Chilliwack Holstein breeders Peter and Nicole Tuytel were presented with the 2012 BC & Yukon Outstanding Young Farmer Award at the annual BC Agriculture Gala in Abbotsford on Jan. 25.

The Tuytels run Elmbridge Farms in Greendale, a 130-cow herd from which they sell embryos around the world.

After beginning with a small dairy and broiler chicken farm in 1996, the Tuytels now operate a 70acre dairy farm. Along the way, they have increased their production from an average of 24.5 kg/day in 2000 to 43.6 kg/day in 2011. Peter Tuytel was named B.C.'s only Holstein Master Breeder in 2011. He began his prefix at age 14 while Nicole began her herd with two calves her grandfather gave her at age four.

The couples' most famous cow, Elbridge FM Loveable, is a Canadian national champion. The cow, which is a cross of Peter's maternal line with Nicole's paternal line was named the best bred and owned cow in the red-and-white Holstein show at the 2011 World Dairy Expo.

Runners-up for the 2012 award were hog producers Chad and Angela Goertzen of Sundance Farms in Chilliwack.

To be eligible for the Outstanding Young Farmer award, farmers must be between 19 and 39 years and derive at least two-thirds of their income from farming.

Nominees are judged on conservation practices, production history, financial and management practices, and community contributions.