Our Mission Statement
To educate as many willing farmers as we can about the benefits of our barn design so that everyone and everything- the farmers, the animals and the environment, can take advantage of this great opportunity.
About us
Donald Russell grew up in rural Eastern Ontario and realized his love for dairy cows while working on a neighbour’s dairy farm. Don attended the University of Guelph from 1988- 1991 where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Honours Degree in Animal Science. Don met Joanne during this time and they were married shortly after. He then worked as a Dairy Specialist for a feed company in Western Ontario. During this time in his life, Don was working closely with many dairy farmers which heightened his appreciation and love for the family business. This was enough to encourage him to start his own. In the spring of 1995, he milked his first cow and the rest is history.
During this next chapter of their lives, Don and Joanne had bought a house in St. George while renting a barn in Tavistock. Joanne was driving an hour to work one way while Don was travelling one hour in the opposite direction to do chores before dawn. Between morning and evening chores, Don was working his feed sales job and would normally do the ride home to St-George at 9:00 p.m. “After 2 years, 2 months and 21 days we sold the house and rented a farm house near the barn”- Donald Russell.
On May 22, 1998 they moved their dairy cows to their newly purchased farm in Renfrew County. One year later, Don went to Wisconsin to obtain his Hoof Trimming Certification as well as a fully hydraulic cow chute.
While Hoof Trimming, selling feed and dairy farming all at the same time, Don had the opportunity to visit thousands of barns and observe hundreds of thousands of cows. In the year 2000, he wanted to build a new barn but did not want any of the free-stall, pack or tie stall barn designs that already existed out there. There had to be something better! After many attempts and years or research, the lactating cows on their farm were introduced to the finished design, known today as the Pasture Barn.
Left to right- Donald, Shannon, Meghan, Quinn, Sydney and Joanne Russell
“Bringing the pasture inside allowed us to give our cows a more comfortable, controlled environment- better than the real thing.”
Past and current achievements
Member of the St. Michael’s Catholic School Parent Committee
Hoof Trimming Certification
Member of the Renfrew County Future Development Committee
Chair of the Renfrew County Dairy Producer Committee
In March 2006, Donald and Joanne Russell were honoured by the Ontario agriculture community when they won the Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmer competition. Later that year, they were also awarded the Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer title.
Hosting Chair of the 2009 Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer competition
