On March 11, a group of fifteen employees from the Cooperative had the opportunity to visit the farm of Stéphanie Benoit, member and vice-president of the board of directors of Agropur.

Located in Sainte-Brigitte-des-Saults in the Centre-du-Québec region, Ferme Intense Inc. has 60 lactating cows and 180 acres of crops. The employees also visited the neighboring family farm, Ferme GM Benoit, managed by Yanick Benoit, Stéphanie's brother and also a member of Agropur.

The employees learned about the daily life of a dairy farm, the various management and maintenance tasks, the use of machinery, and the milk collection process at the farm. They also observed the farm employees working and even assisted them if they wished. The lactation cycle and life of the cow, as well as animal care and welfare, were also discussed. 

Impressed Participants 

The visitors were impressed by the workload required, the diversity of tasks, the cheerful working atmosphere at the farms and the Benoit family's spirit. The hospitality and generosity of Stéphanie and her brother Yanick, who took the time to explain the steps and answer all the employees' questions, were also highlighted. 

The comments collected at the end of the visit reflect this positive experience: 

• "I realized the full extent of the work they do daily and have a newfound admiration for our dairy producers." 
• "Farm work requires knowledge of animal nutrition, veterinary care, mechanics, programming, finance, purchasing, the environment... you need to surround yourself well to survive!" 
• "Stéphanie is an inspiring, eloquent, welcoming young woman, a beautiful model of female leadership who opened the doors of her farm and her daily life to us. She was open about the challenges and also the great opportunities of her reality on the farm." 
• "It was very interesting to visit two farms with different facilities side by side. We learned more about the types of farms and the equipment used. Milking was one of the best moments for me; we could see and understand each step involved." 
• "This visit strengthened my commitment to the cooperative, made me discover a fascinating environment rich in discoveries and knowledge."