(April 10, 2026 – St. Jacobs, ON) – Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (COYF) Program is pleased to announce Drew and Heather Spoelstra of Binbrook, ON, as the Ontario regional winners for 2026. The announcement followed the regional competition held April 7–9 in St. Jacobs, Ontario. Drew and Heather will move on to represent Ontario at the National Event in Vancouver, BC, this November.
The Ontario regional competition showcased two diverse and impressive operations. The 2026 finalists were:
- Drew and Heather Spoelstra – Roy-A-Lea Farms Ltd., Binbrook
- Tyler and Allison McBlain – McBlain Farms Ltd., Caledonia
Based in Binbrook, Drew and Heather Spoelstra are lifelong agricultural advocates and partners in Roy-A-Lea Farms Ltd., a diverse family operation producing grains, hay, dairy, and beef. Heather leads the renowned Roy-A-Lea Clydesdales, breeding and marketing elite horses across North America while serving on various industry committees. Drew, a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program and owner of Roy-A-Lea Seeds Ltd., currently serves as the 33rd President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), representing 38,000 members across the province. Alongside their three daughters—Hadlea, Harper, and Kasey—the Spoelstras remain dedicated to community leadership and ensuring a sustainable, multi-generational future for Ontario’s farming landscape.
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program Vice President, Andrew Lawless, commended the excellence displayed at this year’s event, noting the high caliber of leadership and innovation within the region: “The Ontario Outstanding Young Farmer event, held in the beautiful town of St. Jacobs, Ontario, was inspirational. Two outstanding finalists represented the program very well – passionate farm families utilizing innovation to drive their farms forward while contributing to their communities in meaningful ways. Tyler and Allison McBain, Drew and Heather Spoelstra each did a remarkable job. Congratulations to Drew and Heather, who will move on to represent Ontario at the national event held in Vancouver, BC in November.”
About Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program: Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program is an annual competition that recognizes farmers under the age of 40 who demonstrate excellence in their profession and contribute significantly to the agriculture sector. Participants are selected from seven regions across Canada, with two national winners chosen annually.
The program is sponsored nationally by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, CIBC, John Deere, Bayer, Sollio Agriculture, and CN, with media sponsors Glacier FarmMedia and Nucleus Consulting, and video sponsor Bamboo Shoots. It is supported nationally by BDO.
The 2026 National Winners will be announced at the national competition in Vancouver, BC, from November 25–29, 2026.
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For more information, contact:
Katrina Finke
Program Manager, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program
306-281-4650