A fifth generation farmer in the Chateauguay Valley region, Douglas Brooks is the most recent addition to the QFA’s Board of Directors.

Although a long time QFA member, his involvement officially began in 2004 when he was sent by the regional UPA to be a Chateauguay Valley representative. However, as the branch is technically inactive in that region, Brooks’ task of representation is a bit more complicated. “It’s hard to shoulder,” he laughs, “because there’s no real group to represent.”

Despite this difficulty, Brooks is dedicated to the QFA and defends its role in the Chateauguay Valley. “There is definitely a place for the QFA,” he says. “I think its biggest role is and will be the distribution of information in English. This will always be its strongest point.”

Currently a cow-calf farmer, Brooks switched from milk production to beef in 1996. He is a MacDonald College graduate with a diploma in Agriculture. He worked on his father’s farm until 1991 when he bought the farm from his parents. As previously mentioned, Brooks transferred from milk to beef production in 1996 and began a machinery sales and distribution company in 1997.

Although he admits not encouraging his own children to farm, he does love his job. “I like the freedom to make decisions on a daily basis that determine your destiny and working in close collaboration with living things is a major plus.” He does however recognize that the industry is in a difficult situation. “There is so much uncertainty right now,” Brooks claims. “I like what I do, but less and less.” This, he explains, is due to how long it is taking to resolve the BSE situation.

“It’s incredibly disappointing that we, as a society, don’t value farming,” Brooks says, although he admits respect “goes both ways” depending on who you are talking to.

In addition to the QFA, Brooks has been the Vice-President of the St-Jean-Valleyfield Cattle Producers for three years, and the Regional Representative for St-Jean-Valleyfield on the Quebec Feeder-Calf Marketing Committee for five years.

“Our challenges are common,” he explains. “And they are all headlined with a dollar sign.”