Drew and Heather Spoelstra of Binbrook have been named Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2026, earning the regional title following a competition held in St. Jacobs earlier this month. The honour, presented through the Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program, recognizes farmers under 40 who demonstrate excellence in agriculture and strong community leadership.
The Spoelstras operate Roy-A-Lea Farms Ltd., a diversified family farm producing grains, hay, dairy, and beef. In addition to their work on the farm, Heather leads the well-known Roy-A-Lea Clydesdales program, breeding and marketing horses across North America, while also contributing to several industry committees.
Drew is also deeply involved in agricultural leadership, serving as the 33rd President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, representing tens of thousands of farmers across the province. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program and operates Roy-A-Lea Seeds Ltd.
Organizers say this year’s Ontario competition highlighted two strong finalists, with Tyler and Allison McBlain of Caledonia also recognized for their operation. Program representatives praised both families for their innovation and dedication to advancing agriculture while supporting their communities.
The Spoelstras will now go on to represent Ontario at the national competition in Vancouver this November, where winners from across the country will compete for the national title.
