October 25, 2024 – Steve and Lisa Ernewein and family of Meadowbook Family Farm in the Brockton/Walkerton area are the recipient of the 2024 Mapleseed Sheep Pasture Award. The award, sponsored by Mapleseed, the Ontario Forage Council, and Ontario Sheep Farmers, was presented today at the Ontario Sheep Farmers Annual General Meeting in Cambridge. For their exceptional pasture management while running a highly involved multi-faceted enterprise, Meadowbrook Family Farm received a cash award of $250 and a bag of forage seed, courtesy of Mapleseed.
The Erneweins’ Meadow Brook Family Farm operation includes approximately 1100 ewes in total. More than 800 ewes make up the meat flock which are Dorset/Rideau cross. They also milk more than 300 British Milksheep/Lacaune cross ewes for their milk production. On the grazing cycles the dairy herd is always grazing the highest quality portions of pasture out of the approximately 240 acres of grazing area. They are not organic certified but use “organic practices”. The meat flock is on a year-round accelerated lambing syllabus, lambing 100-150 per month. The dairy generated 50,000 liters of milk this year and the goal is to take that to 100,000 liters over the coming year. The Angus/Limo beef operation is utilized as part of the dual species parasite control in conjunction with clean and safe grazing practices.
Steve says, “Never say never, and never say always!” In context this “mantra” is what drives progress at Meadowbrook Family Farm.
In reviewing this nomination, Scott Fisher, Western Ontario Sales Manager with Mapleseed said, “The crew at Meadowbrook have a lot going on, and that alone endorses the need for finite husbandry and care, which includes movable fencing, species diversity and intense pasture management.”
“Meadowbrook Family Farm is an excellent example of a self-sustaining pasture ecosystem,” said Patricia Ellingwood, General Manager of the Ontario Forage Council. “The Erneweins carefully manage each element to benefit the whole operation. They are truly stewards of land and flock!”
Nomination deadline for the 2025 Ontario Mapleseed Beef Pasture Award is November 30, 2024.
For more information and photos:
Steve Ernewein, 2024 Sheep Pasture Award Recipient: 226-230-0899
Patricia Ellingwood, General Manager, Ontario Forage Council: 877-892-8663
Scott Fisher, Sales Manager – Western Ontario, Mapleseed: 519-281-0032
Jennifer Johanson, Ontario Sheep Farmers: 519-836-0043