The 13th Annual Agristars Gala, which was presented by Hydro-Québec, took place at the Théâtre Manuvie at Quartier DIX30 in Brossard on April 14. This year’s theme was “Songs and Harvests.” More than 300 people were in attendance.
The goal of this gala is to come together and honour and celebrate the hard work of producers in the Montérégie. This year, approximately 20 awards were presented and $10,000 was donated to support farm workers in the Montérégie region.
Jérémie Letellier, the president of the Montérégie UPA Federation, says, “The Agristars Gala is a time to pause and fully recognize those who bring our region to life. Being a farmer isn’t just a job – it’s a daily commitment. We celebrated much more than just producers – we honoured those who feed Quebec and keep the heart of our regions beating.”
2026 winners
The UPA Union of the Maskoutaine Valley won The Bon Coup Award for their television spots, L’Appel de la Terre. There were two Coup de Cœur prizes awarded this year: one to the UPA Syndicate of Haute-Yamaska for its agricultural scholarships, Les Pousses d’Or, and one to the UPA Syndicate of Vaudreuil-Soulanges for its advocacy in protecting agricultural land. Vignoble de la Bauge won the Agri-Environmental award; it is the first vineyard in Canada to obtain Regenerative Organic Alliance certification.
The Rising Star Award went to Annie Vinet from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. Vinet grew up on a farm that was dedicated to beekeeping and field crops, before studying general agronomy at Laval University. Currently, she works with Groupe PleineTerre as an agronomist and advisor within an agri-environmental advisory club.
Lise Tremblay of Saint-Liboire and Kim Demers of Très-Saint-Sacrement won the Woman Farmer of the Year in Montérégie-Est and Montérégie-Ouest respectively. The 2026 Entrepreneurial Success Award was presented to Cabri Génétique International Inc. of Saint-Damase.
The most prestigious award of the night is the Hommage Coup de Chapeau Award, which went to Claude Lapointe, the co-owner of Ferme Delapointe Inc. in Upton. He was selected because of his long-term commitment to the agricultural community, including serving on the boards of directors of the Éleveurs de Bovins du Québec and his local union, in addition to serving on the executive committee of the Fédération de l’UPA de la Montérégie. Though his work has led to many advancements, he has worked particularly hard in advocating for training and mental health in the agricultural sector. (CF)