systems.

 

The national competition is sponsored Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Bayer Crop Science, CIBC

and John Deere and supported by AdFarm.

2009 FINALISTS

Gene & Shelly Covert of Covert Farms

and

Ian & Jennifer Woike of Farmer Ben’s Eggs

  Last revised: May 4, 2009