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Cattle and grain farmers named Sask 2014 Outstanding Young Farmers

June 26, 2014, Regina, SK - Aaron and Adrienne Ivey of Ituna, Sask. are the 2014 Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) for Saskatchewan. The Ivey's operate a mixed cattle and grain farm in partnership with Aaron's parents. Aaron and Adrienne were chosen at a recent OYF event at Regina's Farm Progress Show that included Honourable Lyle Stewart, Saskatchewan's agriculture minister. The Ivey's will go on to represent Saskatchewan at the Outstanding Young Farmers national event later this year in Quebec City.

In 2000, Aaron and Adrienne purchased their first land after completing their agriculture degrees. The farm supported Aaron full time from the start. And Adrienne worked off farm for agricultural retailers and seed companies as the family farm business grew, and they expanded their family to include two children. By 2013, Adrienne turned her professional experience to help grow their farm business, on a full-time basis.

"A passion for agriculture doesn't guarantee success, and the Ivey's have blended their passion with a planned approach that means their farm now supports their entire family," says OYF 1st vice president Luanne Lynn. "Persistence and patience are equally important inputs in any farm operation, and Aaron and Adrienne are living the benefits of their hard work. OYF is proud to recognize their farming family, and applaud the path they have taken to get to this great recognition."

For the past 15 years, the Ivey's have focused on building their cow herd, their land base, their family, as well as restricting their operation. They focus on improving production and the bottom line, always with an eye to the future. Variety trials, grazing demonstrations and plant growth promoter trials are used to evaluate their current and future practices.

Aaron and Adrienne are passionate about agriculture and are passing along their optimism for the continued opportunities in this industry to their children Noelle (8) and Colton (6). Off farm, Aaron is involved with organizations looking to bring government and producer group funding and focus back to research for beef and forage sectors.

Celebrating 34 years of identifying great agricultural successes, Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers' program is an annual competition to recognize farmers that exemplify excellence in their profession and promote the tremendous contribution of agriculture. Open to participants 18 to 39 years of age, making the majority of income from on-farm sources, participants are selected from seven regions across Canada, with two national winners chosen each year. The program is sponsored nationally by CIBC, John Deere, Bayer CropScience, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and by national media sponsor Annex Publishing. OYF is supported nationally by AdFarm, BDO and Farm Management Canada.

Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers for 2014 will be chosen at the National Event in Quebec City, Quebec from November 26-30, 2014.

June 26, 2014  By Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers Program