Volume 121, Number 49
Wednesday, December 5, 2001

The old saying "You can take the boy out of the farm but you can't take the farm out of the boy," just might fit Eric Robinson of Oxenden ... almost. With a family background in farming Eric admits "I didn't like farming very much!" Still, a new venture finds himself and his wife Dale, the owners of a new elk farm.

Already the owners of a successful, international company, SPI, which has its headquarters in Shallow Lake, Eric and his wife Dale were looking for something that would give them a break from the busy hustle.  

"We were looking for something we could manage, found interesting and enjoyable, and that would give us an opportunity to produce a profit at some point."

In May of this year, the first elk arrived on their Regal Point Elk Farm. "We just picked a type of farming that takes the least amount of work," Eric says with a smile.

The 100 acre farm, just south-east of Oxenden, now boasts 84 Elk, a century old barn that looks brand new, handling and equipment facility, an office and 4 miles of fence. "And it takes me 30 minutes each day to feed the animals."

However, Eric and Dale worked hard on the farm all summer to change the look of the place and in September hosted the Ontario Elk Breeders Association meeting. "Everything went very well and it was brought to our attention that the North East Regional Elk Angler Competition was slated to be held in Ontario." This prestigious event is held every three years and includes the geographical areas from Ohio through the North-East United States to the Atlantic, and from Michigan and Ontario, through to the Atlantic. Regal Point Elk Farm, with the support of the Ontario Elk Breeders Association and a committee made of the Schmidts from Big Creek Elk, the Bumsteads from Beautiful Stoney Keppel, and Eric and Dale, won the right to be the host farm and the competition will be held there July 26-28th next year.

Eric said the goal for hosting the competition was mainly to to stimulate more activity and generate more business for the Ontario Elk Breeders. It is estimated that 200 people will bring antlers to be judged in 18 different classes.

While selling breeding stock is Robinson's main goal for revenue, velvet antlers are much sought after as a medicinal product. The antlers are painlessly harvested from the males every year. They are frozen, dried and made into a powder. The powder is used in treatments of arthritis, osteoporosis and for many other muscle, joint and bone ailments.

Robinson said that velvet antler powder has been a valued health product in Asia for over 2,000 years and that an average Korean consumes it "like we consume Vitamin E".

Thus it is important in the Elk industry to breed animals that grow massive racks and the Ontario-bred elk are known for their large antlers.

Elizabeth and Raymond Bumstead of Beautiful Stoney Keppel Elk Farm have one of the oldest farms in Ontario. They recently won the North American four-year-old hard antler championship. Under the SCI scoring system for antlers, the winning set scored 470 inches, 50 inches more than the second place set.

The antler competition will give Ontario elk industry the chance to show its product. "It will be to our (The Ontario Elk Breeders Association) benefit," said Eric who plans to invite American and Western Canada buyers to see the livestock, as well as velvet buyers and meat processors. "I am really pleased about it."

Robinson said his wife Dale has been a driving force in establishing the farm and is currently secretary treasurer of the Ontario Elk Producers Association.

"We really enjoy the industry," said Eric.