AgriTourism comes to Bray Ridge Farms

by Jay Meiliunas

Bray Ridge Farms has been in the Bray family since 1948, when Stewart and June Bray purchased it through the Veterans Land grant. Stewart ran a combination crop and cattle operation on the farm.

Gord and Gabrielle Bray bought the farm in 1985. They ran it as a beef feedlot operation, producing excellent-quality beef, but they had to switch it to a cash crop operation when BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy/Mad Cow) struck in 2003. They raised corn, soybeans, sudangrass, wheat, barley, rye, etc., and did all of this while raising two children.

Daughter, Amanda Kiezebrink took over the farm in 2021, after returning home from her military career. Amanda had been in the Forces for 14 years, working all over the world, including: Turkey, the Philippines, Tanzania, Italy, Spain, Hawaii, Seattle, Guam, and Maldives. She was a Marine Systems Engineer (Stoker) for most of that time and sailed predominately on HMCS Regina and MCDV Brandon. Amanda completed three rounds of education during her military career: an Hon. B.A. in Psychology, from Royal Military College; a Masters in Disaster and Emergency Management, from Royal Roads University; and a degree in Horticulture, from Durham College.

After her military career, upon moving back to Ontario, Amanda immediately asked her father what to grow for crops. She had no knowledge of what the commodities markets were like or if the beef industry had recovered (it hasn't some 20 plus years later).

Amanda also had to consider the farm's setup, and what uses she could get out of the buildings and land, since the property is in designated Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine lands. After many garage discussions and office time, they decided to grow hay for commercial sale, rather than for personal use as the farm had previously produced.

Amanda is proud to say, her hay has been shipped internationally to the Southern USA, for the major horse shows which happen in the spring of each year. This pride extends to the idea, the majority of the hay harvesting is done with antique Allis Chalmers tractors. She is still learning to maintain and drive these, as there is no gas pedal to be found on any of them.

Once the farm plan was settled, Amanda looked at the big farmhouse. A farmhouse which was just too big for her and her husband, Ben. Amanda wanted to find a way to monetize the unused space.

“After doing many hours of market research, I realized temporary accommodations like underserved in our area of Durham Region,” explained Amanda.

At the time she was mulling around the idea of opening a BnB on the farm a new fad called 'Agritourism' was starting to take hold. Amanda realized the demographic of people who, not only currently live in the area but come to visit the area, from far away, were looking for something unique, different, and memorable in a stay.

Realizing she had the perfect combination of those three sentiments in the farm, she decided to open the BnB. Amanda then began the legal proceedings to turn three bedrooms, in the main farmhouse, into B&B accommodations. As a result, the Farmstead Bed and Breakfast Inc. was born. It opened softly in 2022 and it has hosted many wonderful guests since.

"All of my guests have remarked on how quiet the location is, how beautiful the grounds are, and how they enjoy the true farmhouse feel of the rooms," shared Amanda.

Amanda always offers guests a complimentary historical tour of the Property, and they are welcome to purchase additional 'add-ons' to their stay, to make their time there just that much more memorable. They are also welcome to kick back in the hot tub or seasonal pool, if they just want some quiet time.

A few interesting notes are, the kitchen area of the farmhouse is from the original owner's first house, erected in the 1840s. Obed Wilson, this owner, built the BnB rooms and sitting area, later, in the early 1900s. The house has lots of old character!

"Since the BnB opened, I have joined the Port Perry B&B Association and linked up with other BnBs and short-term stays in the area. Together, we help service the accommodation needs of travellers and visiting family members who come to the area," stated Amanda.

"When I took over the farm, in 2021, I joined a novel RV accommodation program, called Harvest Hosts," said Amanda.

Hosting locations like museums, farms, wineries, golf courses, attractions, etc., allows travellers with RVs to stay at their location for a night. The RV guests support their host by purchasing items like the hosts' produce, wine, craft items, experiences, etc.

"I have to say, I have enjoyed each and everyone of the RV guests I have had stay at the farm, and they all enjoy the quiet of the farm, the historical tour, and their purchased items,” she said.

While you may be wondering why she has so many businesses running, unfortunately, farming does not pay the bills anymore. Over 50 percent of operating farms have at least one spouse who works full time, off the farm, and then does farm work after that work day.

"I like having diversified revenue streams for the farm; that way, if one fails, like losing a hay crop to bad weather, others are there motels, BNBs, etc., are severely to help bear the loss."

This all sounds very quaint, ideal and easy; it's not. The farm work is every day, all day, all year.

"My animal residents have to be fed and watered and cleaned, multiple times a day, the gardens are always sprouting weeds, the machinery always needs upkeep. [In addition,] you always have to keep an eye on what is happening locally, regionally, provincially, federally and internationally because it can and does affect the small scale farmer," explained Amanda.

Let us not also forget the weather; it can really mess around with well-laid plans. Extreme weather can ruin crops and heat waves can sap energy.

"I'm very fortunate my parents and husband can help me wherever and whenever they can. My mom is up with me every morning, to do morning chores, my dad is a huge wealth of knowledge about farming and machinery maintenance which I'm very fortunate to have available to me. My husband is very good at building new animal pens and upkeeping the buildings." she said.

 Amanda added to the business this year, by joining the Port Perry Farmer's Market, at Palmer Park, on Saturdays, where she sells flavoured butter, banana bread loaves and some seasonal produce from her gardens.

"If you're at the market on Saturdays, look for me and say hi!" invited Amanda.

She has also recently been appointed a Lake Scugog Historical Society board director. She is looking forward to promoting the history of the Lake Scugog Region, in the coming years. "It is a lot of balls to juggle, but I'd rather fall into bed at the end of the day feeling like I accomplished something than feeling like I wasted a day.

“John Wayne's words from his movie 'The Cowboys' rings in my ears on a continual loop, “We're burning daylight!” and so I keep going.” stated Amanda in conclusion.

Photos by Colleen Green