Riley, Addison, Brant, Mike, Tessa and Reanne Dwyre in their tie stall barn on HIghway 15 in Elgin, Ontario. (Charles Summers photo)
Open house in Elgin
Family-run dairy in tie-stall has Master Breeder distinction and impressive finishes at the Royal and World Dairy Expo
Charles Summers
Farmers Forum
ELGIN — I had the good fortune to attend one of Holstein Ontario’s annual convention’s Open House days: a chance for dairy breeders to visit some of the best and brightest local farms. This year they showcased producers in Eastern Ontario, adjacent to the gala hosted in Kingston. Hundreds of dairy farmers descended on the event. They toured eight operations.
My friends and neighbours, the Dwyres of Elgin, were one of the producers rolling out the red carpet, and I got to see their herd and family in absolutely tip-top shape. Big pots of chili, doughnuts, hot chocolate and coffee were lavished on their guests. They milk 96 cows, taking care of over 260 head including dry cows, heifers and calves on a land base of over 600 acres — mainly Holsteins, but with a few Ayrshires and Jerseys in the mix because they just simply love cows.
Their herd was clipped, trimmed, and even gently pressure-washed ahead of the event — except for one: she just wouldn’t stand still! The Dwyres are an example of how good it can be to be a dairy farmer in Ontario: a strong and feisty family, now entering their sixth generation of farming on land their Irish ancestors settled in 1829.
Spending about seven hours a day in the barns of their tie-stall operation, they have a one-on-one relationship with their animals. Addison, their oldest daughter, described how they can monitor their cows’ wellbeing simply by the smell of their breath. She’s home from Lakeland College in Vermillion, Alberta, in their agricultural science and technology dairy major program.
Her younger brother Riley chuckles when I ask him where he will go to school, “What a waste of money!” he laughs, but he’s set on getting his AZ license so he never lacks for work. Addison, Riley, Reanne and Brant’s parents Mike and Tessa are models of vigour and energy: they operate the farm almost entirely with family labour — just the odd bit of help for milking when they’re off showing cattle. One of their 4-H cows went on to score second at the Royal Winter Fair and third at the Madison Wisconsin World Dairy Expo last year.
They have been registered Holstein Breeders since 1976, under the Hill View prefix, and Master Breeders since 2006. Their animals are in demand — some of their cows give over 100,000 kgs of milk in a lifetime — and their family is thriving in a landscape where most family operations threw in the towel 20 years ago. They don’t shy from hard work, or investing in their farm.
As Mike explains: “If you look after your animals, they will look after you.” The future is bright at Hill View Holsteins.
I roll my eyes when people call me a “farmer” because I sell some carrots on the side of the road. No sir, these are the real farmers.
