Milk quality and animal welfare: Agropur crowns its Grand Champions

 

 

Longueuil, QC, February 12, 2026 – Agropur took advantage of its 87th Annual General Meeting to announce and recognize this year’s Grand Champions of the Club of Excellence. Ferme Gagnonval of Sainte-Hénédine, QC (Chaudière-Appalaches) and Ferme Janibert of Ange‑Gardien, QC (Montérégie) distinguished themselves among top performers, earning the prestigious Club of Excellence awards for Milk Quality and Animal Welfare, respectively.

 

Milk Quality: consistency rewarded

Selected from 13 finalists, Ferme Gagnonval earned the Milk Quality Award for a second consecutive year based upon its exemplary milk qualityand remarkable consistency throughout the year. Founded in 1985, this operation owned by brothers Daniel and Marc Gagnon manages its Holstein herd with great rigor. Every aspect—from genetics to nutrition—is carefully orchestrated. To deliver consistent milk quality day after day, the Gagnon brothers rely on keen observation and a strong ability to adapt. Working with livestock requires constant adjustments to their practices, a daily challenge they meet with discipline and passion.

 

“Winning this award is a wonderful way to conclude our career. It represents the culmination of a strong collaboration between two brothers and solid relationships with our partners. To achieve high quality standards, you need passion and determination — and above all, to be gentle, calm and respectful toward animals”, said Marc Gagnon upon receiving the award.

 

Animal Welfare: innovation serving the cows

The Animal Welfare Award was presented to Ferme Janibert, a multigenerational operation led by Maryse Forgues and Yves Robert, along with their three children, Maxime, Xavier, and Marjolaine Robert. The farm stood out for its state‑of‑the‑art facilities.

 

The keys to their success include:

  • Innovative technology: A milking parlor equipped with an automated sorting system to provide personalized care.
  • Optimal comfort: Sand‑bedded stalls for lactating cows and compost‑bedded packs for transition periods.
  • Meticulous rearing: A specialized calf nursery that ensures optimal growth up to six months of age.
  • Human‑centered approach: Gentle handling and attentive observation, ensuring a calm and secure environment.

 

“Our award winners contribute to the economic vitality of our regions and to the strength of our food supply chain. Their expertise and daily commitment raises the standards of our dairy industry and ensure consumers have access to healthy, high‑quality local products. Through their passion and determination, they inspire us to aim even higher and to continue striving for excellence,” said Roger Massicotte, President of Agropur.

 

Paving the way

In addition to recognizing our two Grand Champions, Agropur also honored the Regional Champions of the Club of Excellence. Since its creation in 1988, the Club of Excellence has celebrated more than 2,000 recipients.

 

“Our award winners contribute to the economic vitality of our regions and to the strength of our food supply chain. Their expertise and daily commitment raises the standards of our dairy industry and ensure consumers have access to healthy, high‑quality local products. Through their passion and determination, they inspire us to aim even higher and to continue striving for excellence,” said Roger Massicotte, President of Agropur.

 

 

About Agropur

Agropur is the largest dairy cooperative in Canada and one of the leading suppliers of dairy products in the retail, food service, and industrial sectors in North America. Founded in 1938, the Cooperative is a source of pride for its 2,700 members based in Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, as well as for its 7,000 employees. Operating 29 plants in Canada and the United States, Agropur generated revenues of $8.9 billion CAD in 2025 and processed 6.7 billion liters of milk. The Cooperative continues to grow while creating value for its communities by offering nutritious, high‑quality dairy products.  

 

For more information: agropur.com/en    

 

 

Club of Excellence

 

Grand champion – Milk Quality Award

Ferme Gagnonval (Sainte-Hénédine, QC)

 

Grand champion – Animal Welfare Award

Ferme Janibert (Ange-Gardien, QC)

 

Regional Champions – Milk Quality Award
Ferme Montplaisir inc. (Bécancour, QC)

Ferme Karl Breu inc. (Lotbinière, QC)

Ferme Alexandre Martineau inc. (Saint-Adrien-d’Irlande, QC)

Ferme M.P. Morissette inc. (Cacouna, QC)

Ferme du Campus Macdonald de l’Université McGill (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC)

Ferme Gagnonval inc. (Sainte-Hénédine, QC)

Ferme Turcotte Enr. (Dudswell, QC)

Ferme De La Carrière inc. (Upton, QC)

Ferme E. Fankhauser inc. (Saint-Sébastien, QC)

Ferme Pierlie SENC (Saint-Adelphe-de-Champlain, QC)

Dairy Creek Farm (Wards Creek, NB)

Ferme Dalmarke Enr. (Sainte-Marie-Salomé, QC)

A & J Bent Farms Ltd (Lawrencetown, NS)

 

Finalists Animal Welfare Award

Ferme Algério inc. (Saint-Henri-de-Lévis, QC)

Ferme Janibert inc. (Ange-Gardien, QC)

Ferme Réjean L’Heureux inc. (Saint-Alphonse-de-Granby, QC)

 

 

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Source: 
Agropur Dairy Cooperative

 

Information :

Diep Truong, Exergue Communications 
514 436-2121  
[email protected]