Meet Rob and Charlotte Lepp and their family. The Lepp family have deep ties to the farming lifestyle and used to grow grain in Saskatchewan prior to moving to BC. Rob’s father arrived in Abbotsford in 1948 and purchased the Matsqui property–where Lepp Farms now stands. Following high school, Rob started farming with his father and they expanded Lepp Farms into a large hog farm.
Van Belle Nursery was started in 1973 by Bill and Grace Van Belle and it is still running strong under the second generation of growers, Dave and Amy Van Belle. Together with their five children, nieces, nephews, and a dedicated team of employees, they grow millions of starter and finished landscape plants that ship all over North America each year.
The beautiful Creston Valley is where you will find Honey Bee Zen Apiaries, producers of Swan Valley Honey. Amanda Goodman Lee and Jeff Lee care for between 300 and 500 hives of honey bees. They farm on seven acres and have an established group of honey yards throughout the valley. They produce their own signature all-natural wildflower honey, which is found in stores throughout the Kootenay region of British Columbia.
BC Greenhouse Grower Ron VanMarrewyk is a greenhouse vegetable grower in Delta, BC. Westcoast Vegetables produces over 50 acres of bell peppers. Ron believes in the importance of healthy eating and enjoys growing quality, nutritious vegetables for his family and yours.
Pardeep has been part of Atwal Farms since she was a young girl, starting out picking berries and doing chores, then moving over to work in the cannery, where the berries are processed.
When people ask Ron Moes what he does for a living, he will often tell them that he’s an indoor farmer.
Sunnyside Produce is a family run greenhouse with several locations in the Lower Mainland. They grow 84 acres of bell peppers, mini peppers and other small specially peppers. Read our conversation with Corne Moerman to learn more about how they produce safe, healthy food while minimizing their impact on the environment.
Located in Abbotsford, BC, Taves Family Farms was established in 1969 by Loren Taves’ parents, John and Alice. In 1990, Loren and his wife, Corinne Taves, created the Applebarn—a destination designed for ‘fall family’ fun. Today, Taves Family Farms consists of 4.5 acres of greenhouses that grow artisan vegetables, 12 acres of apples (8 main varieties), 14 acres of berries, 7 acres of pumpkins, 3 acres of sweet corn and the rest contain buildings. They proudly grow peppers for Windset Farms.
In an industry that’s centered on hands-on education and training, helping out in the family business came second nature for Ruben Houweling.
Rick Kantz has been growing grain and oilseeds in the Peace Region for the last 25 years. He was born and raised on the farm and is proud to have a role in providing food for the population. With up to 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) of land under his care, there is a big responsibility to ensure that their natural resources are managed sustainably. Read our interview with Rick below.
Nathan’s roots in poultry farming run deep, growing up on Flokstra farms, and he currently holds the position of farm manager at Fir Lane Farms. He possesses a keen desire to expand his knowledge and actively participate in the poultry industry. Furthermore, Nathan’s involvement with the “Poultry in Motion” program, where he will be working shifts at the PNE, exemplifies his strong commitment to the industry’s development and future prosperity.
Arshdeep brings over 15 years of experience growing and marketing peaches, apples, cherries, and pears in the Okanagan Valley. He proudly carries on his family’s farming legacy through the management of Lakeview Fruit Corporation and Vanview Fruit Packers Ltd., businesses rooted in B.C. since 1994 and spanning over 80 acres of tree fruits.
As a member of the BC Young Farmers Committee, Arshdeep is passionate about advocating for the tree fruit sector, exploring innovation, and empowering youth to sustain agriculture for future generations. He’s committed to creating opportunities for young farmers and strengthening B.C.’s farming industry through collaboration and leadership.
Jeff is a third-generation Canadian farmer, his Opa started dairy farming in the sixties and his father started poultry in the late eighties. Jeff has always had a passion for poultry farming, working closely with his father during their transition from conventional chicken production to organic and specialty production. Enjoying the responsibility of making critical decisions as his father transitions out of day-to-day management. Jeff hopes to pass the family farm on to his son when the time comes.
Russell spends his time acting as Herd Manager at Westview Dairy Farms, which he and his father operate together. He milks and cares for almost 300 cows on their operation nestled in the Matsqui Valley between Abbotsford and Mission. Russell is a keen advocate for agriculture, his passion led him to pursue an Animal Science Technology Diploma from Lakeland College. Russell is an active community member and when not volunteering he can be found sampling local delicacies, spending time with family, or finding a new adventure. Russell joined BC Young Farmers in 2020 and is excited to use his energy and experience to push the envelope for agriculture on a provincial scale and in his own backyard.
Jacintha was born and raised on a cattle farm in Vanderhoof, B.C. She has had a passion for animals her entire life and raised dairy and beef projects in 4-H. In 2011, Jacintha travelled to Australia where she travelled around to work on different farms, eventually meeting her husband while they were combine harvesting. Jacintha and her husband moved back to Vanderhoof in 2016 to begin setting up their own farm. They started with chickens, then purchased cattle and now they also raise sheep. Last fall, Jacintha and her husband purchased their own operational farm, and have been loving every minute. Jacintha is a 4-H Leader with Nechako Valley Dairy and Beef and is actively involved with the 4-H Council. She originally joined BC Young Farmers as an ex officio with the BC Cattlemen’s Association and is excited about her role with BC Young Farmers.
Tyler Heppell is a 5th generation potato farmer from Cloverdale B.C. He is the production manager at Heppell’s Potato Corp; a family run business since 1920. Tyler worked in sales for 5 years before returning to the family farm. Heppell’s Potato is one of the largest potato producers in British Columbia, and the largest grower of squash. One of the mission statements of the farm is to educate the younger generation about farming and foster the growth and learning for new farmers entering the agriculture section in Canada. Through online videos, field trips, and Ugly Potato days, Heppell’s has been able to impact millions.
Kaitlin is the Fish Health and Food Safety Laboratory Manager for a salmon farming company on Vancouver Island. Previously living and working on remote fish farms around north Vancouver Island, Kaitlin now works with a team of fish health technicians, veterinarians, and processing plants to oversee the health and food safety of Atlantic Salmon from egg-to-plate. Alongside her employment, she is a part of the Young Salmon Farmers of BC (YSFBC). YSFBC is a committee that encompasses young professionals in the aquaculture sector who strive to promote a positive dialogue and increase public education about the sector while providing a voice for the next generation. Kaitlin graduated from Dalhousie University Agriculture Campus with a BSc in Animal Science; during her studies, she worked on a dairy farm and enjoyed volunteering at the sheep barn. Although her farm setting looks a little different than her counterparts of BCYF, she is passionate about utilizing her background and current employment experience to bridge the gap between agriculture and aquaculture for Canadians.
Corne grew up on his family’s farm, Quiks Farm Ltd, which has instilled in him an entrepreneurial heart and a passion for agriculture and people. Today, alongside his father and two brothers, he co-owns the farm serving as the General Manager of their bouquet production facilities, greenhouses, outdoor growing spaces, and maintenance. The demands of this position with its challenges and joys each day make for a very diverse job, where no two days are the same. Corne completed 2 years of postgraduate business schooling at UFV which taught him the basics of business but his most significant career growth has been a product of being hands-on and involved each and every day alongside his team.
Campbell Woike is a 3rd generation farmer from the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. Poultry is his family’s primary farming operation but they also operate a CFIA licensed Egg Grading Station and market and sell 100% of the eggs they produce from their 70,000 laying hens. Campbell is the General Manager of the farm. His family also has a small 10-acre hazelnut orchard, 300 acres of field crops and a small 50-head cow-calf operation. Campbell is a graduate of Olds College – Agriculture Management Diploma with a major in finance. He volunteers as an ambassador with BC Egg at events educating people about egg farming. He is a Director of the Vancouver Island Egg Producers Association and the BC Egg Producers Association. This year he was selected to be part of the Egg Farmers of Canada Young Farmers program. At 22 he is the youngest member of BC Young Farmers and is excited to be part of the committee. Campbell hopes he can bring his level of hands-on farming experience along with the expertise he has in finance and marketing to help highlight B.C.’s Young Farmers.
Rebecca and her family operate Winners Holstein Farms, a 450 cow dairy farm in Cloverdale, B.C. In addition to milking cows, Rebecca has helped add a small beef herd to the farm and market beef products online to her community. Rebecca attended university in Saskatoon, working towards a bachelor’s degree in agriculture where she focused on animal sciences. During her time in Saskatoon, she volunteered at the university barns during lambing season, at the dairy, and vaccinated poultry. Rebecca has volunteered with the Mainland Young Milk Producers and was deeply involved in 4-H for more than a decade – at the club, district, provincial, and national levels. She enjoys networking with like-minded individuals, sharing ideas, and learning about other sectors in agriculture.
