Panel: The Fourth Crop

Sam Snobelen was born and raised in southern Bruce County. He grew up in the cash crop, beef and grain elevator family business and purchased his first farm when he was 16 years old in partnership with his brother Troy. Sam completed a Bachelor of Commerce, Ag Business Degree at the University of Guelph. He currently grows wheat, barley, corn, seed and IP soybeans and raises purebred Charolais cattle in partnership with his wife Wanda in the Paisley and Ripley areas of Bruce County. Sam has been President of Snobelen Farms Ltd since 2019. Snobelen Farms purchases commercial grains and IP soybeans at 8 locations in southern Ontario as well as processes and sells cereal and soybean seed throughout Ontario.

Adam Ireland farms south of Teeswater with his wife Julie and two children, Mac and Elyse. The legacy farming operation Adam grew up in is a medium sized dairy farm. After working off the farm for several years, the cropping division was split off the main operation and Adam starting working full time as a farmer in 2017.

Adam strives for 90% no till or strip till while growing a mix of Corn, Wheat, Soys, Azuki beans, Alfalfa and other forages.

Colin Elgie (facilitating this panel) has been involved with agriculture his entire life. He is the 6th generation on the family farm in beautiful Dawn Mills, ON, and farms part time with his father, uncle, and brother. After graduating from the University of Guelph in 2009 with a B.Sc. (Agr.) degree, he worked as an agronomist for an ag retailer for 13 years, and obtained his CCA-ON with 4R NMS specialty. He has a thirst for knowledge, and his current position at OMAFRA allows him to learn from farmers and researchers across Ontario, and share advice to improve soil and crop fertility.

Please stay tuned for a bio from Shawn Schill which will be updated soon!