The Signers manage a milking herd of about 60 cows, maxing out the space available to them in the farm’s previous tiestall facility. Thus, they set out to create a new facility that would not only incorporate newer technology into their routine, like a robotic milking system, but more importantly, would provide a greater level of comfort to the cows.

What do speedskating and dairy farming have in common besides ice (insert Alberta winters) and hard work? One Holstein breeder: Rolf Van Benthem.

Since their father began dairy farming in 1974 with only four cows, the Brophy brothers have grown their herd to 200 milking cows, expanded their forage acreage sixfold, overcome a barn fire in 2002, which decimated their milking herd and main facility, and most recently, sprung back from a severe disease outbreak, which resulted in the death of 42 cows over nine days.

In the heart of Vancouver Island's Alberni Valley, Russell and Jennifer Dyson care for their water buffalo herd at Coleman Meadows Farm. From the bustling milking parlour to the warm welcome of visitors, their passion for farming and advocacy is palpable. The couple share an unwavering dedication to Canadian agriculture, bolstered by their bonds with the unusual creatures helping them fulfill their dairy dreams.

Progressive Dairy asked the top herd owners from each province whether they focus on production or management benchmarks. Each dairy producer also gave us an indication of which of the six key performance index benchmarks they focused on in their herd.

"Remember, the future of the dairy industry lies in the hands of passionate and dedicated individuals – embrace your role and stay committed to your goals and visions for the future."—Geordie Woods