Perseverance, faith and hard work pay off for young farmer
By Geoff Dale
January 05, 2009
Now more than a decade later, the 39-year-old dairy producer looks back at those early years of struggle with a renewed sense of vigour and optimism for his growing agricultural business.
“I was the seventh child in our family, after three brothers and three sisters,” he explains. “I graduated from high school in 1987 but was convinced I would never have a chance at farming. From there I went to a Christian college in Iowa to study to be a vet and take ag-related subjects.
“Three months later I was back home working at odd jobs including a lumber company, loading trucks and selling farm products. The last one reaffirmed my belief that my calling was in agriculture. When my brothers Paul and Harold asked me to come home and buy our dad’s (Leo) share because he wanted to retire, I didn’t hesitate.”
As the 1990s were drawing to a close and just five years passed the time when he felt farming wasn’t likely, Len Vis found himself the sole proprietor of the farm – buying out Paul, a Dairy Farmer of Ontario board director who farms in Aylmer, Ontario and Harold, who now works for him.
Carrying a debt load of about $1.7-million early on as a result of the buyouts, he was told by virtually everyone that success was unlikely.
“I thought I’ve got nothing to lose, so I forged ahead,” he says. “When I took over we were mainly shipping milk and selling a little genetics. Now I have 70 milking cows, about 20 dry cows and 120 heifers. We own 110 acres and farm on 320.
“In those early days I borrowed every penny I could. At the time of the buyout I had about 55 kilos and today we have 82 kilos. Those were rough times concentrating on paying the bills. I learned that getting your numbers in order is vital to pay down as much debt as possible. Debt can hold you back.”
One key to making the operation a success was diversification.
“I always loved good cows so I diversified,” he adds. “I opened my barn up to other people from around the world – the U.K., the rest of Canada and the United States. I started housing cattle. Filling my stalls with milk cows and charging room and board help generate income for us.
“That helped pay down the debt and with that money I could buy into those cow families. We’re proud of the fact that we had a first place heifer at the Royal. Now about 40 per cent of our income is from cattle sales.”
As for advising other new farmers, he offers some key points:
- Money is necessary to make money, so get the numbers in order to pay down the debt.
- Secure a good accountant who can provide good advice and ultimately help you make money.
- Secure good credit that won’t be problem on payback.
- Get good labour.
“There is an awful lot of work involved,” he says. “You’re tied to the business. Getting good help is like money in the bank and it gives you the extra time you need. You’re trying to pay off your debts while growing your family and this can be very demanding.
“If you want to be a committed father and husband and be there for your family, it takes time and effort. But it’s well worth in the end. My wife Tracey does all my bookkeeping and we have a wonderful life with our children, 13-year-old Jeremy, 11-year-old Zachary (both boys are in 4H) and five-year-old Eden.”
Len may have had his doubts in the beginning but these days he’s brimming with optimism.
“We were one of the finalists last year in the Outstanding Young Farmers of Canada last year,” he concludes. “I’ve been blessed, putting my faith in God and knowing if I worked hard, it would work out for us.”
