Note: The information between brackets describes the visual and audio content of the video that is not dialogue or narration.
[On-screen text: Desjardins Business]
[INVESTING TODAY IN THE FARMERS OF TOMORROW]
[On-screen text: Alain Gagnon, Ag., MBA, Vice-President, Agricultural and Agri-food Markets, Desjardins Business]
[Close-up of Alain Gagnon. In the background, a field. Then, successive scenes featuring cows in a modern stable, eggs on a conveyor belt and cattle in a field.]
Alain Gagnon: Desjardins is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada. Desjardins currently supports more than 14,000 agricultural and agri-food businesses in Quebec—one out of every two in the province.
[On-screen text: Mickaël Roy, Owner, Ferme Micar (9226-8804 Quebec Inc.)]
[Close-up of Mickaël Roy]
Mickaël Roy: The production we do here at Ferme Micar is called backgrounding. What that means is we birth calves.
[Successive scenes featuring Mickaël Roy walking in a field and cows]
Mickaël Roy: We raise them until they're ready to be weaned, and at 650 pounds, they're ready to be moved to a feed lot.
[Musical transition]
[On-screen text: Isabelle Bastien-Barette, Farmer, Nutritionist and Manager, Bœuf Lanaudière (2014) Inc.]
[Close-up of Isabelle Bastien-Barette. In the background, a cattle lot.]
Isabelle Bastien-Barette: In 2013 we already had 2 businesses: Ferme Domaine du Parc Inc., which was field crops in Ste-Élizabeth, and we also had Ferme JRDL (2014) Inc., which was a cattle feedlot.
[Successive scenes featuring Isabelle Bastien-Barette and a cattle lot]
Isabelle Bastien-Barette: Then we had an opportunity to rent another cattle lot, it was actually a friend of my husband's parents who came to us with the idea.
[Close-up of Isabelle Bastien-Barette]
Isabelle Bastien-Barette: So we sat down with the 4 managers and decided to bring everything together. That's when Bœuf Lanaudière (2014) Inc. was born.
[Musical transition]
[Scene featuring Christian Boucher cleaning the floor of his stable]
[On-screen text: Christian Boucher, Partner, Ferme Rejak (9230-1670 Quebec Inc.)]
[Close-up of Christian Boucher in front of a house, then, successive scenes featuring Christian Boucher working in his stable]
[Back to close-up of Christian Boucher]
Christian Boucher: My grandfather bought the company in the early 40s. It was a family-run subsistence farm. Then my father bought it from him in the mid-80s, when it was primarily a dairy and swine farm. He scaled back raising swine over the years to
focus on dairy production. I bought in 2 or 3 years ago now, and I've been a 50% owner since then.
[Close-up of Alain Gagnon]
Alain Gagnon: Desjardins wants to develop a culture of success and business continuity, just like agricultural entrepreneurs. So supporting the next generation of farmers is a big part of our focus.
[Close-up of Mickaël Roy. In the background, a field.]
Mickaël Roy: The transfer basically started when none of the 4 kids on Ferme Jean-Hugues Caron were interested in taking over the business.
[Successive scenes featuring cows in a field and a tractor, driven by Mickaël Roy, transporting a haystack]
Mickaël Roy: I was an ideal candidate. I decided to put together a business plan. I got along well with the owner, so everything went as it should.
[Scene featuring Mickaël Roy with his spouse and their young daughter. He welcomes his account manager to his home. They talk and look over documents while sitting at a table.]
[On-screen text: Manon Bélanger, Account Manager, Desjardins Business]
Mickaël Roy: I do business with Desjardins for the simple reason that they're close to us. And they're part of the community. We have a good relationship with the account manager and she understands us. So because she understands what we do,
she's able to tell us what is and what isn't a good idea.
[Close-up of Mickaël Roy]
[Musical transition]
[Scene featuring Isabelle de Bastien-Barette walking along the fence of a covered cattle lot, then, a close-up]
Isabelle Bastien-Barette: How I became involved in the farm . . . well, when we sat down with the 4 managers to decide whether we wanted to go ahead and combine everything, my in-laws suggested I join the new company and gave me an opportunity to be
part of the business; becoming a part owner in the company and getting involved in the operations.
[Successive scenes featuring Isabelle Bastien-Barette talking to an employee who is driving a truck and in the cattle lot with her account manager]
[On-screen text: Mélanie Masse, Account Manager, Desjardins Business]
Isabelle Bastien-Barette: I loved the idea and was happy they trusted me, even though I didn't have any farm training, but I think they saw a manager in me.
[Scene featuring Isabelle Bastien-Barette talking to her account manager at a table]
Isabelle Bastien-Barette: Our business relationship with Desjardins goes back a long way. They're very competitive in the sector and we have very good relationships with their personnel. We like that we're with Desjardins!
[Close-up of Isabelle Bastien-Barette]
[Close-up of Christian Boucher. In the background, his home.]
Christian Boucher: I think that to take over an agricultural business, you need good training, a lot of leadership, communication, and a strong support system from your family, your wife, your friends.
[Scene featuring Christian Boucher moving bales of hay with an employee. Back to the close-up of Christian Boucher. In the background, his home.]
Christian Boucher: And it takes a lot of dedication and a lot of work to succeed. My account manager was there to support me as I developed the business during the transfer. He was there at every step to make sure the transfer went smoothly. He was
there as I developed and expanded the cow shed. And he helped us put together the financing and focus on the right priorities.
[Scene featuring Christian Boucher talking to his account manager]
Christian Boucher: One of the main reasons I do business with Desjardins is the relationship I have with my account manager. He always has time, is always willing to listen, and is always there to help us achieve our goals to grow our business.
[Close-up of Christian Boucher. In the background, his home.]
Christian Boucher: Another reason to do business with Desjardins is the way they provide a seamless transition when there's change. My account manager recently retired after years with Desjardins. The new account manager that came on board with us
already has a great handle on my file and is providing continuity for the relationship.
[On-screen text: Olivier Blais, Account Manager, Desjardins Business. Jacques Lirette, Account Manager, Desjardins Business.]
[Scene featuring Christian Boucher talking to Olivier Blais and Jacques Lirette]
[Close-up of Alain Gagnon. In the background, a field.]
Alain Gagnon: Desjardins is the leader in agricultural financing in Quebec.
[Successive scenes featuring Isabelle Bastien-Barette showing her cattle lot to her account manager, Mickaël Roy shaking hands with his account manager and Christian Boucher on his farm with 2 account managers]
Alain Gagnon: Desjardins is the first-choice lender in the agri-food industry and a preferred partner for entrepreneurs throughout the sector.
[Music]
[On-screen text: Desjardins Business]
[Cooperating in building the future]
[www.desjardins.com/transfertagricole]
