Photo by Nancy Anderson/iStock/Getty Images Plus photo.
The Beef Farmers of Ontario, global seed company DLF, and the Ontario Forage Council have announced the winner of the 2025 DLF Beef Pasture Award.
Abbey Taylor of Dawn Farm of Belmont in Elgin County is the recipient of the award, presented at the recently held Beef Farmers of Ontario Annual General Meeting in Toronto.
For her dedication and exceptional pasture management, Taylor received a cash award of $500 and a bag of forage seed courtesy of DLF.
She is a 7th-generation farmer grazing 15-20 heifers on 20 acres of rotationally managed pasture, utilizing rotational grazing as a method of practicing ecological, regenerative agriculture. Taylor’s pastures include a range of species, including orchard grass, timothy, white clover, alfalfa, Kentucky bluegrass, smooth bromegrass, bird's-foot trefoil, and sweet clover. She said she purchases her stock in May, and her grazing season runs from May to late October/early November, with daily moves supported by electric fencing and portable water systems.
Her grass-finished beef is processed in a local abattoir and then marketed directly to consumers.
She considers herself a steward of the land and constantly strives to improve her practices to sequester more carbon, reduce emissions, and build soil health. She is happy to share her story and welcomes visitors to Dawn Farm to meet their meat and learn about the range of benefits of rotational grazing.
“Thank you DLF, BFO, and OFC for honouring me with this award,” commented Taylor. “Grazing and feeding my community are my passions, and I aim to keep learning and growing long into the future.”
Scott Fisher, Sales Manager (Western Ontario) with DLF, added, “The passion that Abbey has for what she’s doing, along with the practices she has incorporated, are refreshing and inspiring. She is truly developing a grassroots initiative.”
Patricia Ellingwood, General Manager of the Ontario Forage Council, said, “Abbey is a true example for youth interested in setting out on their own. Abbey manages all aspects of her production from forage management to beef sales with special attention to resilient practices that will assist her in remaining sustainable long into the future.”