Grenville Cattlemen's Bus Trip Report
August 18 – 19, 2004-08-24
This year the bus trip organized by Alec MacGregor and Gordon French, visited Wolfe Island and the Napanee and Belleville Area.
The bus left Merrickville on Wednesday morning and travelled to Kingston where we boarded the Wolfe Island Ferry at 9:30, arriving 25 minutes later at the farm of Rob and Ken White. They had a real treat for us as we were taken on a horse drawn hay ride through their pastures to view their commercial herd of 150 cattle. They also raise draft horses for use with their wedding carriage and sleigh ride business. From there we had lunch and several of us enjoyed buffalo burgers to prepare for our next stop at Pykeview Farms. These people raise buffalo for meat and leather. They market their products at several farmers markets, including the Byward market in Ottawa. A tour of their handling facilities was an education as processing these physically powerful creatures provides some challenges. Our final tour was at the farm of Scott Fawcett. He raises Gelbvieh cattle for the purebred and commercial markets. We then caught the ferry to Kingston and headed to our hotel in Belleville, were everyone had dinner on their own and their evening free.
On Thursday although we woke up to a bit of rain it did not last. We arrived at the Hotze Dewal and Family farm elevator facility. A huge facility used for their own drying and storage of crops they grow on their nearly 3000 acre farm. Mr. Hotze farms with his 6 sons and we visited three of his son's farms over the course of the next few hours. They raise purebred Herefords. Each son having approximately 150 each to raise. We left there to attend the Hastings County Plowing Match. Everyone met back at the bus at 4:00 p.m. where we travelled to the River Valley Poultry Farm where they also raise purebred Hereford cattle. Their poultry farm is one of the largest in Canada.
After a very full day and a memorable trip, we headed for home, stopping at the Flying J Restaurant in Napanee for supper.
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