Creating opportunities: Space to grow

4.5 min read

When Fanny Delisle married into her husband’s dairy farm, succession plans were already set. That was OK with her as she had other ideas in mind on how to make a mark on the community and the next generation of farmers.

She arrived on the farm, located on the South Shore of Montreal, with infectious enthusiasm, a degree in biology, a master’s in land and urban management and a dream of making a difference. She didn’t expect to dive into farming, and over the years, Delisle worked alongside her husband and their two young boys, managing the accounting and doing a little consulting on the side. As the farm grew and prospered – growing from 300 hectares and 80 cows to about 1,000 hectares and 350 cows – Delisle knew she wanted to have something of her own.

“We have been so privileged, and I think it’s important to spread the privilege,” she says.

Delisle began looking for land to buy with a plan to put her knowledge and management savvy into an incubator-style business to support others. The small parcels of property she ended up investing in were not very close to the home farm for field work, but perfect for helping new farmers and entrepreneurs try their hand at small-scale agriculture projects.

“We have so many resources and we don’t even use them all,” she says. “So why not share and support others?”

Paying it forward with land and resources

It’s been close to three years since Delisle started her farm incubator/co-operative La Cambrousse [in French only] that now includes 100 hectares, approximately seven active members and about five more projects in the discussion phase.

“My dream with these properties is to transform them into a bunch of little farms and activities. A place for people to feel more connected to nature, their food and the community,” says Delisle, who recently completed an executive master of business administration at McGill University.

My goal is to give new farmers the opportunity to overcome some of the barriers to getting started.

Co-operative members lease land and have ready access to machinery the home dairy farm has outgrown. Delisle also purchased smaller equipment, like a rototiller, for members to use.

“My goal is to give new farmers the opportunity to overcome some of the barriers to getting started – because I can,” Delisle says. “I am able to remove a lot of stress and pressure for them.”

Delisle estimates that she has about 10 requests for every new farmer who joins the co-operative. Once member projects are approved, she spends from three months to a year to get a project underway. As overall business manager for the co-operative and its members, Delisle provides counsel on building a business plan, helps the new farmers anticipate challenges that could trip them up and connects them to agronomic resources as needed.

Finding synergy in small-scale farming

Co-op members can try growing the crop they want to commercialize on a small scale before making a bigger commitment to land, livestock, equipment and other high-cost infrastructure that goes in to starting up a farm.

Projects have included:

a goat farmer exploring the idea of scaling up to a larger operation
a dairy farmer who had cows and quota but needed some land and buildings
a farmer using geese for forage management in a new truffle orchard
new farmers needing land to grow garlic and squash

The opportunities aren’t limited to an agricultural crop. Delisle is also focused on building more resilient rural communities by providing opportunities for people to connect with nature and their food. One of her prospective co-op members hopes to build tiny houses on her property, renting them out to bring customers closer to the agricultural experiences happening with other co-op members.

“We want to do something that creates synergy and builds resilience,” Delisle says. “And these people are so inspiring and bring motivation and inspiration into my life.”

There is no limit on the length of time for projects in the co-operative. Delisle continues to spread the word through social media and other groups that connect new farmers with available resources like hers. She also brings in local students to learn about the projects.

Sharing resources for community gain, and not necessarily a financial one, is important to Delisle.

“If we collaborate, we can make the community better.”

Part of a bigger plan

The co-operative also plays a role in the family farm’s overall financial resilience plan. As they look to the future, Delisle knows the incubator program and co-operative add diversification and sustainability to the farm business, in a complementary way to environmental initiatives like planting shade trees, using cover crops and improvement of riparian areas. The overarching idea is to make investments now that will pay off both environmentally and economically in the future. It’s part of a wider holistic approach tying environmental improvements and economic sustainability with succession planning and empowering people.

“You have to build a different kind of resilience with time to think about your farm business, see what others are doing to support regenerative agriculture and take time to reflect,” Delisle says.

Back at the family dairy farm, Delisle says their oldest son is now part of the succession plan that was set when she and her husband married.

“My father-in-law worked so hard to build this farm,” says Delisle. “It looks like there will be a third generation and we are so proud.”

How Fanny Delisle is creating synergies for her operation, community and the ag industry to ensure she passes along a sustainable business to the next generation.

From an AgriSuccess article by Jane Robinson.

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