This week’s Behind the Barn feature shines a spotlight on Erik Osinga of Golden Rod Dairy Farm in South Granville.
Since 1992, Erik and his wife, Anna, have been at the helm of the farm’s daily operations. Around 10 years ago, their son Arjen joined the farm full-time, while their daughter Andrea moved back to Holland in 2017, earning two master’s degrees before working at McCain in Florenceville, New Brunswick. Their youngest son, Aise, is currently attending Bluefield High School.
Originally from Holland, the Osinga family made the bold move to PEI with 16kg of quota, building a thriving farm from the ground up. Now in their 33rd year of dairy farming, Erik’s passion lies in working with the animals and witnessing the birth of calves—a moment that never gets old.
From their early days in a tie stall to the cutting-edge Lely robots they’re milking with today, Golden Rod Dairy Farm has continually evolved while remaining grounded in the family values that make it so unique. Erik’s advice to aspiring dairy farmers? “Don’t over-idolize farming—if you’re determined, you can go a long way.”
