A farmer from Plympton-Wyoming is honoured to be the recipient of the Outstanding Farmer Award but says his community efforts were not to gain recognition but to simply put out some positivity in the community.
Brian Schoonjans was recently named the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Farmer Award by the Lambton Soil and Crop Improvement Association, the St Clair Region Conservation Authority, and sponsor Parkland Farms.
"We have some phenomenal farmers in Lambton County so to be named [Outstanding Farmer] amongst my peers is quite an honour," he said.
Schoonjans was born and raised on a farrow to finish pig farm. After he completed his studies in agriculture, Schoonjans bought a 150-acre farm on Douglas Line in Plympton-Wyoming.
In addition to being a farmer, Schoonjans has been quite active in the community. He has been involved with the Kaden Brown Foundation and started Pumpkins for Wes as a memorial fund, read a media release from Lambton Soil and Crop Improvement Association.
Work with the foundation inspired the creation of Miracle Max’s Minions, which started in 2019 shortly after two-year-old Max Rombouts died of cancer.
A sunflower project evolved and grew over the years.
Schoonjans said he wasn't expecting it to get as much attention as it did.
"We planted that field just to make sure a little boy's name was not forgotten and to give a place for the family to remember him," he said. "If we made a few bucks in the meantime, then that would be a bonus and we could give back to the organizations that helped the Rombouts family."
Donations raised through initiative go to organizations, like ChildCan, in an effort to support pediatric research and families with children fighting cancer. Schoonjans said just over $250,000 in total has been donated in the last three years.
Although Schoonjans had a major role in this initiative, he finds it difficult to receive recognition for work done in Max's honour.
"I really feel like he is the true hero. The kids that are fighting cancer today in hospitals, they're the true heroes. I'm just a farm kid that planted some seeds and got to enjoy watching the crop grow, and then enjoy the community come out and donate so many funds."
Schoonjans said he's currently helping with another project involving a couple of organizations, in order to raise "seed money for research". He said an announcement would be made in the coming future.
The local farmer has also kept busy educating youth through agricultural learning sessions. Schoonjans has participated in Ag in the Classroom for about 20 years and has also worked with the Lambton Kent District School Board to conduct classroom visits in February.
Despite challenges presented by the pandemic, Schoonjans has still been able to keep ag discussions going with students virtually.
"What I've found in the last few years in being involved in Miracle Max's Minions and doing Ag in the Classroom, what I get back in positive energy and whatnot... is priceless. What goes around comes around," he said. "I'm just very blessed to be part of all this and to be recognized."
Schoonjans encourages others to get out and volunteer as well.
