History

Joseph Tamboline immigrated from Italy and purchased the original family farm in 1885. Joseph married Myra EMMA Falkner in 1891 and they farmed mainly grain and hay, using heavy work horses instead of tractors. The farm was passed down through the family and in 1954, Robert and Betty (Tamboline) Husband purchased the land from Betty’s Grandparents. Robert and Betty had an award winning dairy cattle herd and also grew grain, hay, potatoes, peas, sugar beet, beans and corn. On December 6, 1994, Robert and Betty were awarded the BC Century Farm and Ranch Award by the Minister of Agriculture for BC for the continuous operation of Emma Lea Farms for 100 years.

In 1975, the fourth generation started managing the family farm and added new crops such as strawberries, rutabaga, and cabbage to the farm. Today, Kevin and Joanne, as well as the fifth generation of family grow strawberries, raspberries, tayberries, boysenberries, blackberries, blueberries, beans, peas, rutabaga, beets and cabbage.

We also have an SPCA Certified beef cattle herd, free range laying chickens, three rescue miniature donkeys, a rescue mule, two retired Quarter horses and many dogs!

We hope our farm will continue with this wonderful growth!