• Learn about the barn architecture, milking process, animal genetics, feeding and care.
• Get to know our Holstein, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss and Jersey cows.
• Tame our little farm animals at our petting zoo.
• Stroll about the farm and discover our wooded grounds and the educational garden. Have a picnic in natural surroundings.

Have fun with milking!
	• Watch the milking! • Have the calves drinking! • Feed the livestock! • Talk with our employees for learning more! When? : At 4 pm
Individual fee	2,00 $
Family fee.	5,00 $
Book 2 days in advance: : 819 849-9588, # 247 asking for milking

On site:
Picnic tables under canopy, restrooms.

Rain or shine! As far as the eye can see!
Don’t miss it when in Coaticook area!
 

Meet us at the greeting desk, in our log cabin.
125, Morgan Street, Coaticook
(819) 849-9588, poste 247

INDICATIONS

Tel. : (819) 849-9588, poste 247
Fax : (819) 849-3682
Email

Born in Barford, Quebec, on July 1st 1866, just on year before the Confederation, Eugene O. Baldwin was known as an eccentric man who had inherited a considerable fortune before he decided to build his farm.

At the end of its construction, the barn was 280 feet long and was listed in the Guinness book of records as the longest one in the world.

The barn is supported by a steel skeleton, explaining the absence of pillars on the inside. The outside of the building is made of wooden shingles while the roof is made up of aluminum tiles where each one is encrusted with a maple leaf. (An idea of the eccentric M. Baldwin, born the year before confederation).

Of protestant faith, some people say that he chose this particular site to establish his farm since he absolutely wanted it to stand above the St-Edmond'fs church tower. It was then called "Ferme du Plateau".

The actual measurements of the building are : length : 340 feet (104,6 m), width : 36 feet (11.1 m), height : 40 feet (12.3 m)

The initial herd consisted of a 100 pure-bred Jersey cattles and it constituted one of the most important herds in the country. It has been said that the owner, Mr. Baldwin, would frequently take his cattle for a trip to USA just to make sure that they would be bred by well known bulls.

In november of 1940, Laur_at Lavoie, a forestry engineer, purchases it in order to leave it to his two sons.

In 1962, Bernard, one of the Lavoie sons, will become the new owner of the farm. Towards the end of the sixties, his farm was in excellent financial condition and he exported cattles to various countries such as Spain, Russia, Trinidad and Cuba.

After 49 years of farm work and none of his children interested in taking over his work, Mr. Lavoie decides to sell his farm. It was purchased by the town of Coaticook in February 1989. In 1992, the CIARC makes an offer to the town authorities and buys what is now known as the CIARC farm.

Altought the town of Coaticook, who then owned "La ferme du Plateau", had other uses for the fields, the town'fs council finally decided to sell this farm to the CIARC who officially took possession of it in September 1992. Today, we simply call it the CIARC farm.

Also in 1992, the first farm manager was hired by the CIARC. He proceeded to cattle selection, purchased production quotas and, in December 1992, the CIARC herd was led into production.

• A school farm of first importance: Le CRIFA.

• Founded in April 1994, with the Coaticook schoolboard. Le CRIFA was created and was designed to be the main regional organism interested into general education in agriculture.

• The substructures serve as laboratories for sudents and teachers in the Milk production program, bovine production, porcine production, decorative horticulture, horticultural production, landscaping, agricultural mechanic and of the program of management and exploitation of a farm, of the College of Sherbrooke.
  
  

• A particular place of interest by its localization and its barn-cattle shed built at the beginning of the century representing a gem of our inheritance. Moreover, it constitutes an asset to promote the agriculture of the area and to support the interpretation of the dairy production and agrotourism.