At a time when there aren’t enough young farmers taking up the mantle as older farmers retire, UFV alumnus Liam Ritchie is stepping up. Not only is he regarded as one of Canada’s outstanding young farmers (as a recent award nomination attests) Liam (Dip ’20 Ag-Tech) is helping others find their way into the industry, hosting UFV students and mentoring them in the ways of agriculture.

“Everyone needs food. Feeding people is a fundamental thing, and it’s something I want to be a part of forever,” he says. “You feel good when you’re helping your community by producing good quality food, and I want to see more young people embrace that and be proud of being a farmer. It feels good and I love to teach them that with even the smallest tasks on a farm, you’re having a big impact on the overall food system.”

A second-generation farmer, Liam owns and operates S. J Ritchie Research Farms as well as a veterinary clinic, Canadian Poultry Consultants (CPC). Both occupy the same piece of land in Abbotsford, and both came into his hands in 2023 after his father, veterinarian and farmer Stewart Ritchie, lost a battle with cancer.

“My dad was one of the top poultry veterinarians in Canada,” Liam says proudly. “I’d actually say he was world-renowned, and everywhere we went around the world, people would say, ‘Hey Chicken Stew!’”

As a research-focused operation, S.J. Ritchie Research Farms works with universities and industry partners to push the boundaries of broiler performance and environmentally sustainable farm design, Liam notes.

He grew up in Abbotsford, and his first paid job was at CPC. Surrounded by people with a passion for poultry, he kept a particularly close eye on his dad. Stewart was the son of Bill Ritchie, a Scotch-Irish immigrant who co-founded Ritchie-Smith Feeds, one of the largest feed companies in the Fraser Valley.

Both men taught him the value of hard work.

“My dad liked to say the furthest he got in grandpa’s company was cleaning the gutters,” Liam laughs. “But the common thing between the two of them was grit and elbow grease. My dad also taught me the value of character – being good to people and leaving things better than when you found them.”

When Liam enrolled in UFV’s Agriculture Technology program in 2018, he found a kindred spirit and a mentor in agriculture department head Renee Prasad.

“I met Renee in a pest management course, and I was impressed by how much she knew off the top of her head,” he recalls. “You can’t fake it around her because she knows so much, so you’d better get to work and figure your stuff out. I love her approach, and I also find her to be very humble and approachable. She has a good radar for whether you care or not about what you’re doing, and I appreciate that.”

S.J. Ritchie Research Farm is a massive barn with a lot on the go. Liam’s team always has trials in progress, searching for more efficient, safe, and sustainable ways to raise poultry.

On this day, UFV student Rachel Fiehn is inside the barn with a pressure washer, cleaning plastic trays. It’s a dirty (and smelly) job, but she’s doing it with a smile reflecting a strong work ethic well suited to farm life.

As she considers pursuing a career in agriculture, Rachel is soaking up this experience.

“I really like this job because it’s taught me a lot about a sector I knew almost nothing about when I started here,” she says. “Also, the people who work here are so amazing, and willing to teach me new things.

“Any questions I have, they’re answering them.”

The biggest lesson Liam has learned that he passes along to Rachel and other students is not to be afraid to make mistakes. He’s made plenty, and, as he says, “they can be a beautiful thing.”

He laughs recalling the time he flooded the barn and ruined some flooring by leaving a sink running, so when UFV students make an error, he encourages them to keep their head up.

“I love when they make a mistake, because we both learn from it, and then you have that knowledge moving forward,” he says. “My biggest thing as a mentor is to ensure they’re having fun and enjoying what they do, and part of that is not being hard on them when they do make mistakes, because it’s never their intention to do that. I always assume the best of my employees, and I give them as much respect as I want back.”

In return, all Liam asks is that students show up prepared and ready to work.

“Rachel is awesome. She’s in there right now washing the same dirty stinky trays and at the end of her shift she always says thank you. We both say thank you at the end of the day. It’s that type of attitude and enthusiasm that gets me excited about what we’re doing, and why I am always looking forward to welcoming UFV students to our farm. I have another student employee from UFV who isn’t working today, but like Rachel, she has the grit, right attitude showing in each one of her shifts.”