Our 47th annual NSSCIA bus trip in July of 2025 was another successful trip thanks to committee members Glen Simpson, Leonard Hogenbook and Ross Langman. We visited Skyridge Clydesdales as well as Brandi McCabe’s newly-constructed beef barn which holds up to 800 cattle. They also crop 1200 acres along with 100 Suffolk sheep. Brandi is the 3rd generation in this operation. We visited Grand Valley Fortifiers, who have expanded to Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. It was started out as a family-owned operation in 1960 known as Deen Acres. They had 30 highland cattle, mules and goats. Next was a visit to the world-renowned breeders of jerseys and Holsteins, the Sayles family. We learned that Uncle Bob’s Popcorn has to be air dried so that the kernels won’t pop cracked. They also sell their products on-site, at Farm Boy and Giant Tiger. While touring Whistling Garden, south of Brantford, we discovered that they have over 200 different varieties of Peonies and waterlilies nestled among beautiful water fountains. Our last day was spent touring the Alexander Graham Bell Homestead, enjoying refreshments and listening to the blazing fiddlers prior to enjoying a farmer’s dinner on the Grand River Boat Cruise. That evening we took in a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar. A highlight of the trip was having a tour guide from the Six Nations Farmers Association speak about the area and what they are doing to encourage young farmers to farm. Their goal is to build and sustain agriculture practices for their community. Fantastic trip.
If you want to learn more about the North Simcoe Soil and Crop Improvement Association or would like to become a member, please check out www.ontariosoilandcrop.org