The 2015 recipient of the Andrea Crowe Memorial Award was the very deserving Joël Lepage, JM Valley Holstein, Amqui, Que.. The award, designed to recognize a young Canadian adult who demonstrates enthusiasm and dedication to the dairy industry, as well as active involvement in their community, all characteristics that this years winner posses. Lepage is a true example of “the everyday love of the industry” embodied by Andrea Crowe. He has many qualities that influence the development of the breed, as well as playing a positive role in the Holstein “family”. He is a determined, dedicated and multi-talented person, always ready to help and never stops working toward achieving goals.
Lepage grew up on his family’s farm, Ferme Jolipre, at St-Moise, Que., which is now owned by his brother Regis. In 2003, he graduated from the Institut Technologique Agro-Alimentaire. He worked as a dairy and field expert advisor for the Coop des Frontières in Montérégie from 2003 to 2006 and for the Coop Purdel et Matépédienne in the area of Bas-Saint-Laurent from 2006 until October 2014.
In December 2011, Lepage realized a dream he’s been cherishing for a long time. Along with his wife, Mireille Lavoie, they purchased a dairy farm and created the JM Valley prefix. With devotion and hard work, many high quality animals are already contributing to their new breeding program and making a well regarded name for themselves through out the dairy industry. In April 2014, Joel and Mireille where blessed with the birth of their daughter Rosalie.
In 2014, Lepage became an Official Judge. He has had the opportunity to judge many shows such as Trois-Rivières, Saint-Hyacinthe and Saint-Agapit, as well as the Red & White Holstein Show at the Supreme Dairy Show in Saint-Hyacinthe. He was also the associate judge for the Black & White Holstein Show at the Royal Winter Fair in 2014 beside his good friend and mentor, Donald Dubois. This past October, Lepage served as the Red & White Holstein associate judge to Pat Conroy at World Dairy Expo in Madison Wis.
Lepage is a positive role model and a mentor for youth. Lepage considers involvement in his community very important and served as vice-president of the Société d’Agriculture de la Vallée de la Matapédia for five years.
Joël Lepage has earned the trust of many breeders, with his advice, expertise, and his cattle fitting talent. There is no doubt that his professionalism, dedication, sportsmanship and great personality have helped him to work with breeders from around the world.
