Image

Schoonjans named Outstanding Farmer by Soil and Crop Association

February 3, 2022

The man behind a sunflower patch in Plympton-Wyoming which raised awareness about childhood cancer and money for families seeking treatment has been named the Outstanding Farmer by the the Lambton Soil and Crop Improvement Association.

Brian Schoonjans has been given the 2020 award.

Schoonjans was born and raised in Plympton-Wyoming on a farrow to finish pig farm and now owns his own 150 farm where he grows corn, soybeans and wheat as well as the occasional oats for his goats or for cover crop.

But it was Schoonjans patch of sunflowers that has perhaps garnered the most attention. Miracle Max’s Minions was a tribute to Max Rombouts who died of cancer at a young age. Thousands of people have visited the patch and close to $140,000 was raised for ChildCan which provides funding for pediatric cancer and help for families who are in the middle of a cancer battle.

The news release announcing the honour says Schoonjans has become “a very strong farmer’s voice within Lambton County and beyond.”

Share This

Image
Front Page

Body of kayaker over due near Grand Bend found

September 6, 2026

The Independent The body of a kayaker who was missing on Lake Huron has been found. Saturday, Huron OPP were told of an overdue kayaker in the Grand Bend area of the lake. A search was launched with OPP boats, search and rescue helicopters, PointSar Coast Guard Auxilary and private citizens looking for the man in a blue kayak with

Read More

Image
Front Page

Kayaker missing near Grand Bend

September 5, 2026

The Independent The search continues tonight for a lost boater. Saturday, OPP received a report of an overdue boater near Grand Bend. By 7:40 pm that evening, police said search crews were looking for a man who was last seen in a solid blue kayak. Police say he was wearing a yellow life jacket. OPP are actively searching for the

Read More

Image
Front Page

Over $8 million in Illegal tobacco, nicotine pouches seized at Bluewater Bridge

September 4, 2026

The Independent Over $13.8 million of illegal tobacco products have been seized at southern Ontario border crossings – including the Bluewater Bridge – in August. Canada Border Services Agency officers say the seizures were “significant quantities in commercial shipments” from the US. Officials say the cash generated from the illegal tobacco trade is often used to support and expand other

Read More

Image
Front Page

Going down: Petrolia’s water intake pipe placed next week at Bright’s Grove plant

September 4, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent It is a moment Amanda Pepping – and a lot of people at Town Hall in Petrolia – have been waiting for. Pepping is a senior project manager at CIMA+ in charge of the $16 million replacement of the water intake at Petrolia’s historic – and still active – water treatment plant in Bright’s Grove. The moment

Read More