Brass Bell Farm Recognized as 2025 Sooke Region Food CHI Farmer Bursary Recipient

The District of Sooke is pleased to share this announcement on behalf of Sooke Region Food CHI Society:

Sooke Food CHI is proud to announce Brass Bell Farm as the recipient of the 2025 Sooke Region Food CHI Farmer Bursary, recognizing the farm’s commitment to sustainable agriculture, innovation, and strengthening the local food system in the Sooke region.

Brass Bell Farm has been raising livestock in Sooke for the past 15 years. In recent years, the farm expanded its vision to include sheep dairy, marking an exciting new chapter in its operations. In late 2024, Brass Bell Farm purchased its starter flock of registered East Friesian ewe lambs from Wooldrift Dairy in Ontario - Canada’s first sheep dairy - and welcomed the flock to East Sooke in December. The farm celebrated its first lambing in April 2025 and is now preparing to begin dairy production this spring.

All milk produced at Brass Bell Farm will be supplied to Haltwhistle Cheese Company in the Cowichan Valley, where it will be crafted into a range of artisan cheeses. The farm plans to grow its flock gradually while continuing rotational and multi-species grazing practices alongside its cattle, pigs, and poultry.

“The Sooke Region Food CHI Farmer Bursary is about supporting local farmers to increase food production, strengthen our regional economy, and build long-term food security,” said Ellen Lewers, President of Sooke Food CHI. “Brass Bell Farm’s thoughtful expansion into sheep dairy, combined with their stewardship of the land, reflects the kind of leadership and innovation this bursary is meant to support.”

The Farmer Bursary will directly support the completion of Brass Bell Farm’s dairy facility.

“Building our dairy has been an intensive process, both physically and financially,” said Amber Rowse-Robinson co-owner and farmer at Brass Bell Farm. “We are extremely grateful to receive Sooke Food CHI’s Farmer Bursary, which will go toward the purchase of a bulk milk tank — an essential piece of equipment to ensure proper milk cooling and quality. The encouragement we’ve received from the Sooke community has been incredible, and we’re excited to soon offer not only our pasture-raised meats, but locally made sheep’s milk cheeses as well.”

Sooke Food CHI’s Farmer Bursary is awarded annually to support farmers who are advancing sustainable agriculture, local food security, and climate-resilient food systems across the region.

For more information about the Farmer Bursary, visit www.sookefoodchi.ca/bursary.

To learn more about Brass Bell Farm, visit www.brassbellfarm.com.