Nova Scotia dairy farm starts race as new income source

An eighth generation dairy farmer in Nova Scotia is organizing a race on his farm this weekend as part of an ongoing effort to find alternate sources of income for the family business.

Michael Blois, whose family runs the Courthouse Hill Farm in Gore, says the 220-year-old farm needs to do more than just produce milk if he and his brothers are going to have a successful future there. 

"The goal is — and what we hope to achieve is — to make this a reliable income source in the future, having agri-tourism as part of the farm and have another way to kind of diversify and to be able to put food on the table and all that stuff," Blois said Friday.

"Hopefully, we can put on an event that offers a lot of value and allows us to have another income source."

'No bulls — don't worry'

The Hants County dairy farm has dubbed its race the Milk Run, and it's happening Saturday morning. People will have a chance to run through hay fields, corn fields and cow pastures — right alongside the cows — for $50. It's $40 for kids under 15.

Blois said the farm does have some bulls, but they'll keep them out of the fields during the race.   

"No bulls — don't worry about that. It's safe, it'll be a safe time. It's for everybody: kids, families, the whole yard," he said.

'Creative' in face of quotas

Because of the way milk quotas are granted, it can be difficult and expensive for small and medium-sized dairy farms to grow, Blois said. Instead, many of the farms are looking at new ways of capitalizing on the resources they already have, he said.

"We have to really promote and market it and come up with really creative ideas and utilize your land as best as possible. So, for me at least, I think it's the way of the future," he said.

"I hope it's kind of the way I can turn it into a steady and reliable income stream down the road."

Milkshakes and ice cream

The runners won't be timed and can amble along at any pace. If they get tired, or thirsty, Blois said there will be stations set up throughout the course to showcase the "beautiful food group" that is dairy.

"We're going to give people cheese and chocolate and yogurt and milkshakes — and obviously ice cream," he said.

"We want to highlight what dairy can actually make."

This is the first year for the Milk Run, but it's not the first public event to be held on the 1,010-hectare farm.

They hosted the third annual Mudcraft obstacle course in June and they've been hosting mountain bike races on the property for about 20 years.