Better Farming - October 2016

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Atally of vehicles in the
Woodstock parking lot at a
Risk Management
event in early September surely
confirms the pickup truck as the
standard vehicle of choice for the
Ontario farm community.
In total, of the 45 vehicles in the
lot, 40 were pickups. (Four of the cars
and SUVs belonged to
staff.)
Better Farming recently caught up
with a few farmers to learn more
about the multiplicity of roles their
trucks play – both in their businesses
and in their lives.
John Borda, a cash crop farmer in
Brant County, reflected on a close call
with one of his past trucks. He said
he had driven his 1988 pickup for
about 20 years when, suddenly, the
carburetor caught fire.
“By the time I got my tools out (of
the truck), I couldn’t get my glasses
off of the dash,” Borda remembered.
He said the firefighters laughed and
said it was “‘about time you got a new
truck.’”
But, Borda said, “that (truck) did
us good.”
Talking about his current truck,
Borda said “you need to have two”
trucks – one of which he classified as
a “run-around truck.”
Having at least two trucks helps
you to handle the range of unexpect-
ed situations that can arise, he
explained. “If something breaks
down, you don’t want to run around
with a tractor” to get parts. And, for
Borda, these trucks have to be built
by Ford. “Nothing but the best,” he
said.
A number of other farmers
described how their pickups are
‘My go-to vehicle’ – farmers as reliant as ever
on their pickups
Better Farming caught up with some Ontario farmers to discuss the role of the pickup truck in
their lives and farming operations.
by ANDREA GAL and TROY BRIDGEMAN
central to the completion of their
farm chores.
Deborah Simmonds, owner of
White Rock Ostrich Farm near
Rockwood, for example, said that the
family pickup is an essential part of
the farm operation.
“We have a 2010 Chevy Silverado,”
said Simmonds. “We use it for
hauling ostriches to the processing
plant, for picking up feed supplies
and moving ostriches from one pen
to another.”
Andrew McCaig, a diesel mechan-
ic who remains active in his sixth-
generation family farm operation in
Puslinch Township, highlighted the
usefulness of the farm pickup.
“You can throw a round bale in the
box (of the truck) and haul it out to
the field,” said McCaig. “You can use
(it) to pull a wagon or, if something
breaks out in the field, you can load
up your tools and go back with the
truck.”
McCaig’s pickup, however, serves
more than just a utilitarian purpose.
It is also a source of pride and
enjoyment.
Influenced by his childhood
memories of his father’s participation
in tractor pulls, McCaig has now
entered the competitions at county
fairs and other events. McCaig’s
activity of choice, however, is truck
pulls, and his prize possession is his
Ram 2500.
McCaig’s father was only too
happy to help him in readying his
truck for the competitions.
“Dad helped me do a lot of it so, it
was fun,” he said. “You have to beef
up everything.”
Bev Shaw, a Grey County cash crop
and beef farmer, summed up the
general consensus on farm pickups.
“My truck pulls the camper trailer,
the wagon and it does all of the farm
stuff,” said Shaw.
“The truck is my go-to vehicle.” BF
Andrew McCaig competes as often as he can in truck pulls at county
fairs and other events organized by the Ontario Truck and Tractor Pulling
Association.
Better Farming October 2016 Farm News First > 27
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