Better Farming - December 2016

52 / 72

52 Dig Deeper: Better Farming December 2016
HOWIT WORKS
graduation, or going away to work at
some other job, I always recommend-
ed the latter option for at least a two-
or three-year period.
Why? Because I still believe that it
is important to work for non-family,
at least temporarily, before setting
long-term career goals.
Conclusions
Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed my
15 years at college/university and
working at other agricultural endeav-
ors, including Ontario Hydro, before
returning to my wife’s family farm.
When we returned to the farm, I
came on my terms: we bought the
farm and, therefore, retained our
independence – and the potential
gain from inflation. This timing
worked out very well, as we arrived
with some cash in the bank to
complete home renovations and buy
(primarily used) farm machinery.
Unfortunately, the Ontario govern-
ment has closed down many of the
two-year agricultural diploma
programs in the province. Only the
Ridgetown and Alfred Colleges
remain – both under the University of
Guelph. These shorter term, two-year
agricultural programs gave many
young farm people the opportunity to
expand their horizons and meet new
friends with shared aspirations.
Probably 50 per cent of the
two-year diploma students I taught
left the farm and did not return. They
are, however, gainfully employed,
mostly in agriculturally-oriented
businesses. BF
Ralph Winfield is a retired professional
engineer, farmer and technical writer.
Today’s large grain buggies must have tracks or walking beam axles
with large tires to minimize soil compaction which is especially
important as we move to minimum or no-till practices.