Better Pork - October 2016

Better Pork

October 2016

hour.

I check the weather regularly. If

there is something I need for pur-

chasing, whether personal or busi-

ness, I’ll check it out online. Our son

checks for parts online. Stan checks

for livestock and market prices.

When it is time to do RMP (Risk

Management Program) and AgriSta-

bility, then we go to the Internet.

I don’t surf the Internet. We’re

still old-fashioned. We’re not getting

our recipes off the Internet.

STAN – I already know how to cook!

What do you like best about farming?

STAN – Watching a new calf being

born. Watching the corn germinate

and come up out of the ground. Then

you can see the rows in the spring.

MARY ANN – The connection with

nature. I love the flexibility of farm-

ing. I love the fact there is something

new every day.

What do you like least?

STAN – Picking rocks. Because we

have such good land here, we have

very few stones to pick. But we still

have to pick a few. That’s a nasty job.

MARY ANN –The inability to pre-

dict what’s going to happen some-

times, especially around the financial

end of things. The worry about what

the future will bring. We’re pressured

urbanization-wise, we’re pressured

succession-wise. Those things worry me.

What is the single most important advice

you’ve received or lesson you’ve learned?

STAN – Be positive.

MARY ANN – Work hard, do your

best, and to God leave the rest.

What’s your management philosophy?

MARY ANN – For me, I guess it

would be, go to bed at night without

being angry. Leave something better

than it was when you woke up in the

morning.

What’s your top tip about farm succes-

sion?

STAN – Try to plan ahead. But,

when you’re next door to a subdivi-

sion, it is a bit of a challenge.

MARY ANN – It’s absolutely neces-

sary in today’s business world. I

think it is different for every family.

And it’s not an easy topic always to

discuss.

What are your hobbies or recreational

activities?

MARY ANN – For me, I have to say

I’m a full-time volunteer. My hob-

bies come through my commitment

to my volunteer work. I spend the

mornings delivering meals through

Meals on Wheels and I chat with the

seniors.

STAN – I used to golf but I ran out of

time for that.

What does your family think of farming?

STAN – Well, we’ve got one (son)

that’s farming with us so I think

he likes it alright. And the others, I

think they approve of it.

What’s your most important goal?

STAN – Pass on the farming opera-

tion to the next generation. That can

be a challenge because the subdivi-

sions and the government want to

pave over the best farmland in south-

ern Ontario with the 407 Express

Toll Route and new houses every day.

MARY ANN – My most important

goal would be, after I’m gone . . . to

leave a positive impact for the future.

How do you define success?

STAN – Growing a good crop any

year.

MARY ANN – Or raising a good ani-

mal every given time, that’s healthy,

content and comfortable.

Is your farm vehicle messy or neat?

STAN – Well, it may be on the side

of a little bit messy.

MARY ANN – It’s a whole lot messy.

STAN - It’s a farm truck!

What are three items that are always to be

found in your pickup?

STAN – Reading glasses. I have to

have them everywhere I go. Tools,

parts, paperwork when I ship pigs

every Tuesday morning. A log book

for the truck and trailer inspection

before I leave the farm.

What was your most memorable crop/pro-

duction year?

STAN – 1992. It rained all sum-

mer and we couldn’t get the crops

harvested. In mid-December we had

17 inches of snow in a day or so. We

(finished the) harvest the next

January.

Stan and Mary Ann Found