The Rural Voice, 2002-03, Page 19Darlene's. Darlene's brothers from
the Londesboro area, for instance,
spend a lot of time helping during
syrup season.
"I don't think you can go out and
hire all the help right off," Pullen
says.
Hosting tours requires a lot of
staff to supervise all the activities.
When the maple syrup weekends
start in March, for instance.
McCully's Hill will have two or three
people working in the farm market, a
couple more young women with the
livestock in the barn (where visitors
ooh and ah about the newborn lambs
and baby pigs), as well as Darlene's
brothers and another helper working
in the evaporator building. David
tries to circulate and meet people and
takes some of the tours through the
bush.
"We spend a lot of time making
sure people are having a good time,"
Pullen says.
As well, pancake breakfasts are
run by local groups with the
proceeds going to their
charities. The market has been
remodeled to add a dining area in an
enclosed wrap-around porch that
seats 100 people at a time, with
people coming and going over four -
hours for brunch on Saturdays and
Sundays.
It means that several hundred
people will visit McCully's Hill
Farm each weekend from March 2 to
April 14 during the maple syrup
season. In addition already two or
three bus tours have booked in for the
spring tours.
All this began in a very small way
for David 25 years ago on his parents
farm outside of Clinton. His parents,
well-known Huron Ag Rep Don
Pullen and leading sheep breeder
Florence, got l0 -year-old David and
younger brother Michael, tapping the
trees around their yard and boiling
maple syrup on a flat -pan evaporator
propped up on stones over a fire. As
the business grew, they later bought a
small evaporator.
As teenagers the brothers also
expanded into growing sweet corn,
selling the corn and syrup from a
roadside stand at the gate on Hwy. 8.
In 1990, after David graduated
from the University of Guelph he
took over the farm of his maternal
grandfather, Hall of Fame farmer
Annual
Came and Cele64ate 35 yeas
wit& aa at tiie annual
BELMORE MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL
Thursday, April 11, 2002 9:30 - 4:90
(on Thursday we carer to Seniors V ,
but ALL are Welcome)
Saturday, April 13, 2002 10:00 - 7:00
Belmore Community Centre
No admission charges
All the MAPLE SYRUP
and PANCAKES you can eat.
Homemade sausage. applesauce and a
beverage are included with your meal.
'All are served with a SMILE and Country Hospitality •
�t1 MEAL PRICE
.i Adults - $7 00
Children (6 - 11) • S4.00
Children 5 8 under - FREE
For your further enjoyment...
• Entertainment for young and old • Local Talent
' Step DancingVocals ' Vocal Groups •
Instrumental Acts • Tractor Pull • Craft Show
r�• Souvenirs• Local Pork Products
• Homemade Baking • Food Booth
Kids Room 11:00 am - 2:00 pm (Sat. only)
Face Painting
SATURDAY EVENING - DANCE
"Newfie Stump Jumpers"
900 pmto100am
All eventsrfachtres are indoors - Handicap Accessible
For further Festival info call 335-6551 or 357-2147
POLY TANKS
STRONG, DURABLE
CONSTRUCTION
FOR TRANSPORT OR
STORAGE
Sizes from 12 gallons -
15,000 gallons
Hundreds of tanks in stock
ALPINE
PLANT FOODS CORP.
30 Neville St.
New Hamburg, Ont.
NOB 2G0
(519) 662-2352
1 (800) 265-2268
Fax: 1 (800) 807-4668
NEW & USED TANKS
• STAINLESS • FIBREGLASS
• STEEL
New 340 Double Wall up to 50,000 litres
DELIVERY & SET UP AVAILABLE
Get ready for spring - Lots in -stock
Phone For Sizes & Dimensions
PETER CRISP LONDON
1-519-455-8920
EQUIPMENT Fax 1-519-455-4224
MARCH 2002 15