The history of sheep farming in Canada has one thread running through a small farm on Renfrew’s Garden of Eden Road.
Shanna Armstrong of Pinnacle Haven Farm is a third generation producer of lamb meat raising the same lineage of Pulled Dorset sheep her grandfather imported all the way back in the 1960’s, the longest running line of the breed in Canada.
She and husband Tyler both grew up with a love of farming and agriculture, and now share that love with their young children as they spend time doing chores on the farm every morning and evening.
While lamb is popular elsewhere in the world, it’s still a niche product closer to home. However, Shanna says there is amazing potential for raising the animal both nationally and in the Ottawa Valley due to their ability to thrive on fields that would be otherwise difficult for crop farming or other livestock.
Anywhere from 200 to 250 ewes are raised and sold from Pinnacle Haven Farm each season, either as meat through direct-to-customer sales or auctions, as well as breeding livestock for other farmers.