2023–2024 Sollio Next Generation Award Three Ontario farmers earn distinction

Sollio Agriculture, the Agri-business Division of Sollio Cooperative Group, would like to congratulate the three Ontario farmers recognized at its Sollio Next Generation Award gala on February 29, 2024. MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company in Bath earned the top prize in the New Farm Enterprise category, ahead of the other finalist, Matt & John McRae in Alvinston. Luymes Farms & Custom Farming in Moorefield earned the top prize in the Farm Succession category.  

The Sollio Next Generation Award is the only recognition of its kind for Canadian agricultural businesses. For the second year in a row, the contest included a category for clients of The Agromart Group, a Sollio Agriculture partner network in Eastern Canada. Farmers who would like to apply for the 2024–2025 Sollio Next Generation Award can now talk to their Agromart partner or visit the Sollio Group Cooperative website. Applications must be received by April 1, 2024.

“The Sollio Next Generation Award plays an important role not only by recognizing entrepreneurs who have successfully managed a farm succession or started a new farm enterprise, but also by highlighting innovative farming practices from across Canada,” said Casper Kaastra, Chief Executive Officer of Sollio Agriculture. “Together with our partners at The Agromart Group, we are delighted to honour the remarkable stories of passion and courage of MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company, Matt & John McRae, and Luymes Farms & Custom Farming. Congratulations! When farmers share their best practices and inspiring stories, everybody wins!”

MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company (Bath, ON)

MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company produces its own beer using malted barley and hops from the MacKinnon family farm, which has been in operation since 1784. The brothers behind the brewery, Ivan and Daniel, are an engineer and an agronomist who decided to pursue their passion for brewing. The farm takes a strong sustainable approach to brewing and is also a destination for agritourism, with a tasting room, a reception hall, and a music festival. The Sollio Next Generation Award aims to celebrate farmers like the MacKinnons, who are innovating and adding value to their products. To learn more about their story, click here. 

Matt & John McRae (Alvinston, ON)

Matt and John McRae are brothers who grew up dreaming about having their own farm, following the footsteps of their parents Alfred and Joan, without whom nothing would have been possible. Today, they run an 870-acre grain farm while working day jobs at a refinery and a chemical plant. They grow a variety of crops including soybeans, corn, and wheat, in addition to producing high-quality seed for both their customers and their local Agromart retailer. They also extend their services to neighbouring farmers, and tend to a maple grove, adding another dimension to their farm enterprise. Their passion for innovation is evident in their constant search for new opportunities and avenues for expansion within the agricultural industry. To learn more about their story, click here.

Luymes Farms & Custom Farming (Moorefield, ON)

Luymes Farms & Custom Farming is a family business that specializes in grain production and contract farming. The enterprise is the brainchild of brothers Rob and Mark Luymes, who took over from their parents John and Elaine. The contracting service started in the 1970’s as part of John and Elaine’s dairy business, which was struggling to expand at the time due to the lack of available quotas. They’ve since diversified, and revenues are growing steadily and organically by word-of-mouth alone—no advertising needed. The family business has 2,000 acres under cultivation and services 8,000 acres in 500 fields for neighbouring companies. They excel at managing their machinery fleet and have extensive knowledge of the area’s specific needs. Their transfer plan focuses on communication strategies and the family values of the Luymes clan. They take pride in maintaining good relations and creating jobs for the future generations – should they want to take over the company. To learn more about their story, click here.  

About the Sollio Next Generation Award  

For more than 20 years, the Next Generation Award has showcased the Sollio Cooperative Group and The Agromart Group farming families who have successfully transferred or started a farm business. A pan-Canadian cooperative, Sollio Agriculture seeks to provide farm entrepreneurs with the opportunity to draw on the best local models for farm succession and new farm enterprises.  For more information, visit sollio.coop/en/SollioNextGenAward.  

About Sollio Agriculture  

Sollio Agriculture, the Agri-business Division of Sollio Cooperative Group, is a Canadian leader in the agriculture industry. It specializes in supplying farm inputs and providing value-added services to benefit farmers, cooperatives and partners. Its business model combines the strength of a local approach with the power of a national presence to offer innovative products and solutions, to support the adoption of sustainable farming practices, helping local farming families prosper. Present across the country, it has close to 1,300 employees and generated $2.802 billion in revenue in 2023. 

About The Agromart Group  

The Agromart Group includes 22 independent agricultural retail businesses across Eastern Canada. Each Agromart is a 50:50 joint venture between Sollio Agriculture and local business owners/operators. The Agromart Group provides crop nutrients, crop protection products, seed, custom application and associated services to farmers. For more information, visit agromartgroup.com.