Michel Duclos, originally from the Montreal region, initially pursued a career in education. However, in 1999, he made the decision to return to the land, drawn by the affordable land prices in the Témiscamingue region. With a passion for cattle farming, he acquired the farm previously owned by André Gilbert and Colette Gingras in 2002. The property had been in the Gingras family for three generations and originally operated as a dairy farm. However, due to a lack of successors, the dairy production was abandoned in 1991, and the couple decided to sell the farm after a fire destroyed Mr. Gilbert’s garage and tractor in 1995. It was sold a few years later.

Today, the double barns on the property serve multiple purposes. One section of the barns houses the cows during extremely hot summer days or exceptionally cold winter conditions. The other part of the barns is used for storing machinery. The first barn, located on the east side, was built in the 1920s, while the subsequent barn was constructed in the 1940s. In 1968, a 30-foot extension was added to prolong the dairy barn.

Since acquiring the farm, Mr. Duclos has focused on regular maintenance rather than undertaking major renovations on the existing facilities.

*These heritage elements are privately owned; please admire them from public roads and paths.