Saskatoon (Rural Roots Canada) – A Nova Scotia-based family farm has been named the winner of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) for 2024.

Holdanca Farms, near Wallace Bay on the north shore of Nova Scotia, is operated by John, Jane, and Maria Duynisveld. The farm has been recognized for its ongoing commitment to sustainable farming practices that balance environmental conservation with agricultural productivity.

The 500-acre farm is focused on raising grass-fed cattle, sheep, pastured pigs, and poultry, but half of the acreage is a managed, biodiverse native woodlot, home to many wildlife species. They’ve recorded over 1,000 wild species on their property, with help from the public through a bio blitz, a focused, biological surveying event where people attempt to record all living species within a designated area through an app on their phones.

“The first day we had one of those bio blitzes, someone came and took a picture of moss growing on a board,” he says enthusiastically. “I wouldn’t have even thought to look at that, but it’s biology and part of what we want that woodlot to be.”

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This conservational treasure hunt also led to the discovery of more than two dozen rare, threatened, or endangered species.

“We have 27 species that are either threatened or endangered including a particular butterfly, the Baltimore Checkerspot,” says Duynisveld. “It’s a rare little creature and needs a particular habitat which happens to be at our Ducks Unlimited pond where the only plant it can live on happens to grow. It’s really fun finding all these things and how they all connect and relate.”

Nova Scotia’s North Shore serves as an important breeding ground for migratory birds. As a result, additional conservation efforts they’ve implemented on the property include protecting barn swallow nests, avoiding forage cutting during nesting periods, and fencing off nests to prevent damage from livestock.

“The Duynisvelds truly demonstrate land and wildlife stewardship,” says Mike Duguid, Co-Chair of the Canadian Cattle Association‘s Environment Committee. “Holdanca Farms is a testament to how responsible farming practices can go hand in hand with success and their importance to protecting and preserving our land and wildlife.”

When it comes to stewardship over the land, Duynisveld offers some advice.

“Grazing management is the foundation of what we do. Managing your foraging resources is what supports so much of your biodiversity. A big part of that is storing more carbon in the soil, it’s what feeds the rest of your ecosystem. That allows you to store more water so that when it gets dry, that’s better for the land. To me, grazing management and what it does for the soil and the biodiversity is a good starting point.”

The award was presented in person during the Canadian Beef Industry Conference (CBIC). Holdanca Farms was one of six regional nominees from across Canada vying for the prestigious national award.