The Rural Voice, 1991-07, Page 32ESPECIAL REPOR T: WOMEN IN A;..R/CL/L TURE
PROFILE OF FLORENCE PULLEN:
SHE SUCCESSFULLY COMBINES RAISING CHAMPIONSHIP SHEEP WITH A
COW -CALF OPERATION, GROWING MEAT RABBITS, FILLING A CREAM QUOTA,
SHOWING PUREBRED IRISH SETTERS, AND TEACHING AT CENTRALIA COLLEGE
Florence Pullen has put a modern
twist on the old children's song
"Heigh, ho, the dcrry, oh, the farmer
takes a wife." On the Pullen farm
fronting Highway 8 between Clinton
and Scaforth, the farmer IS the wife.
While husband Don pursucd his
career as onc of Huron County's most
popular and respected agricultural
representatives, Florence built up her
flock of Suffolk sheep, raised four
Canadian champion Irish setters,
added a commercial beef herd, and
took over her son's high school meat
rabbit project. Also in the barn arc
two Jersey cows supplying milk for
the household and cream for ship-
ping. The remaining skim milk is fed
to hcr pigs, producing the tastiest pork
onc could put on a fork.
Florence grew up on a farm in
Perth county. Shc inherited hcr Iovc
for rural life from her father, Norman
McCully, whose accomplishments
with registered Suffolks, registered
Holsteins, and teaching and judging
work with Junior Farmers earned him
a place in the Agricultural Hall of
Fame at Milton.
"It was more fun helping dad than
mom," Florence recalls, confessing
she still much prefers outside work to
Florence Pullen has been recognized as one of the premier Suffolk breeders in
Canada. /ler replacement stock is in demand by many shepherds.
housework. her cup of tea, Florence looked for left once son David was born, and
Florence and her future husband something "constructive." Shc soon returned to teaching in 1980. She has
attended the same high school, and acquired her first Irish seller, and taught one -term courses at Centralia
discovered shared interests through bought her first sheep, a 35 -ewe mixed College of Agricultural College of
local 4-H clubs. Their friendship grew flock, from her father's neighbour. Agricultural Technology on sheep
at Ontario Agricultural College in Unfortunately, she had no barn. production and livestock evaluation,
Guelph. While Florence completed Shc solved that by renting onc a mile plus "sheep -related odds and ends."
her four-year B.Sc. program, Don west of town. For the next 12 years, A college judging team, which she
graduated from the two-year course, Florence travelled to her sheep, often helped coach, placed first at the 1989
worked as a summer assistant at the back -packing her infant sons along. Royal Winter Fair, and won the sheep
Perth agricultural office, then returned She leased the barn on the present section the next year.
to Guelph for another two years to farm in 1969. The Pullens bought the Florence has a natural affinity for
obtain his degree. Marriage followed property in 1971, and moved there in animals. She has never been without
Florence's graduation. 1975. an Irish setter since 1963. Mandy,
Don's job as assistant agricultural Florence did get a teaching job, at 1989 Canadian champion, has just
representative for Huron brought the Scaforth high school. For two years weaned her first litter, four beautiful,
Pullens to Clinton in 1963. As it was she taught chemistry and science to loveable redheads. Florence is a
too late in the term to be hired as a grades 11, 12, and 13, and all agricul- member of the Bluewater Kennel
teacher, and coffee klatches were not ture courses on the curriculum. She Club, serving as show chairperson for
28 THE RURAL VOICE