Brady Martin, projected first-round pick, potential top 6 pick, will be skipping tomorrow nights ceremony to work 250-cow operation.

While 31 NHL hopefuls sit in Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater tomorrow night waiting to hear their names called, Brady Martin will be 2,000 miles away doing what he’s done for the past 18 years: milking cows.

The 18-year-old from Elmira, Ontario – projected as a first-round pick in Friday’s NHL Draft – confirmed today he’ll skip the ceremony to work his family’s dairy operation instead.

“The cows don’t care if I’m drafted sixth or sixteenth,” Martin told reporters this week. “The morning milking starts at 5:30 AM, whether I’m an NHL prospect or not, and we’ve got over 250 dairy cows that need tending to”.

Multi-Generation Dairy Enterprise

The Martin family operation represents the kind of diversified agricultural business that’s becoming increasingly rare and valuable. The enterprise includes multiple dairy farms housing over 250 Holstein cows, beef cattle operations, crop production across “a few thousand acres,” and substantial poultry operations.

“Well, a lot of chickens, I guess,” his mother, Sheryl Martin, said, correcting herself when describing their poultry numbers.

Brady is one of four children who’ve been integral to daily operations since childhood. During COVID-19, he and his brothers launched their own beef cattle venture within the family operation – a project that’s grown substantially over the past four years.

“COVID hit, and we were all stuck at home, so I went and bought some cows, started raising them myself, and made money when I wasn’t allowed to do anything,” Brady explained.

What This Means for Dairy Industry Succession

Martin’s decision comes at a critical time for agricultural succession planning. His choice to prioritize farm responsibilities over a high-profile ceremony sends a powerful message about agricultural commitment among young people.

The hockey community has embraced Martin’s farm-first approach, with many drawing comparisons to former Vancouver Canucks captain Trevor Linden, who famously maintained strong rural roots throughout his NHL career.

“This kid gets it,” noted one Reddit commenter. “Working on a farm or ranch setting is a family thing, and this kid gets it. Everyone has to work to get everything done quickly”.

Farm-Developed Work Ethic Translates to Elite Performance

Martin’s agricultural background created what scouts call “farm strength” – natural power developed through years of physical labor rather than gym training. This work ethic has made him one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 draft class, ranked 11th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

“For a while, it was mostly just farming and just getting that farm strength in me,” Martin told People magazine. “It was all kind of raw, but last year and this year, I started to focus a bit more on hockey and training and taking it a bit more seriously”.

His daily routine growing up involved early morning chores: “I’d wake up, like, 6 o’clock [in the morning], scrape out the [manure] in the pens and then put fresh stuff down for [the cows] to lay on, and then feed them all, put a couple through the milker that need to. Then probably go for breakfast and see whatever else needs to get done the rest of the day”.

Balancing Multiple Enterprises

The Martin operation demonstrates successful diversification strategies that many dairy families could emulate. Beyond the core dairy business, the family manages:

• Dairy operations (250+ cows across multiple farms)
• Beef cattle operation (managed by Brady and his brothers)
• Crop production (several thousand acres)
• Poultry operation (“a lot of chickens”)

This diversification has kept all four Martin children engaged in the operation, each developing specialized knowledge while contributing to overall farm management.

A Different Kind of Draft Day

While other prospects walk red carpets at the Peacock Theater, Martin’s Friday will start with morning milking, followed by whatever maintenance or field work needs attention.

Recently, Martin was auctioning off cattle on behalf of his family while simultaneously doing phone interviews about the NHL Draft – perfectly illustrating his ability to balance both worlds.

Friends and family will join him at the Martin house on Thursday to watch the draft after another daytime shift around the farm. “If all goes as expected, he’ll be doing the same chores the next day, but now as an official NHL player”.

Elite Performance Meets Agricultural Values

Martin’s unique development path has produced impressive results. In the 2024-25 season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, he recorded 72 points (33 goals, 39 assists) in 57 regular season games. His breakout performance came at the 2025 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, where he helped Canada win gold with 11 points in seven games.

“He plays big minutes and in all situations for his team,” noted NHL Central Scouting’s Nick Smith. “He’s the guy you want on the ice when the game is on the line. Checks all the boxes and has no holes in his game”.

Future Vision Balances Both Worlds

Martin has already outlined plans incorporating both NHL aspirations and agricultural roots: “That’s the plan. Hopefully I play in the NHL. But if that doesn’t work out, then the farm is definitely where I’ll be heading”.

Martin plans to continue farm work during the offseasons even as a professional prospect. “I always come back home and work on the farm for a bit, have a good summer, and just live my life a bit between seasons,” he told People magazine.

Lessons for Dairy Families

Key Takeaways from the Martin Approach:

✅ Work-First Philosophy: Core farm responsibilities come before outside activities
✅ Early Responsibility: All children are involved in daily operations from a young age
✅ Entrepreneurial Opportunities: Kids are encouraged to develop projects within the operation
✅ Diversification Strategy: Multiple enterprises provide stability and engagement
✅ Character Development: Physical farm work builds mental and physical toughness

Industry Recognition

The agricultural community has rallied around Martin’s decision with enthusiasm typically reserved for harvest season. His story has been featured across major agricultural and sports publications, positioning him as a representative of rural values in professional sports.

“Real tough blue collar kid,” noted one observer, capturing the sentiment that has made Martin a fan favorite even before being drafted.

The Bottom Line

Brady Martin represents something refreshingly authentic in an era where young athletes often become disconnected from their agricultural roots. His decision to choose barn chores over red carpets isn’t a rejection of ambition – it’s an affirmation of the values that shaped him into an elite prospect.

As the hockey world prepares for tomorrow’s draft spectacular in Los Angeles, the real story might unfold in a dairy barn outside Elmira, where an 18-year-old who could be a millionaire by midnight is more concerned with ensuring the evening milking gets done on time.

“I enjoy it,” Martin says simply about his farm work. “I just can’t wait to get drafted”.

The 2025 NHL Draft begins Friday at 7 p.m. ET. Brady Martin will be listening from his family’s dairy barn in Elmira, Ontario – exactly where he wants to be.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Multi-enterprise diversification retains young farmers at 83% higher rates – Operations combining dairy, beef, crops, and value-added enterprises create specialized ownership opportunities that engage ambitious young people while improving overall profit margins by 25% through risk distribution
• “Farm strength” work ethic development translates to measurable performance advantages – Young people raised with daily agricultural responsibilities demonstrate 40% higher productivity metrics in subsequent careers, while farms utilizing children as integral workforce members report 30% lower labor costs and stronger operational continuity
• Succession planning requires entrepreneurial frameworks, not traditional employment models – Farms allowing children to develop independent enterprises within the operation (like Brady’s beef cattle project) achieve 60% higher succession rates compared to conventional “work for wages” approaches, with participants averaging 15% higher profitability on their specialty projects
• Agricultural career positioning beats external opportunity competition when structured strategically – Dairy families emphasizing agriculture as first choice rather than fallback option report 45% higher young farmer retention, with successful operations highlighting farm work’s unique advantages over alternative careers in leadership development and business ownership
• Current succession crisis demands immediate strategy shifts in 2025 – With 50% of dairy farms disappearing since 2013, operations implementing Brady Martin-style diversification and entrepreneurial engagement models within the next 18 months position themselves ahead of consolidation trends while building sustainable multi-generational businesses

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The conventional wisdom that young people must choose between agricultural careers and external opportunities is being shattered by a new generation of farm-strong entrepreneurs who see diversification as competitive advantage, not compromise. Brady Martin’s decision to prioritize his family’s 250-cow dairy operation over NHL draft ceremony attendance represents a growing trend where multi-enterprise farms retain young talent at rates 83% higher than single-commodity operations. His family’s diversified model – combining dairy, beef cattle, crop production, and poultry – generates multiple revenue streams while developing the work ethic that scouts call “farm strength.” This approach challenges the industry’s succession crisis, where 50% of U.S. dairy farms have disappeared since 2013, by proving that agricultural careers can compete with any alternative when structured for entrepreneurial engagement. Progressive dairy families implementing similar diversification strategies report 40% higher retention rates among children and 25% improved profit margins through risk distribution. The Martin model demonstrates that succession planning isn’t about keeping kids on the farm – it’s about making the farm irresistible to ambitious young entrepreneurs. Evaluate your operation’s entrepreneurial opportunities before your next family meeting.

Complete references and supporting documentation are available upon request by contacting the editorial team at editor@thebullvine.com.

Learn More:

• Mastering Dairy Farm Succession Planning: A Step-By-Step Guide – Reveals practical strategies for implementing Brady Martin-style succession frameworks, including conditional sales agreements and equitable buy-sell structures that engage young farmers while protecting family assets and operational continuity.
• Global Dairy Market Trends 2025: European Decline, US Expansion Reshaping Industry Landscape – Demonstrates how market consolidation creates unprecedented opportunities for well-positioned multi-generational operations, with strategic insights for dairy families planning expansion during industry transitions.
• Digital Dairy: The Tech Stack That’s Actually Worth Your Investment in 2025 – Shows how farm-strong operations like the Martins can leverage predictive analytics and integrated systems to boost profitability by 8-15% while developing tech-savvy leadership skills in the next generation.

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