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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-03-16, Page 48Page 3? -Farm Progress '94 Farm lifestyle requires sacrifice by Mike Robinson "It's a lifestyle you have to be willing to sacrifice for," says JoAnne Todd. JoAn a and her . husband Hugh raise Southdown and Hampshire sheep in West Wawanosh township near the community of St., Helen's. "We are an old-fashioned farm family," except that JoAnne holds two part-time jobs off the farm to supplement the farm income so that Hugh can remain on the farm to look after the farm. The -Todds raise Southdown and Hampshire sheep on their farm in West Wawanosh Township in Huron County. "The unfortunate reality of farm life in the '80s and '90s is that it is not economically viable - not and live a reasonable lifestyle," says JoAnne. However she believes their farm has done well in comparison to some area farms. One of the main reasons she works off the farm is to maintain the farm and family cohesiveness and a lifestyle "where everyone is needed." Hugh and JoAnne also felt it was a good place to raise a family and so opted to give their children this experience and 'way of life. The farm has a bit of everything; chickens, eggs, horses and sheep. JoAnne said that the entire family is actively involved in the farm. Their children, Keith and Jenean, were involved in the business from an early age. Because the farm is their life, talking about the history of • their involvement in breeding sheep is like a walk down memory Zane. The family keeps an extensive scrap- book of pictures and published articles about their accomplishments - including a photo of Hugh with Princess Anne. In one room, the "rogues gallery", are photos and trophies spanning decades - from photos of Hugh's grandfather showing cattle in the 1920s to recent photos of family wins at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. JoAnne says that in the family scrapbook is a picture of a Keith with a Southdown ram when their son was only four -years -old. He couldn't even reach both ends of the sheep he was trying to put into place. Keith is now in the midst of deciding whether to attend Ridgetown or Guelph to take a farm management program this fall. And, in continuation of the tradition of good showmanship and the farming tradition, both Keith and Jenean have won numerous awards showing sheep in local fairs and at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Hugh said "everything around here around is around sheep." Even their holidays are centered around sheep. A trip to Springfield in 1993 was 'more or less' to buy a ram, Hugh said. ThiF year, Hugh and JoAnne plan to go to ' the All Canadian Sheep Classic in Olds, Alberta with plans to enter their sheep in the com- petition. They expect a fair amount of competition from breeders in British Columbia. Neither of them have been further west than Manitoulin Island. In addition to their community' involvement, the Todds also work toward the improvement of the breed. Hugh Todd currently serves as vice -chair of the Royal's sheep committee while JoAnne serves as the immediate past president. When she became president five years ago, there were 20 par- ticipants in the junior program - last year there were 120. "Every year it gets larger and larger." The Todds were also instrumental in the formation of the Ontario Southdown Club - JoAnne was the charter secretary. For a time, the Southdown breed in Canada was considered an en- dangered breed, but is now coming back. "We have worked hard for the breed, so the breed 'can work for us," said JoAnne. So far it has been a busy year for the Todds. In the mid-January cold snap, between Jan, 16 and 23, 65 lambs were born. Hugh estimated he had about three hours sleep for that week. JoAnne added that "like babies, they like to come in the middle of the night." "Our life revolves around sheep because they are the basis of this farm," she said. This Southdown ewe,.on the farm of Hugh and JoAnne Todd, in West Wawanosh Township, gives one of her week-old twin lambs a little kiss. (Mike Robinson photo) superiorfeedvalue. Here's DK122 a lpyre how DK Other leading ADIi • inaifaffa,o 122 alfalfa compared With varieties: :ar'et, r'r,•.Iem i Aud l'vteriPnt F,trN Neutral Detergent Ib,e•'.�INDFt Relative IeedValue iRFVr RFV Avq t2cWsl Crown 11 MF__ 3 22 6 24,,4, 2 22 . 36 5 35 2 48.3 116. 123 892_0 Legend ' 50.2 114 120 ' 37.8 50.8 109 116 G-2833 22.3 36.9 50.1 112 117 DK122 25.5 34.5 47.6 121 120 5364 21.2 38.7 50.4 108 111 Average 23 36.6' • ' 49.6 113 118 • OMAF Attalla Var ety Comparisons at Stralhmere Lodge 3rd cut 2nd year Stand ' YIELD 1NDEX OF 109 (2nd Year - 1993 Ontario Forage Trial) Talk to me today about DK122 and • DEK--\1113'S other .Alfalfa varieties. DEKALB DAYS% CASIL March21 to 25, 1994 DISCOUNT Call or See Your Dealer Today! JAMES ARMSTRONG ROBERT LEEDER 565-5361 389-5271 Hayfield Port Elgin DONALD BEAN JOHN NESBIT ' 524-436; . 523-9595 . . Ciodcrich Blyth ' •FRED BROWN ;t, 25��.t� ANDY OEHRI�i(� . 11ano�.k.,l. X581-21.49 Chepstow' (.;,-1.10. DOUGLAS -'7-68() BARRY RIBEY 1 Clifford 353-5375' - KEN GEMMEL!.. Paisley k , 522-1689 RONI TERPSTRA . Kipped 887-6826 (;ERARD (;RUBB Brussels ,;' 367-2470, .1 JACK THO'MSON Walkerton 363-2401' AL HEDLEY C'hcslcy. ;196-8196' Kincardine Ii:1LL THORNTON WAYNE KELLER 335-61 l.0 '236-4016- . t . , • G9-rric Zurich I WALKERTON FARM RON KESTNER SUPPLY • 367-2168 881-1971 • : Mildmay.. ' Walkerton i dr!; ' 'A'''?iii 3, f Farm lifestyle requires sacrifice by Mike Robinson "It's a lifestyle you have to be willing to sacrifice for," says JoAnne Todd. JoAn a and her . husband Hugh raise Southdown and Hampshire sheep in West Wawanosh township near the community of St., Helen's. "We are an old-fashioned farm family," except that JoAnne holds two part-time jobs off the farm to supplement the farm income so that Hugh can remain on the farm to look after the farm. The -Todds raise Southdown and Hampshire sheep on their farm in West Wawanosh Township in Huron County. "The unfortunate reality of farm life in the '80s and '90s is that it is not economically viable - not and live a reasonable lifestyle," says JoAnne. However she believes their farm has done well in comparison to some area farms. One of the main reasons she works off the farm is to maintain the farm and family cohesiveness and a lifestyle "where everyone is needed." Hugh and JoAnne also felt it was a good place to raise a family and so opted to give their children this experience and 'way of life. The farm has a bit of everything; chickens, eggs, horses and sheep. JoAnne said that the entire family is actively involved in the farm. Their children, Keith and Jenean, were involved in the business from an early age. Because the farm is their life, talking about the history of • their involvement in breeding sheep is like a walk down memory Zane. The family keeps an extensive scrap- book of pictures and published articles about their accomplishments - including a photo of Hugh with Princess Anne. In one room, the "rogues gallery", are photos and trophies spanning decades - from photos of Hugh's grandfather showing cattle in the 1920s to recent photos of family wins at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. JoAnne says that in the family scrapbook is a picture of a Keith with a Southdown ram when their son was only four -years -old. He couldn't even reach both ends of the sheep he was trying to put into place. Keith is now in the midst of deciding whether to attend Ridgetown or Guelph to take a farm management program this fall. And, in continuation of the tradition of good showmanship and the farming tradition, both Keith and Jenean have won numerous awards showing sheep in local fairs and at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Hugh said "everything around here around is around sheep." Even their holidays are centered around sheep. A trip to Springfield in 1993 was 'more or less' to buy a ram, Hugh said. ThiF year, Hugh and JoAnne plan to go to ' the All Canadian Sheep Classic in Olds, Alberta with plans to enter their sheep in the com- petition. They expect a fair amount of competition from breeders in British Columbia. Neither of them have been further west than Manitoulin Island. In addition to their community' involvement, the Todds also work toward the improvement of the breed. Hugh Todd currently serves as vice -chair of the Royal's sheep committee while JoAnne serves as the immediate past president. When she became president five years ago, there were 20 par- ticipants in the junior program - last year there were 120. "Every year it gets larger and larger." The Todds were also instrumental in the formation of the Ontario Southdown Club - JoAnne was the charter secretary. For a time, the Southdown breed in Canada was considered an en- dangered breed, but is now coming back. "We have worked hard for the breed, so the breed 'can work for us," said JoAnne. So far it has been a busy year for the Todds. In the mid-January cold snap, between Jan, 16 and 23, 65 lambs were born. Hugh estimated he had about three hours sleep for that week. JoAnne added that "like babies, they like to come in the middle of the night." "Our life revolves around sheep because they are the basis of this farm," she said. This Southdown ewe,.on the farm of Hugh and JoAnne Todd, in West Wawanosh Township, gives one of her week-old twin lambs a little kiss. (Mike Robinson photo)