Sophiasburgh’s John and Jane Thompson, who own and operate a family farm founded nearly a century ago, were inducted into the 2023 Quinte Agricultural Wall of Fame in Stirling on Sunday, Sept. 17.

John has served his community as a Sophiasburgh councillor, while Jane has been a leader in local 4H programming for nearly four decades. While no one gets involved in farming to be recognized in this manner, said John Thompson, the recognition was gratifying.

“It’s truly an honour for Jane and I to be recognized along with previous inductees,” Mr. Thompson said.

In 1975, the Thompsons joined the family dairy business, founded fifty years before by John I. Thompson, who would become President of the former Elmbrook Cheese and Butter Company.

The Thompsons achieved success in the dairy industry, and then made a substantial shift in their farm’s direction, entering the poultry sector. All while serving their community as staunch supporters of the practice of agriculture.

Mr. Thompson explained that until the turn of this century, the family was able to adapt the dairy enterprise to modern changes. He became a member of the Prince Edward Holstein Club and winner of the Breeders’ Herd Award in 1987.

By 2000, however, the message in the dairy industry was, “Go big or go home,” and the Thompsons were faced with a tough decision.

Mr. Thompson recalled, “continuing in dairy production can be the best choice for many, but along with our son Kevin, we decided our best path was to build a poultry barn touching on the site of the original barn on the property purchased by my grandfather.” That is near the corner of Fry Road and what is now County Rd. 5.

There was enough similarity in the supply-management system that John and Jane already knew, and enough land, water, field equipment, capital, and labour to make the transition easy. And so the moo of a well-cared for holstein was replaced by the cluck of a contented chicken in 2001.

“It was a total switch and something new for us to fully commit to but it was made less daunting by Kevin’s help before he eventually moved on to other agricultural employment,” said Mr. Thompson.

Kevin would eventually return home to become a partner in the poultry business as was part of the original business plan.

A Toronto native, Jane Thompson told the assembled crowd that her time in the Quinte region has been “a 52 year journey of learning and teaching.” She thanked all those who helped along the way, including the PEC dairy community and fellow 4H leaders. “To all of these folks and so many more I offer my deepest gratitude for guiding me and encouraging me in this journey of a lifetime,” she said.

John will continue to serve as the President of the Prince Edward Federation of Agriculture, while Jane hosts a monthly radio program “The County Grows”, on 99.3 County FM, where she interviews experts in agriculture and food.