Seeing the risk of having all their eggs in one basket after the avian flu outbreak, B.C. poultry producers decided to move part of their operation to Saskatchewan
The new Outstanding Young Farmers for British Columbia and Yukon aren’t satisfied with farming in just one province.
Brian and Jewel Pauls are based in Chilliwack, B.C., but when the first avian influenza outbreak in B.C.’s Fraser Valley in 2004, they decided to split the operation and invest in poultry farming in Saskatchewan.
They also opted to grow grain, which turned out to be a good way to use the poultry manure.
They grow mostly dairy feed in B.C. and smaller grains on the Prairies.
Read Also
Stock dogs show off herding skills at Ag in Motion
Stock dogs draw a crowd at Ag in Motion. Border collies and other herding breeds are well known for the work they do on the farm.
“In 2004, when we had the avian influenza outbreak, we didn’t know what we were going to do,” said Brian.
“We knew what it was, but we didn’t know what it would mean to the industry. For us to grow and be stable long term, it became a good idea to farm in Saskatchewan as well. This way, if we had a disease problem at one farm, it wouldn’t affect our whole business.”
Added Jewel: “Also, there are perks in the Prairies, like seed prices, the land being less expensive than in the valley, giving us more opportunity in a sense. There are people who live on the farm in Saskatchewan, so they’re doing the day-to-day work. When there’s any issue, Brian goes out there to assess things.”
Brian said he tries to support the people who are on the farm.
“As farmers, we talk about how we like to hire people who were born to be farmers but didn’t have the ability financially to farm. We try to hire those sorts of people. We don’t just own the farm. We like to help them grow as people.”
Today, they raise 17,000 broilers and 55,000 caged white and free range brown layers in both provinces.
Brian set his sights on the award in 1990 after his parents, Frank and Elma Pauls, received the honour.
The second generation win is a first for the B.C. program.
“My grandparents started the farm and my dad took over when he was 15, after my grandfather was in a car accident,” said Brian.
“He farmed with his mom until she passed away, and now I farm with him.”
Jewel was raised in a small central B.C. town. They met after she had moved to Abbotsford in 2004 and became a nurse.
“Brian and I got married in 2007, and that’s when I moved to Chilliwack,” said Jewel.
“Right now, I’m on a maternity leave. After each (leave), I’ve al-ways gone back to work. When I met Brian, there was a lot of learning for me, as far as what farming can look like. I didn’t know much before that.”
Jewel does not handle the chickens much, instead focusing her time on supporting Brian with meals and caring for their children: Janae, 7, Brooke, 5, Rebecca Faith, 2 and Kaden, 11 months.
The Pauls agree that it is the lifestyle that keeps them going.
“We live on the farm and have acreage, so our kids have a lot of space to run and play,” said Jewel.
“I love that I don’t have to drive down to a park. They can just go out to the backyard. They also help out with picking eggs, getting experience of how to work and make a living.”
The Pauls continue finding new ways to reinvent how they farm.
Brian is currently working on new feeding programs to get better results while also looking forward to entering the hops market.
