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New Brunswick potato farmers named Atlantic Outstanding Young Famers

Robert Anderson and Jill Ebbett, fifth-generation potato farmers from East Glassville, N.B., were named Atlantic’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2018.

April 23, 2018  By Potatoes in Canada


Robert assumed management responsibilities of the farm in 2000 after returning from a year at college. The farm is known for its high-quality Elite Seed Potatoes by customers internationally, and for its soybean and grain crops locally.

The farm is managed with environmental stewardship always in mind. Land is carefully terraced and drain tiled to help control erosion. Three thousand acres of woodlands are reforested and soil health is managed by plowing lands uphill.

The farm’s business goals and plans are developed to promote the operation as a leader in technological advancements that will provide higher per acre yields, better soil health, the latest growing techniques, and the optimization of fertilizer and crop inputs. Their management plan allows them to spend more time managing the business, and less time working in the business.

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Robert is active in local organizations, with his main focus being on the N.B. Potato Technology Initiative board. Jill works full-time at McCain Foods as the manager for customer aervice for Canada and international offices. Evenings and weekends are spent doing family activities with their four daughters, and having supper as a family as many nights as possible is key.

Celebrating 38 years, 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, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through Growing Forward 2, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative. The national media sponsor is Annex Business Media, and the program is supported nationally by AdFarm, BDO and Farm Management Canada.

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2018 will be chosen at the National Event in Winnipeg from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3, 2018.


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