Abbey Taylor of Dawn Farm is the recipient of the 2025 Ontario Pasture Award. She was presented with the award during the Beef Farmers of Ontario’s (BFO) annual banquet in Toronto.
“I want to thank the Ontario Forage Council, DLF and the Beef Farmers of Ontario for honouring me with this award,” said the Elgin County producer. “Grazing cattle and feeding my community are passions of mine, and I aim to keep learning and growing my farm business.”
Taylor, a seventh-generation farmer, rotationally grazes 15 to 20 heifers on 20 acres to improve pasture health, enhance soil quality and reduce soil erosion. This results in higher pastureland and cattle productivity on her mixed pastures of orchard grass, timothy, white clover, alfalfa, Kentucky bluegrass, smooth bromegrass, bird’s-foot trefoil and sweet clover.
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“The passion that Abbey has for what she’s doing, along with the practices she has incorporated, are refreshing and inspiring,” said Scott Fisher, DLF’s Western Ontario sales manager. “She is truly developing a grassroots initiative.”
Taylor purchases cattle in May and grazes until late fall. She incorporates electric fencing and portable water systems into her rotational schedule, with the grass-finished beef processed locally and marketed directly to consumers.
As a land steward, Taylor strives to continually improve the farm’s carbon sequestration, emission reductions and building soil health and welcomes visitors to learn about the benefits of rotational grazing at Dawn Farm.
“Abbey is a true example for youth interested in setting out on their own,” said Patricia Ellingwood, Ontario Forage Council general manager. “She 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.”
Taylor’s environmental improvements and exceptional pasture management earned her $500 and a bag of forage seed, courtesy of DLF.
The deadline for applications for the 2026 Ontario (Beef) Pasture Award is Nov. 30, 2025.
