The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) 2024 National Recipients Honoured in Ottawa

CCA's The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) national recipient for 2024, Holdanca Farms, owned and operated by father-daughter duo John and Maria Duynisveld, travelled to Ottawa for CCA's Fall Reception. While in Ottawa, they met their MP Alana Hirtle.

MP Hirtle gave a one-minute members statement or S031 about the Duynisvelds and their commitment to environmental sustainability. Click here to watch.

John and Maria also met with Minister of Environment and Climate Change Julie Dabrusin.

John and Maria focus on ensuring that their management practices are economically sustainable while also enhancing the environment, which is home to many wildlife species.  

They raise grass-fed beef cattle, sheep, pastured pigs and poultry, and can custom graze up to 150 head of beef cattle, depending on the year. They manage the land to benefit both livestock production and environmental sustainability—of their 500 acres, 250 acres is a managed, biodiverse native woodlot, and the other 250 acres is in long-term (30 plus years) pasture production. 

Nova Scotia’s North Shore is a key stopping point and breeding location for migratory birds. They’ve recorded over 1000 wild species on the farm, and over thirty of those are threatened or endangered. The Duynisvelds ensure that there are spaces in the barns and sheds for barn swallows to safely enter and exit during breeding seasons and protect the nests from damage. During nesting periods, they avoid cutting forages and put fences around the nests to prevent livestock from unintentionally damaging the nests. John and Maria believe that gaining knowledge of these endangered species and protecting their habitat is critically important to the longevity and success of native species.

You can learn more about CCA's TESA program on our website at https://www.cattle.ca/sustainability/tesa