Morningstar Farm is part of that ancient breed of agriculture called “The Family Farm.” While we now work with a fabulous team of people to accomplish all there is to do at the farm, we want to here introduce you to the 3 generations at the centre of it all.
Clarke & Nancy Gourlay
The whole idea was Nancy’s to start with. That’s why she’s president! And Clarke is better at spending money, so he became treasurer. There you have it: The founders (and owners) of Little Qualicum Cheeseworks Ltd. Now ten years into the business Nancy still oversees everything having to do with the making and packaging of cheese. Clarke oversees the farm and animal end of things, as well as sales and new ventures. Both are very hands on, with Clarke still out milking cows, and Nancy still milling curds.
There are times when sleeping with business partners is less than ideal, but this is NOT one of those times! 2011 marks Clarke & Nancy’s twenty-second wedding anniversary, and still going strong. Clarke, Nancy and their boys live right on the farm.
Ray & Judy Haynes (Nancy’s mom & dad)
Ray was given the “golden handshake” from a sales position with an office equipment dealership just as we were getting started making cheese. So, to the very good fortune of LQC, he began to sell cheese. “What a change, to finally sell people something they really want!” He developed and spent six years as the head of our marketing and sales department, achieving 25% growth every year. He has since trained his own replacement, but not one to retire, he is still involved in sales, farmer’s markets, festivals, deliveries and generally keeping the place up. He’s the only one known to frequently sell cheese in the line up at the ferry terminal on the way home from a market.
Judy has begun and managed both our packaging and farmer’s markets efforts, handing off each one in due course. She is now doing really vital stuff, like quilting (and continues to back up hubby at the markets, and making the farm look pretty in all seasons).
Ray & Judy invested heavily in the purchase of our initial farmstead in 2004, and are now glowing in the warmth and financial returns of farm ownership!
John & Dorothy Gourlay (Clarke’s mom & dad)
John & Dorothy’s main contribution has been on the advice front: 50 years as a banker can give you a pretty good head for what works and what doesn’t. They’ve also put on countless miles delivering cheese and running errands. They were our first “cow owners”, have filled in at markets, inspired the wine making project, and have assisted in multitudes of little ways. Dorothy also has the distinction of being our best farm store customer.
John & Dorothy are also well invested in the purchase of Morningstar Farm.
Raymond, John & Kevin Gourlay
When Raymond was 13 he began driving a tractor during harvest. Towards the end of harvest that year he was asked to cut the lawn, to which he responded without hesitation, “Dad, I have much bigger lawns to mow now!” And his brother John got stuck with the job.
Raymond now works his own shift milking cows. He is also currently trying to figure out how to make a living as a rock & roll drummer.
John & Kevin are both on the training side, though they have each booked many hours feeding animals and mucking stalls. They also reinforce dad on the farmer’s market circuit. Their favourite song is NOT “Thank God I’m a Country Boy”, though growing up with an endless backyard and honestly earned spending money is not too bad.
Little Qualicum Cheeseworks...
