LEEDS-GRENVILLE — Seven farmers are opening their barn doors for open houses on March 9 as part of the Leeds-Grenville dairy producers district tour.
Each year, a different Eastern Ontario district hosts the open houses. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The seven open houses are:
1. Rock-A-Berry Holsteins
Brian and David Berry
293 Berryton Rd.
Seeleys Bay, Ont.
The Berrys milk 30 cows in a tie-stall. 5 EX, 17 VG, 11 GP. 236-254-236; 10,725 kgs milk. Three 1st place finishes and premier breeder and exhibitor at Eastern Ontario Invitational 2018.
2. Maple-Ain Farms Ltd.
Hugh and Arlene Hunter and family
21 Hunters Rd.
Smiths Falls, Ont.
The Hunters milk 80 cows in a tie-stall. 14 ME, 11 EX, 38 VG, 25 GP. 279-280-276; 12,264 kgs milk. A three-time Master Breeder herd and premier exhibitor and premier breeder at Tri-County/Eastern Ontario Invitational from 2008 to 2017.
3. Maitland Meadows Farms Ltd.
Brian and Barb Maitland, and sons Jeff, Ronnie, Mike and Robert
591 Maitland Rd.
Jasper, Ont.
The Maitlands milk 175 cows in a free-stall. 3 EX, 50 VG, 99 GP, 33 G. 247-263-246; 10,912 kgs milk. Four-row 100-stall addition finished in January.
4. Snowdame Farms
Bruce and Wendy Snowdon and family
214 Snowdons Rd.
Merrickville, Ont.
The Snowdons milk 90 cows in a modern tie-stall. 6 ME, 5 EX, 52 VG, 37 GP. 220-231-225; averaging 33 kgs milk per cow. The sixth-generation farm is celebrating 100 years in August.
5. Wynands Farms, home of Gerann Holstein
John and Dawn, Ryan and Aneka, and Mark and Megan Wynands
2049 Wynands Rd.
Cardinal, Ont.
The Wynands milk 240 cows in a free-stall. 12 ME, 15 EX, 127 VG, 119 GP, 6 G, 40 NC; 260-285-265; 11,766 kgs milk.
6. Donnaville Holsteins
Richard and Susanne, Sheldon and Michael Shane
3158 County Rd. 27
Lyn, Ont.
The Shanes milk 76 cows in a tie-stall. 2 ME, 3 EX, 35 VG, 45 GP, 6 NC. 242-251-242; averaging 39 kgs milk per cow. New dairy barn 2003, dry cow barn 2015, calf barn 2015. Breeders of a number of All-Ontario nominations and five Jerseys under the North Star prefix.
7. Jobo Farms
Henry, Alex and Steve Oosterhof and families
10636 Jellyby Rd.
North Augusta, Ont.
The Oosterhofs milk 110 cows in a free-stall. 4 EX, 49 VG, 53 GP, 14 G. 257-269-269; 11,260 kgs milk. Lely A4 barn built in 2012. Heifer addition and calf barn built in 2017.
