Major investments had to be done in order to apply principles and practices to achieve the farm’s sustainability. In the years 1976 and 1977, there were expenses for land improvements, purchases of milk quota, as well as the acquisition of a neighboring farm. These investments led to the founding of Ferme Bourdon & Fils inc in 1978, thus having the married couple Joseph l. Bourdon and Denise Monty as well as their two oldest sons Christian and Roger the only shareholders. The owners’ determination to achieve the goal of food self-efficiency supply, for a dairy herd in constant increase, required additional investments on the farmland as well as making improvements to allow further expansion.
The purchase of additional milk quota in 1983 coincided with the arrival of Fernand, followed by Luc in 1986. The combined strength of youth and experince undoubtedly confirmed the family’s ambitions to continue farming to the next levels.
The purchase of milk quotas and farmland once again in 1991 demonstrates the shareholder’s commitment to agriculture.
In fall 1995, the purchase of a neighboring farm specialised in sod production uprises an opportunity for diversification. Production, sale, and delivery of wholesale and retail sod require knowledge and skills that differs from farming. The shareholders were thus meant to face this new challenge. Although the milk production remains the primairy source of revenue for the company, the steady increase in demands for cultivated sod became a promising future for the business.
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A new service is offered to customers: soybean roasting with a mobile unit. Local farmers harvesting soybean to feed their animals had now the opportunity of having their crop processed at their own farm. This allowed local farmers to save time and money on transport, and reassurance regarding the product being fed to their animals. The owners’ past experience from having done custom work was brought back to practice with the grain roasting unit.
One of the founders of the company decided to make his own path and face challenges on his own in the month of September 2002. His departure for another dairy farm was affected by everyone. Fortunatly, the outcome of his departure had no major consequence; the remaining shareholders rolled up their sleeves and tried more than ever to surpass themselves, thus reaching new limits.
In the cultivated sod industry, many suppliers offer a variety of new technological equipment. It is during the year 2004 that the company decided to purchase their first robotic sod harvester from Brouwer, the Robomax. The Robomax increased the company’s productivity and the quality of their products. By harvesting robotically, it reduced the labor work. This allowed the shareholders to focus on improving their services since less time was needed to recruit and train employees. The increase of demands resulted to an acquisition of a neighboring farm in 2005, with 200 acres of farmland and 30 acres of wooded land, thus doubling their production capacity.
Due to a rise of the cost of fuel and consumption by the delivery trucks and the tractors, the owners sought to find an alternative. In 2006, after various researches, the company decided to innovate their operations by purchasing equipment from which an extrusion and extraction of the vegetable oil could be done from the harvested soybeans. Thenceforth, the oil was mixed with the diesel fuel. The second phase of the project consisted of adding equipment that transformed soybean oil into 100% biodiesel, which was followed through in 2007. The use of biofuel ceased completely in 2012 due to a lack of profitability.
The death of the company’s founder occurred on January 23rd 2011. Ferme Bourdon & Fils would not have been made possible without Joseph Louis Bourdon, nor would the company stand successfully on its own as it does today. He would start the day with as much ambition, and even more, than he did waking up the day before. He was a committed and determined man who would always try to accomplish more than he was capable of, which enabled him to make multiple of his dreams come true. The most valuable lesson the family has learned from Joseph, is that you must trust your young ones, standby them in every step of the way, and be present in their lives.
In 2012, the family business is pleased to introduce six new shareholders in the company. Roger welcomes his son Rémi. Fernand welcomes his daughter Catherine as well as his sons Vincent, Éric, and Francis. Luc welcomes also his eldest daughter, Annie.
To mark the arrival of new shareholders, investment is needed. A construction of a new building will allow Catherine to operate an equestrian center. Services such as riding lessons and boarding are offered at Domaine Équi-Sphère.
In order to pursue agricultural activities for years to come in the production of milk, investments had to be made in the barn. New instalments include updated feeding and milking equipment, and new stalls for the cows comfort.
For our customers who wish to have impeccable landscapes for their homes, Francis is at your service. The purchase of additional equipment has expanded the company’s area of expertise, thus not limiting itself to sod production only.
Covering an area of 1450 acres, Ferme Bourdon & Fils inc produces 1 million liters of milk annually with a herd of 100 dairy cows and 100 heifers and calfs. We cultivate on our farmland 120 acres of grain corn, 110 acres of soybeans, 500 acres of hay, and 270 acres of sod in rotation annually. We take the responsibility of maintaining 450 acres of woodland by cutting trees selectively, and producing maple syrup for pure pleasure. Maintenance is also done regularly on our large fleet of equipment (specific for each service and production) so we can operate them on a daily basis.