Tours

Interested in joining a future tour?
If you are interested in joining us on a future international experience, please reach out to WestGen’s Marketing Manager, Krista Christiuk, at kchristiuk@westgen.com for more details.

From February 19 to March 6, 2026, a group of 40 producers from across Western Canada travelled to Japan for an unforgettable experience that blended agriculture, culture, and connection. 

The itinerary offered a unique balance of farm visits and cultural experiences. Highlights included touring progressive operations like Takekuma Breeding Farm, as well as Tokachi-Kato Farm in Obihiro, Hokkaido. These farm visits provided valuable insight into Japan’s focus on quality, innovation, and maximizing returns through production and processing.

Beyond agriculture, the group immersed themselves in Japan’s rich culture. Experiences such as a traditional kimono and matcha tea ceremony, a sumo wrestling event, and visits to iconic landmarks like Himeji Castle, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and Shibuya Crossing allowed participants to see Japan from many different perspectives. Daily stops at local convenience stores quickly became a group favourite, adding a fun and relatable element to the journey.

The trip concluded with a memorable finale dinner aboard a traditional yakatabune boat in Tokyo, bringing the group together one last time to celebrate the experience.

The 2024 WestGen International Trip to South Africa amazed 45 travelers departing on January 20th from Vancouver and Calgary. We explored Eastern Cape’s farmland, visiting Broadlands Holsteins and Puttergill Farm. The tour continued to Tsitsikamma, where we learned about innovative farming practices at Nigel Lok Farm. Lancewood Dairy showcased Jersey cow breeding and pasture optimization in George. Fair Cape Dairy in Durbanville emphasized sustainability and breeding strategies. Further experiences included wine tasting at Fairview and encountering African penguins at Boulder Beach. We journeyed to Kruger National Park for a thrilling game drive and marveled at Blyde Canyon’s beauty. Shiduli Private Game Reserve offered unforgettable safari experiences. Our adventure ended with fond farewells in Johannesburg, leaving us with cherished memories and anticipation for future tours.

January 2019, WestGen visited the United Kingdom with a tour of 40 guests. Who enjoyed visiting:

• Enginburgh Castle Tour
• Farm tours in Southern Scotland
• Hadrians Wall
• Carlisle Castle
• Farm Tours in Lake District and North Wales
• Chester Cathedral
• JCB Factory Tour and Marsten Brewery Tour
• Warwick Castle & Shakespeare play
• London Bridge & Trafalger Square
• SWISS EXPO

What hot spot is on your bucket list?

For many, the land down under is a destination they’ve always wanted to visit, though it can be a big trip to plan on your own. So when Jim Conroy & Peter Dickson of Semex Australia extended us another invitation to bring a group of Canadian dairy producers to their vast country they didn’t have to twist our arm very hard.

WestGen travelled to Australia January 9-27 2017 and visited Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and the Gold Coast, with time to explore the Great Ocean Road, Great Barrier Reef and to relax in Surfer’s Paradise included. We’ll also participated in a few days of dairy farm tours in Victoria and took in a couple days at the largest dairy show in the Southern Hemisphere – International Dairy Week!

Brazil 2016

January 2016, WestGen visited Brazil with a tour of 50 guests. Who enjoyed visiting:

• Rio De Janeiro
• Cenatte IVF & Surrounding Girolando & Gir Farms
• Castrolanda Colony & Surrounding Progressive Holstein Dairies
• Jet Boat tour at Iguazu Falls
• Brazilian Churrascaria BBQ
• Relaxed on the beaches of Rio!