Cornish Family Named Peterborough's 2022 Farm Family of the Year

The Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture and the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce announced the Cornish family as this year’s Farm Family of the Year on Tuesday.

The Cornish family. Photo courtesy of The Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture and the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

This award recognizes a farming family that has demonstrated good farming practices, an interest in the farming community and interest/participation by in their farm’s operation.

The family is made up of Kevin Cornish, Janet Dawson and their two sons Liam and Lucas. They operate Indian River Acres, located at 2275 Indian River Line in Indian River.

This 93-acre farm is where the Cornish’s grow and sell vegetables and fall decor items. They operate on a 12-month sustainable farming cycle that includes crop rotations, cover crops and selecting varieties that minimize pests and disease.

Every year, they grow 12 acres of sweet corn, five acres of pumpkins, squash and gourds, approximately 15,000 garlic bulbs and 1.5 acres of other tender vegetables (pickling cucumbers, field cucumbers, beans, asparagus, beets, lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, potatoes, zucchini). They also sell eggs from their 99 free-range egg layers, offering them to customers who sign up for weekly pick-up.

The award will be presented at the Business Excellence Awards event at the Showplace Performance Centre on Oct. 19.

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Klompmaker Family Named 2020 Farm Family Of The Year

The Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture and the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce have announced the Klompmaker family, of 1378 6th Line Asphodel, Hastings as the 2020 Farm Family of the Year. 

This award recognizes a farm family that has demonstrated good farming practices, an interest in the farming community, and interest and participation by the family in its operation. 

For 7 years, Chris and Angela Klompmaker have owned and operated their 89-acre broiler chicken farm, K & H Poultry LTD. Chris is a 4th generation chicken farmer and serves as a District Committee Representative for district 9 with the Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO). Angela also grew up heavily involved in agriculture, and when she's not working as an RN, you can find her helping on the farm. 

Photo courtesy Peterborough Chamber

In 2015, the farm was certified organic by Pro-Cert Organics Systems LTD. The farm has also earned certifications for high animal welfare standards from Global Animal Partnership and the Chicken Farmers of Canada Animal Care Program, as well as for exceptional sanitation and food safety practices from the Ontario Farm Food Safety Assurance Program.

After upgrading each of the original three barns, the Klompmakers expanded and built a modern 24,000 square-foot barn, featuring a state-of-the-art computer system as well as a high-volume heat exchanger to increase efficiency. The farm now produces 50,000 chickens every eight weeks, and the family donates 700kg of fresh chicken to local food banks each year through the CFO Cares Program.

The Klompmaker family expanded in August of 2019 as they welcomed their daughter, Isabella. The same year, they purchased a 200-acre farm to fulfill their dream of getting involved in field crops.

The award will be presented at the Peterborough Business Excellence Awards digital event on Wednesday, October 21st.

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