At the Ontario Sheep Farmers Annual General Meeting and Lamb Banquet in Cambridge at the end of October, Gayla Bonham-Carter and Scott Bade of Footflats Farm were honoured with the 2025 DLF Sheep Pasture Award. Sponsored by DLF, the Ontario Forage Council, and Ontario Sheep Farmers, the award recognizes excellence in pasture management—and Footflats Farm is a shining example.
Located on Amherst Island near Kingston, the farm is no stranger to challenges. The island’s heavy clay soil and marginal land aren’t exactly a pasture manager’s dream. But for Gayla and Scott, it’s been an opportunity to innovate. Taking over the farm from Gayla’s grandparents, Mark Ritchie and Cherry Allen, just four years ago, the couple has transformed the landscape with strategic fencing, rotational grazing, and a flock of 1,200 New Zealand Coopworth ewes.
Why Coopworths? Gayla says that they are medium-sized, great at feed conversion, and their maternal instincts make them ideal for pasture-based systems with minimal inputs. The flock is rotated through 4-wire electric fenced pastures, and the ewes are wintered outside—tough sheep for tough terrain.
Footflats Farm also leases additional pasture land, expanding their grazing footprint. A key tool in their success is the Prattley mobile handling system, which allows them to sort, drench, dock, wean, and vaccinate sheep right in the field. It gives the couple flexibility and lets them maximize grazing opportunities.
Looking ahead, they’ve begun integrating cattle into their grazing system to reduce parasite loads and improve pasture health—a move that reflects their commitment to continuous improvement.
Scott Fisher of DLF praised their efforts: “It’s always encouraging to see resourcefulness and hard work pay dividends. Some of the land used by their admission is less than ‘stellar,’ but through management and hard work, they’ve created opportunity.”
“Gayla and Scott run quite the operation," shared Scott Fisher, Western Ontario Sales Manager with DLF. "It’s always encouraging to see resourcefulness and hard work pay dividends. Some of the land used by their admission is less than ‘stellar’ but through management and hard work, they have created opportunity for themselves.”
When presenting the award, Patricia Ellingwood, General Manager of the Ontario Forage Council, said “Excellence in pasture management is the foundation of a sustainable and productive livestock industry, and Footflats Farms' commitment to soil health, forage quality, and animal well-being sets an inspiring example for producers across the province. Their innovative approach and dedication to continuous improvement reflect the very best of Ontario’s agricultural community.”
With a $250 cash prize and a bag of forage seed from DLF, Footflats Farm is poised to keep growing—proving that with the right mindset and management, even marginal land can yield exceptional results.