The following story was written before social gathering restrictions were in place.
Take a drive just north of Calgary and head east. Pass through the village of Torrington, famous for their unique gopher museum, and then head towards Huxley. Jutting out from the prairie landscape are dozens of bright white windmills that seem to scrape the crystal blue sky and if you're lucky and the wind is just right, they almost look alive. The day we drove to meet Kevin Hoppins, board chair for UFA, the windmills were in motion and it was breathtaking.
We spotted his green rancher-style home and drove up a long gravel road lined with poplar trees. I wondered what kind of dogs would be bounding out the front door. Golden Retrievers? Border Collies? Turns out, there was one of each, both with chew toys in their mouths ready for a game of catch.
Kevin came out and greeted us with a smile, wearing blue overalls with a ball cap. He asked us to come inside for a minute, his wife, Elizabeth, had fresh baking and coffee waiting.
The porch was lined with boots and jackets, perfect for the farm, and immediately the smell of freshly baked cinnamon buns wafted in the air. We definitely had time to have a quick chat before getting to work. In the kitchen, Elizabeth and Kevin welcomed us and we met their daughter, Michelle, who happened to be home from college where she is studying Agriculture. We talked and got to know one another over food; which, for people in the country, is always the most valuable currency. The phone interrupted us once, a local lady asking Elizabeth to contribute food for an upcoming funeral. It reminded me that from the minute we are born, we begin a life-long relationship with food. From our first breath until loved ones say goodbye; whether it's mother's milk or cucumber tea sandwiches, food is our constant companion in life's journey.
Back to getting to know Kevin. With full bellies (and wondering if it would be rude to ask for a cinnamon bun to take home) he showed us around his farm which has been in the family for generations. His homestead is surrounded by bright red outbuildings and a beautiful white barn. He pointed west and showed us his brother, Richard's, neighbouring farm and then across to the south, his cousin's place, and if you look east up on the hill, his parents' farm, overlooking the entire operation. The family began farming together in 1904 and Hoppins Farms is truly a family business. With several hundred cattle and thousands of acres of grain, the families keep very busy running their operation together.
"You will never hear any of the seven families that farm together refer to anything here as mine, it's all ours," says Hoppins. "It's that mindset that has helped us be together after 113 years."
Hoppins was welding a piece of machinery in the shop during our interview and through sparks flying, he ran through the list of the day's chores he still needed to get done. He spoke about safety and how important being safe is, while joking that perhaps we shouldn't get any photos of his "missing finger".
Hoppins is very down-to-earth and has a great sense of humour which came out time and time again over the course of the day. He moved from welding to working on the engine of his semi-tractor trailer to hauling seed. We kept stride with him as we listened to him tell stories of growing up on the farm.
Hoppin's daughter, Michelle, joined us as we went to feed cattle. He drove the tractor and we watched as father and daughter pitched hay while talking about their herd. Hoppins beamed when sharing stories of their other children Stephanie, 19, and William, 17, both of who are involved in sports and love helping out on the farm. "At the end of the day, it's all about teaching your kids the value of hard work and doing the right thing," he says. "We are very blessed to have amazing kids and life really is all about family. I'm very proud of mine."
Speaking of family, it wasn't long before his brother, Richard, also joined to help. Richard's wife, Christina, and their kids even came out to check if we needed anything and to see how they could help with the day's chores.
"We are successful because we all work together for a common goal and that is to run a successful business," says Hoppins. "We all play a role and when we all do our job and it comes together, it's a beautiful thing."
Perhaps that's what makes Hoppins such a strong leader for UFA. The co-operative model is not much different from the family farm business. Everyone works together toward a common goal and when everyone does their part, we all succeed.
We got back to the house where Elizabeth greeted her husband with a hug at the door, the two dogs bounded out, almost knocking her over, to greet him as well. Michelle still needed to feed her 4-H calves and off she went to finish her chores. Elizabeth handed us a take-home bag full of cinnamon buns and at that moment, I could have hugged her as well.
This is not your normal board executive. I've written about Hoppins being a farmer, in addition to a leader, but it's one thing to say it and another to see it with your own eyes. Up until now, I had only seen him in his suit heading into the board room, but after today I would venture to guess that he's much more comfortable in his overalls and ball cap.
After spending the day with Kevin and his family, it's easy to see why he would be elected as board chair for UFA. He has a very calm, sensible, steadfast nature about him. He is a loyal, hardworking family man, and a life-long farmer who knows the value of relationships and of working together.
Just before we left, Elizabeth told us we should stop for a bite to eat at a nearby café. We were greeted by the owner, who served us the most delicious meal. Getting ready to pay the bill, we were told not to worry as Elizabeth had already taken care of it, her way of saying thank you for the visit. I thought to myself, this is just another illustration of why the Hoppins family is so well-respected in their community. They are a shining example of how to leave a legacy--by paying it forward, working together, and having good old fashioned integrity and values. Next time you are traveling near Huxley, I would encourage you to stop in and say hello. As for directions, just watch for windmills, two bounding dogs, and follow the smell of fresh cinnamon buns.
