When resilience becomes part of the farm plan
Starting a dairy farm from scratch wasn’t the original plan.
Growing up on a dairy farm in Nova Scotia, Kim Waalderbos always thought the path into farming was through a family farm transition. Instead, after earning her agriculture degree from the University of Guelph and completing graduate studies in dairy epidemiology, she and partner David deVries found another way.
In 2012, they bought an idle dairy farm in New Brunswick and started milking cows through the provincial new entrant program. They started with just 10 cows in a single 12-parlour and a determination to make the numbers work.
“We still remember that first milking,” Waalderbos says. “It felt surreal to have achieved the dream.”
The dream, however, didn’t unfold quite the way they expected. For the first five years, while building their farm business, deVries battled an undiagnosed illness that would later be identified as chronic Lyme disease and co-infections. Unfortunately, the diagnosis took years and recovery took even longer.
Instead of ending their farm ambitions, the experience reshaped how they think about labour, technology, business decisions and resilience itself.
Today, at Takes Two Farm Ltd. in Nova Scotia, the couple milks 85 cows to fill approximately 150 kilograms of quota in a new facility that’s designed around efficiency, adaptability and the understanding that the most valuable asset on any farm isn’t the equipment, it’s the people.
Q: What gave you the confidence to start farming on your own?
A: Kim Waalderbos: I always knew I wanted to dairy farm. Growing up, though, I thought the way in was by taking over a family farm, and starting a farm from scratch wasn’t considered realistic. But David and I wondered what was possible. We knew we had the skills and determination. The question was whether we could build enough equity and find a lender who believed in us and our business plan.
When that happened, everything came together sooner than we expected. Looking back, building our own farm gave us confidence, not just because we achieved our dream, but because it proved we could create opportunities instead of waiting for them.
Q: What were those early years like?
A: Busy. For the first few years, David worked full-time off the farm as a dairy equipment installer in Nova Scotia, while I farmed full-time and continued running my communications business part-time in New Brunswick. We had to build up quota, a herd, machinery lineup and forage inventories.
We were “weekend warriors.” Late Friday through Sunday, we’d tackle special projects and work ahead so the farm was manageable for me during the weekdays. At the time, it was simply what we had to do. Looking back, it taught us how to prioritize, plan ahead and make every hour count. But that pace wasn’t sustainable for either of us. So, after a few years, we both reduced our off-farm employment to focus on the farm.
Q: When did things become most difficult?
A: The biggest challenge we’ve faced wasn’t directly related to farming. In fact, whenever something went wrong on the farm, we enjoyed solving the problem together. Challenges are part of agriculture, and that’s one of the reasons we got into farming.
What we weren’t prepared for was David becoming sick. It took five years of appointments and specialists before he was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease and co-infections. After that, treatment meant driving seven hours every few months to a specialist in the United States. And then another five years for him to see improvement.
Looking back, there were times when life felt very heavy. We found ourselves asking, “Is this as good as it gets?” Those were much harder questions than anything farming had thrown at us.
The timing also coincided with our first years working to get the farm up and running smoothly.
Q: How did that experience change the direction of your farm?
A: It forced us to rethink everything. After careful consideration, we sold our New Brunswick farm that we had grown to 62 kilograms of quota and returned to Nova Scotia to take over my family’s dairy farm in 2019. We wanted to be closer to our family network of support while we managed David’s health.
We built a new barn in 2020, expanded the dairy quota, along with our herd of Tarentaise beef cattle, and invested heavily in automation. People sometimes assume technology is about expansion, but for us, it was about sustainability. We learned quickly that every business decision and investment we made on the farm had to make the work easier, safer and more efficient for the two of us. For us, that included bringing all the dairy animals under one roof with a feed kitchen, robots and switching to silage bagging.
Q: How has adversity influenced the way you manage the business?
A: Our experiences have really changed the questions we ask. Today, our priority is simple: what gets milk in the tank.
We’re also more aware that every investment has a cost beyond dollars. We factor time, physical energy, mental energy and labour into every decision.
Adversity has taught us to let go a little, too. We still put in the work and expect quality results, but we’ve learned that perfection isn’t always productive. Sometimes the best decision is the one that gets the job done efficiently so you can focus on what matters most.
Q: What does resilience mean to you?
A: Resilience is having the capacity to endure, pivot and adapt. There’s so much outside our control on the farm, but we can control how we respond.
We aim to make the best decisions, with the information we have today, then adjust as circumstances change.
Q: Was there ever a point where you considered walking away from farming?
A: No. There were certainly days when everything felt overwhelming. One thing that’s helped us is remembering that tomorrow is another day, and it’s okay to take a pause and rest.
I also end every day by thinking of three things I’m grateful for. Sometimes it means digging deep, but that habit helps me shift my perspective instead of focusing only on the challenges.
Q: What did you learn about asking for help?
A: Asking for help isn’t easy. It was something we had to especially overcome in the past year when David had major back surgery and was put off work for an extended period to recover. We knew I couldn’t take on 100 per cent of his workload without burning out.
One lesson we’ve learned is to be specific. People want to help, but they don’t always know how. So, think of specific tasks or projects that fit in their wheelhouse and really lighten your load. And compensate well.
We’re fortunate to have some great local students as part-time employees for support during morning and evening chores. And neighbours that enjoy driving tractors to help us when we’re shorthanded with field work.
Sometimes the biggest support is someone dropping off maple treats, a box of strawberries, meals or asking if there’s parts or something they can pick up for you while they’re in town.
Q: How important is your support network?
A: It’s incredibly important. We lean on each other. We also get a lot of support from other farmers and people working in agriculture because they understand the realities of farming and business without needing an explanation.
You need people who genuinely care about your success, who share your values and who help you keep things in perspective.
Q: Do you think that women face unique challenges building those networks?
A: I think they can. If you’re raising children, juggling responsibilities at home and work, or managing chronic health issues, simply getting off the farm can be harder and takes more planning.
At the same time, technology has helped. Today, video meetings and social media make it easier to stay connected. But I still think it’s important to leave the farm, visit others and explore beyond the farm gate.
Q: What have you learned about yourself?
A: I’ve learned I can do hard things. I believe that every challenge that’s overcome becomes momentum to find a way through the next one.
When something difficult happens, we ask, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Then work backward from there. Having a plan removes a lot of uncertainty.
Q: What advice would you give other young farmers?
A: Know what success looks like for you. Set healthy boundaries. Take care of yourself, because you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Most importantly, surround yourself with people who believe in you. Farming and agriculture will always throw challenges your way, but you don’t have to face them alone.
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