The Rural Voice, 1989-11, Page 26FARM & HOME
Good management and 4-H work are an investment
in the future for Jim and Dianne Snyder, who are
committed to the family farm and rural life.
BY CATHY LAIRD
Time for field work is hard to come by for Jim Snyder, who is also a sales representative for Sprucedale Agromart and has had a
Pioneer Corn seed dealership for the past three years. On top of that, he's a 4-H club leader. Dianne is also involved in leading
4-H clubs, and does a good deal of the work with the Simmental herd.
F
arming is a "family affair" for
Jim and Dianne Snyder and
their three young children. As
Dianne says, "We chose this lifestyle
so that our kids could learn about
farming." The Snyder Farm — Lucky
4 Simmentals — is outside of Owen
Sound near Rockford, Ontario.
"We are retired cash croppers,"
says Jim. "We had to move north," he
jokes, "There are no farms south of
Brampton, where I come from." The
Snyders, both from farm backgrounds,
started their Simmental operation in
1986 with three full -blood Simmental
cows. One of the first heifers indexed
128 the first year. In 1987, the Snyder
farm won the "Most Improved Farm-
stead Award" in conjunction with the
International Plowing Match.
The Snyders have three children:
Danielle, 7, Sara, 4, and Curtis, 1 1/2.
"One activity that we share is showing
cattle," Dianne says. "Last year was
the first year we showed. It meant
getting up some mornings about 5
a.m. for washing, clipping, and halter -
breaking, but it's worth it."
In 1988, the Snyders showed a
yearling heifer. They won first at
Markdale, third in Owen Sound, and
took the heifer to the Royal Winter
Fair. There, she placed 8th in her
class and the Snyders sold her to a
breeder from Prince Edward Island.
This year, two Lucky 4 Simmental
bull calves took first and third in
Markdale.
The farm itself has a land base of
24 THE RURAL VOICE