Vegetable growers Pierre Luc Barré & Virginie Bourque of La Ferme Yves Barré Inc, St. Damase Québec were chosen as National Winners from six regional farms at Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) Program’s national event held in Toronto Nov 27-30, 2025. The other winners were Ryan and Romy Schill of Circle C Livestock Ltd & Revolution Wool Company located at Wallenstein, Ontario.

After Pierre-Luc Barré was given the task of inspecting onions and hot peppers, he became interested in the third- generation farm he was raised on at Saint Damase, Québec. After attending Technologie Agroalimentaire du Quebec for horticulture, he joined the La Ferme Yves Barré Inc in 2010. When the hot pepper market declined, a $100,000 investment in potato equipment was made to plant 30 acres. They are now planting 300 acres of their 1140 cultivated acres, to produce 18 million pounds of pre-peel potatoes. The future goal is to plant 500 acres - the barrier being access to good land. Virginie joined the farm full-time in 2017 and takes care of books, marketing and communications.

Today La Ferme Yve Barré Inc is spreading risk by diversifying its products. Pierre-Luc’s grandfather started with tomatoes, sugar beets, sweet corn. His father introduced grain corn, peppers and onions and they now produce corn, beans, soy and potatoes.

Every year this event brings recognition to outstanding farmers in Canada under 40 years of age who have exemplified excellence in their profession while fostering better urban-rural relations. The winners were chosen from six regional finalists, including the following honourees from the other five regions:

              BC - Thomas & Catherine Cuthbert- Southcoast Agro Farms- Nanaimo

              AB - Sarah Weigum- Alect Seeds- Three Hills

              SK – Brady & Lindsay Funk- Braylin Farms- Wymark

              ON - Ryan & Romy Schill Circle C Livestock & Revolution Wool Company- Wallenstein

              QC - Pierre Luc Barré & Virginie Bourque of La Ferme Yves Barré Inc

              AT - Katie Campbell & William Spurr- Spurr Brothers Farms, Nova Scotia

Source: Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program December 1, 2025 news release