Oxford and Ontario's Southwest stood out at the Ontario Tourism Summit

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario's annual Tourism Summit was October 25-26th at the Deerhurst Resort. Oxford County and Ontario's Southwest tourism products were recognized including: 9 finalists and 10 recipients. Congratulations to everyone! Oxford County is honoured to work with you all. See details about Cheryls Haskett's multiple awards and a thank you note from Meredith about her Tourism Champion of the year recognition.

Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life, a tourism success story during COVID-19

Cheryl Haskett has completed so much in a short time frame with her Oxford County tourism business Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life.  Since opening in 2021, she has received the:

• Oxford Tourism Award, Best New Tourism Product
• Ontario's Southwest Award, 2021 Innovator of the Year
• Ontario's Southwest Signature Experience Certification
• Community Futures Award, 2021 Oxford Entrepreneur of the Year

She is finishing 2022 strong, recently attending the Ontario Tourism Summit receiving 8 nominations at the Ontario Tourism Resiliency Awards. The Ontario Tourism Resiliency Awards is a provincial award designed to reflect resiliency through innovation, collaboration and partnership.   Cheryl Haskett was the recipient of 3 awards including:  

• Sustainability award winner for the attractions subcategory.
• Innovation award winner for the attractions subcategory.
• Collaboration award winner for the independent business subcategory.

Cheryl is also a finalist for the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business award being announced Nov 2. Good luck Cheryl!

Creating a tourism attraction during COVID-19, Cheryl's story

If you are not familiar with Cheryl's story, Cheryl and her husband Greg own a goat milk farm in Bright Ontario. She wanted to make a product using their farm's goat milk. In 2019 they launched Udderly Ridiculous, a gourmet goat milk ice cream brand. After it's first year Udderly Ridiculous won three awards:

• Retail Council of Canada 27th Canadian Grand Prix: New Product- Dessert
• The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Judges' Choice 2019 Staff Pick 2019
• The Innovation Guelph Expo, 2019 Most Engaging (and again in 2021)

With COVID, the ability to grow and market the brand stalled. She knew she had to pivot and looked to take the plunge into tourism, opening up her goat milk farm to welcome visitors. Let's take a pause to recognize that Cheryl saw potential in tourism during a pandemic (due to the collaborative, dynamic tourism scene in Oxford County). She got to work, completing Ontario's Southwest Unlocked and Inspired training to help develop a new, unique and transformative visitor experience. She also successfully applied to the Tourism Innovation Lab Spark program, hosted by Tourism Oxford and Community Futures Oxford, receiving a $3000 grant to help develop her tourism idea. She also joined Oxford Fresh and the Oxford County Cheese Trail. In 2021, Cheryl opened her tourism attraction, Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life and was quickly noticed for her unique tourism products including Goat Recess, Alpaca Walks, Goat Yoga, Alpaca Picnics, a Taste of Farm Life and its retail shop highlighting over 70 Ontario made brands.

Cheryl has accomplished all of this through determination, collaboration, and looking for innovative ways to grow. Please join us in congratulating Cheryl on her three Ontario Tourism Resiliency Awards! They are well deserved.