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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-09-23, Page 17On the tour Ernst and Yolanda Gubelmann with their son, Stefan, stand with one of their favourite Brown Swiss Cows, one of many to be seen at their farm during the 1998 Huron Farm Hiker Tour. 0 gure! If just 1% more Canadians were physically active, annual savings in health-care costs could be as much as $12,000,000. 40„ Sharing a Healthier Future virf"13317TICIPaL71017 ® CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE AT LONDESBORO ELEVATORS "We're ready to fulfill your harvest requirements" A 1 ENVIRONMENTALLY DRIVEN TECHNOLOGY ENSALL !STRICT 0-OPERATIVE IMPROVEMENTS MADE AT OUR LOCATION INCLUDE: • New truck dumper, we can now handle all types of trailers • 20,000 Bu/Hr. receiving capacity including 2 new high speed pits • Two new cement silos for storage of wet corn and other commodities • New Dorssers high capacity dryer "Hensall District Co-op is proud to be farmer-owned" 523-4470 Londesboro Co-op Elevators THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1998. PAGE 17. Energetic emus among Huron County Hiker Tour features By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot Special to The Citizen It's hard to imagine two farms more different from each other. Frenetic emus, barrel racing horses and hand-painted eggs are among the niche marketing products and services at Fotheringhams. Then, a 15-minute drive away, cows calmly chewing their cud to the melodic clinging of bells are found at a more traditional enterprise — the Gubelmann dairy farm. Yet, as opposite as these two feature farms on the 1998 Huron Farm Hiker Tour may seem, both owners exemplify exactly what farming in the county is all about — pride in production. "Huron farmers really want to make people aware of the products they sell, the time they put into it and how proud they are of their farms," says Charles Regele, who is chairing this year's tour which begins, Sunday, Oct. 4 at noon at the Seaforth Agri-Plex (beside the arena). The event is free with a donation of a non-perishable food item. Pride indeed. Neither the Fotheringhams or Gubelmanns will tell you what good farmers they are, but it is evident in the neat buildings, the continuous effort to improve their businesses and the heartfelt way they talk about their animals and their way of life. At Bill and Amy Fotheringham's farm, it's the quarter horses and major barn renovations for emu breeding that bespeak pride. Their farm is anything but traditional and the two can't help but laugh at the number of niche markets they are trying to capitalize on to make a living at farming. But it's a serious business. It's tough for young couples to become farmers and make a living," admits Amy. "It's been an insane five years with all that we have taken on and tried to do," In five years, the couple has maintained Bill's custom spraying business, cash cropped their 100 acres plus rented property, established an emu flock, marketed emu oil products and hand-painted emu eggs, designed and created a waterfall and pond for a farm attraction, built horse paddocks for Amy's holse training and riding classes, ventured into the stud market with a breeding stallion, and, travelled to horse shows and rodeos where Amy barrel races her newest horse Cruisin Calvin.. Also during the five years, they had two children. Whew! "We both want to stay at home and make a go at farming," says Bill. "This is how we do it." The pleasure they take in their horses and birds also makes it worthwhile. The Gubelmanns have the same goal but take a different approach. Although they do some cash crop, Ernst and Yolanda Gubelmann focus almost all their energy on one supply-managed commodity — the milk market. They supply that market with the milk from 60 cows — half Holstein and half Brown Swiss. Before you hear the Gubelmann's charming accent, you'll likely hear the clanging of the bells around the necks of their Brown Swiss cows; a noise that keeps homesickness at bay for these Swiss immigrants. Brown Swiss is one of the oldest cattle breeds in the world and is bred for milk, beef and draft in Switzerland. However, Ernst breeds them strictly for milk production and the Brown Swiss compete drop for drop with the more common Holsteins. Top genetics and excellent management contribute to Gubelmann's consistently high standing as one of the top herds in Huron County. Ernst says in his herd, "the better cow has the better chance" of staying in the herd. But partly because of his Swiss heritage, and partly because of the merits of the Brown Swiss cow, his heart is with the brown breed. He can't help but recite the Brown Swiss' traits for heat tolerance, protein production, easy calving, strong feet and legs and quiet temperament. The Gubelmanns care about their cows and they care about how their milk is produced. Ernst has strong feelings about farming in an environmentally-friendly manner and keeping fanning natural, rather than becoming dependent on chemicals and genetically altered plants. "1 wanted to be on this tour because I wanted to show people that our food is safe to eat and drink because we care about making sure it is safe," says Ernst. That same desire is echoed by other host families on the Hiker Tour. "It's good for people to see that dairy products. Few members of the public have had a chance to see the facility since it's only been operating since March of this year. The plant produces sour cream, yogurt, quark and specialty cheese such as Limburger, Edam, Gouda, Taleggio and Esrom under the 'Quality Jersey Products' label. "We'd like people on the tour to learn the benefits of Jersey milk in cheese production," says Tammy Sparling. "It improves the taste and the texture." Tastes will come into play at another of the Hiker Tour sites — the market gardening farm of Tyler and Summer Papple near Seaforth. This couple grows a full range of vegetables on 30 acres of land. Fall produce such as cabbage, carrots, beets, gourds, pumpkins and corn will be for sale. Visitors can also tour the fields to see how the crops are grown and examine the specialized machinery the Papples use to plant and harvest their vegetables. Other sites to visit include Yvonne and Harvey Hoggart's beef farm near Londesboro and Jack and Marg Kroes swine farm near Clinton. The Huron Stewardship Council has put up "Points of Interest" signs at all the farms on the tour. Also, the Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area can be visited the same day. Conservation staff will be there to answer questions about migrating waterfowl. Tour participants will get directions to all the farms in their tour kits when they register for the tour at the Seaforth Agri-Plex. The kits also include a trivia quiz about agriculture which when completed can win door prizes. Chairman Charles Regele advises that participants should bring a cooler if they wish to purchase farm products. He also stresses that this is a family event (minus pets) and is entirely flexible meaning that participants set off on their own, choosing which farms to visit within the noon to 5 p.m. time frame. Families can congregate at the Agri-Plex after the tour for a country supper at a cost of $8 per adult, $5 for children five to 12 and free for children under four. Regele expects some 500 people will take part in the your, if past attendance levels are any indication. The Hiker Tour is a non-profit event designed to increase agricultural awareness, states Regele. Funding to sponsor the event was provided by the "U-Can- Adapt Program" via the Ontario Agricultural Adaptation Council and Ontario AgriFood Education Inc. The Huron County Federation of Agriculture and other Huron County commodity groups also sponsored the event. For more information, call Regele at 345-2149. farmers are trying hard and doing a good job out there," says Mary Ann Drost, whom, with husband Carmen operates a sheep farm near Clinton. She also points out that visiting farms is just plain fun. "It's great to see the kids' faces when they get to pet the sheep," says Mary Ann. The whole family can learn from the sheep shearing, spinning and knitting demonstrations. Other attractions on the tour include a visit to a new milk processing plant in Seaforth where innovative milk producers are developing a market for Jersey