HomeMy WebLinkAboutFarming '89, 1989-03-22, Page 3FARMING ‘89, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1989. A3
Jim and Siebolt Siertsema [left in doorway] and an unidentified workman await the new bulk
milk tank being installed in the new bam. Only three months after their tragic fire the bam is
nearing completion. While most of the herd was saved by courageous neighbours,
production has suffered.
M I’
E d- *
Up from the ashes
Family’s tragic fire loss has been turned
I
into
BY LISA BOONSTOPPEL
Twenty years of a couple’s hard
work and the future of their hopeful
young farmer son went up in smoke
last December when Siebolt Siert-
sema’s barn burnt to the ground.
But out the ashes of dashed
dreams, the Siertsema’s optimism
has returned with the construction
of a larger, modern dairy barn.
The attractive $250,000 esta
blishment can be seen on County
Road 25 just outside of Auburn.
Those who drive by and see the
rebuilt structure wouldn’t suspect
the crisis the Siertsema’s faced on
December 4 when they first noticed
the flames licking at the barn.
“We were just in a daze,’’
remembers Annie Siertsema the
night of the fire, “you just can’t
think.” The fire, which Mr. Siert
sema says was caused by an
electrical fault, burned the bam,
destroyed all the milking equip
ment and killed 27 head of cattle.
Most of the 100 head of cattle were
saved as helpful neighbours and
friends braved the searing flames
to save the frantic animals.
The surviving cattle were housed
in Gary Hewitt’s barn six km. west
from Siertsema’s. The heifers were
taken care of by Don Greidanus for
a month but were later moved to
Charnney’s barn across from Siert
sema’s.
“We’re so fortunate we had
somewhere to put the cattle,” Mrs.
Siertsema said, “because we still
have some income from the cows.”
The Siertsema’s rented Hewitt’s
Continued on page A4
victory in a showpiece dairy born
December 4, 1988 saw a different scene in the Siertsema’s yard as Blyth Neighbours risked their lives to save most of the milking herd,
firemen battled the fire that destroyed the newly-renovated barn.