To be eligible for the Sollio Cooperative Group New Farm Enterprise and Farm Succession Awards, applicants must:

Be a member and client of a cooperative in the network of cooperatives or be a client of a Sollio Agriculture joint venture, either an Agromart retailer or an Agrico retailer for Ontario participants.

• For the New Farm Enterprise category, be established for at least 10 years.
• Be 40 years of age or younger at time of participation.
• Hold at least 20% of shares, with a maximum of 10 years before contest participation in the case of a farm succession.

IMPORTANT : The New Farm Enterprise team or the Farm Succession team must be recommended by the cooperative’s board of directors and by a letter of recommendation signed by the president or, in the case of Ontario participants, by the president or general manager of the retailer.

Participation takes place in three easy steps:

Step 1: Application package

Participants must include a reference letter from their cooperative’s Board of Directors in their application package. The letter should state the reasons why the company deserves to win the contest. The jury’s evaluation will take into account the quality of the content. For Ontario participants, the letter must be signed by the retailer’s  president or  general manager.  

The application deadline is May 21, 2021.

Step 2: Semi-finalists

• A jury will confidentially review applications and select finalists for onsite interviews.

• Next, the semi-finalists will undergo a technical-economic assessment. 

Step 3: Finalists

Finalists will be selected by the jury. A reporter and a videographer will visit the finalists to produce short videos and articles for the Coopérateur magazine. In Ontario, the winners will be featured in an advertorial published in Ontario Farmer Magazine.

These finalists will be invited to Sollio Cooperative Group’s annual general meeting banquet. For finalists in the Ontario component, only the winner will be invited to the banquet. 

During the year, the finalists may be called upon to participate in filming or promotional material for the competition.

Encouraging succession for 19 years

Getting involved in the world of agriculture can be done in different ways. However, two modes stand out from all others: farm transfers and starting up an agricultural or agri-food enterprise. For 19 years now, the Sollio Cooperative Group New Farm Enterprise and Farm Succession Awards as aimed to highlight and promote families and enterprises that have successfully performed a farm transfer through planning. The rules of the contest were revised in 2014 and producers who start up an enterprise now have the chance to participate as well. In 2021, the contest also allows Ontario producers to participate in the contest on the same terms.

Planning the future

The transfer of a farming operation is a process that takes time and needs one to step back from the daily requirements of management. Beyond the financial, fiscal and legal questions, a farm transfer from one generation to another, or even between those not related to one another, raises emotional issues that have nothing to do with daily decision-making. Starting up a farming operation also represents a big challenge. A lot of time must be invested to successfully pull off this type of project.

Planning is a key element in the success of a farm transfer or in starting up an enterprise to ensure the sustainability and continuity of the farm.

By participating in the contest for Sollio Cooperative Group New Farm Enterprise and Farm Succession Awards, you have the chance to show off your farm transfer or the establishment of your enterprise, and who knows, maybe yours could be the winning enterprise that, in the coming year, will serve as a model for other producers in Quebec and Ontario.

Good luck!

Ghislain Gervais
President
Sollio Cooperative Group

The evaluation of the candidates for the Sollio Cooperative Group New Farm Enterprise and Farm Succession Award will be divided into three distinct steps:  

    1. A careful evaluation of the candidate’s file completed by participants. 

    2. A half-day meeting and farm visit of the more or less than 5 semi-finalists to confirm certain elements from the candidate’s file. 

    3. The analysis of the candidate will consider financial and relational aspects for the farm transfer or the new farm enterprise. 

The jury will evaluate each one based on the following criteria: 

1 - Candidate's file 

•  Letter of recommendation from the president of the cooperative or from by the president or general manager of the retailer for Ontario participants 
•  Completed form on the website 
•  Technical-economic documents

 

2 - Business performance based on indicators

3 - Quality of planning and transfer

•  Training of young farmer 
•  Community involvement 
•  Description of the steps for the farm transfer or the new farm enterprise 
•  Discussion with previous generation 
•  Relationship climate 
• A share of the equity amongst family members 
•  Optimal use of advisory services from the cooperative or others 

4 - Sustainability of the enterprise

Actions taken to ensure the sustainability of the enterprise based on the plans: 

• Financial 
• Legal 
• Technical and technological 
• Human 
• Organizational 

Note that the three members of the judging panel will sign a confidentiality agreement before reviewing candidates’ files.

Farm Transfer category

Big winner:
Ferme Louiselle et Gaétan Brassard inc., member of Fermes du Nord Coopérative, owned by Xavier and Christelle Brassard, who succeeded to Gaétan Brassard and Louiselle Berthiaume, is located in La Conception in the Laurentides region.

Watch the video

Finalist:
Ferme Soesbergen inc., member of Uniag Coopérative, owned by Christopher, Nickolas and Jenna Soesbergen, who succeeded to John and William Soesbergen, is located in Sainte-Agnès-de-Dundee in the Haut-Saint-Laurent region.

Watch the video

Category New Farm Enterprise

Big winner:
Ferme Couturier et frères inc., member of La Coop Purdel, owned by Mireille Lavoie and Joël Lepage, is located in Amqui in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region.

Watch the video

Ferme M & A Scoble, member of Uniag Coopérative, owned by Mélissa Sylvestre et Andrew Scoble, is located in Howick in the Montérégie region.

Watch the video

2019–2020 Edition

Farm Transfer category

Big winner:
Ferme Belflamme Inc., member of Avantis Coopérative, owned by Simon Laflamme and Emmanuelle Vincent and located in St-Anselme in Chaudières-Appalaches. Its sole operation is dairy production, producing 72 kg of milk fat daily!

Watch the video

Finalist:
Ferme R&H Blanchard, member of La Coop Unifrontières, owned by Lydie Blanchard and located in Embrun, Ontario. Primarily a dairy farm, it produces 157.5 kg of milk fat per day.

Watch the video

Establishment category

Big winner:
Ferme Hardlook Inc., member of La Coop Agrilait, owned by Philippe Beauregardis and located in Saint-Gérard-Majella. The farm’s operations involve dairy production (90%)—36.3 kg milk quota—and animal sales (10%).

Watch the video

Finalist:
Ferme Dave Tourigny, member of La Coop Agrilait and La Coop VIVACO, owned by Dave Tourigny and Sophie Leblanc and located in St-Germain-de-Grantham in the RCM of Drummond. The farm operates in dairy production (85%) with a quota of 61.83 kg of milk, and in animal sales (15%). 

Watch the video

2018–2019 Edition

Farm Transfer category

Big winner:
Ferme LCM Quesnel, member of La Coop Unifrontières, located in Moose Creek, Ontario. The farm specializes in dairy (90%) and grain (10%) production. It has 88 dairy cows and 450 hectares in production. 
Watch the video

Finalist:
Ferme Pomerleau et frères, member of Vivaco groupe coopératif, located in Inverness. It has diversified operations in pork, bovine, maple syrup and grain production.  
Watch the video

Establishment category

Big winner:
Ferme Réso, member of La Coop Comax, located in Saint-Dominique. The farm cultivates 250 hectares, with its primary production involving corn, soybean and wheat.
Watch the video

Finalist:
Ferme Petite-Anse, member of La Coop Avantis, located in Rivière-Ouelle. Produces goat milk and grain while also specializing in eel fishing.
Watch the video

2017-2018 Edition
Farm Transfer category:

Winner : Ferme Racine

Ferme Racine, member of the Coop Unifrontières is located in Casselman, Ontario. It produces 160 kg of milk quota annually. This passionate agricultural family had to overcome several hardships.
Watch the video

Finalist :
Ferme Valérien Cyr et fils, a member of Avantis Coopérative is located in Saint-Elzéar and specializes into dairy, maple, and cereal production.
Watch the video

Establishment category:

Winner : Ferme Jalie

Ferme Jalie, member of La Coop Novago is located in Sainte-Élisabeth. Jacques Bérard owns the farm and is also an expert advisor of the La Coop network.
Watch the video

Finalist :
Aux Fruits de la Colline enterprise, member of Avantis Coopérative is located in Sainte-Marie and works in the fruits and vegetables production.
Watch the video
 

2016-2017 Edition
Winner  : Ferme Olofée

Ferme Olofée, member of Nutrinor Coopérative is located in Saint-Félicien, has distinguished itself for the human and ambitious way of developing its enterprise.  
Watch the vidéo
 

Finalist: Ferme Normand Brillant et fils

Ferme Normand Brillant et fils, member of La Coop Purdel is located in Saint-Fabien has distinguished itself for their family values. Indeed, Denis and Réjean Brillant did transfer their family enterprise to 4 of their sons.
Watch the video
 

Finalist: Ferme P.Q.

La Ferme P.Q., member of Avantis Coopérativelocated in Saint-Agapit, is specialized in the pork production for the La Coop Seigneurie. Richard Camiré and Sylvie Payeur are proud that their son Pierre-Luc is managing their farm. 
Watch the video
 

2015-2016 Edition
Winner  : Ferme Amico 

Ferme Amico, member of Avantis Coopérative is located in Lévis. It works in the poultry sector and continues to grow year after year.
Watch the video

Finalist: Ferme Groupe Lieutenant 

Ferme Lieutenant, member of La Coop Novago, located in Stoke, is a dairy farm with 350 cows and 800 hectares of land.
Watch the video

Finalist: Ferme Préross 

Ferme Préross, member of La Coop Purdel, located in Saint-Luce, is a dairy farm that has 59 hectares and 5.6 kg of quota, filled with cross cows.
Watch the video
 

2014-2015 Edition
Winner :  Ferme Galarneau

Ferme Galarneau, member of La Coop Novago, located in Abitibi, is characterized by their altruism towards each other, their honesty and their love for their way of life.
Watch the video
 

Finalist: Ferme Figali

Ferme Figali, member of La Coop Agricar, located in the Cacouna region, has distinguished itself for the smooth and harmonious manner in which it accomplished the transfer between family members. The family spirit shows through in the form of superb intergenerational solidarity.
Watch the video
 

Finalist: Ferme GM Benoit

The family at Ferme GM Benoit, member of La Coop Covilac, located in the Drummondville region, has distinguished themselves by their incredible talent for management, the fairness amongst brothers and sisters, and their desire to perpetuate their lifestyle.
Watch the video

 
2012-2013 Edition
Reportages

Video : 

- R&M Hallé 
- Ferme Pariso 
- Ferme Germec

2011-2012 Edition
Reportages 

Video : 

- Ferme des Papinas 
- Rojotal inc. 
- Ferme « Virage » inc.

2010-2011 Edition
Reportages

Video : 

- Ferme Dion-Ouellet 
- Ferme S.M. Perreault 
- Ferme Darnoc Holstein