Kevin and Nancy MacIsaac of Bear River, Prince Edward Island, are among five young Atlantic Canadian farm couples to be honoured for their agricultural achievements at Atlantic Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers Program regional recognition event on March 5, 1999. This recognition event will take place in conjunction with the Atlantic Farm Mechanization Show at the Coliseum and Agrena Complex in Moncton, New Brunswick.
The four other young agricultural producers to be recognized at this year's Outstanding Young Farmers event are (in alphabetical order): Wiebe and Mary Dykstra (Havelock, NB); Phil MacLean and Pauline Duivenvoorden (Corner Brook, NF); Andrew and Maria McCurdy (Truro, NS); and Larry and Marsha Weatherby (Truro, NS).
Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers Program is an ongoing national program, which was founded by the Canadian Junior Chamber / Jaycees in 1979, and is sponsored at the national level by John Deere Limited, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and AgrEvo. It is a program through which young agricultural producers are recognized for their hard work and their contributions to their community and the agricultural industry.
To be eligible for Canada's OYF Program, farmers must be between the ages of 18 and 39; derive at least two-thirds of their annual income from their farming operations; and demonstrate progress in their agricultural career. Nominees are judged on their conservation practices, production history, financial & management practices, and contributions to their community, country, and the farming industry.
In addition to regional recognition at this event, one of the five farm couples will be selected to represent Atlantic Canada at the National Outstanding Young Farmers Program. This year's National OYF Program will be held in conjunction with the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, Saskatchewan. Here, Atlantic Canada's representative will compete against farmers from across the nation for "Canada's Outstanding Young Farmer Award." Since the program's inception, ten Atlantic Region representatives have taken top honours at the national level, including Island farmers Vernon & Bertha Campbell and Edwin & Dawn Jewell.