The Rural Voice, 1980-06, Page 14The Ryan family's winter project was building a new
Beechwood Farm wagon, pulled in area parades by a team
of ponies. The Ryan family includes Wayne and Anne, the
same chores as his children do -feeding the
livestock. and driving the tractor.
The farmer said his rule of thumb in
letting his sons drive equipment is "to
teach them slowly. bring them along
easy." The children are familiar with the
rules of farm safety. both from their
father's coaching and a visit to St.
Columban School by an OPP officer
reviewing the hazards of farm operations.
Ken Ryan and his wife have noticed a
number of changes since they went into
farming. Many of the lovely trees along the
fields have been sacrified to create larger
acreages, and Ken Ryan said now they can
see the lights from the towns of Dublin.
Seaforth and Brodhagen. When they first
married, they could barely sec their
neighbours' farms for trees.
Mr. Ryan is also concerned about the
future of farming, damage to the land. and
the growth of corporate farms. But. like
Francis Hicknell, he hopes at least one
member of the family will keep the Ryan
farming tradition alive.
In the 17 years he's been farming, he's
altered every building on thc farm,
including the farmhouse, "and I suppose
PG. 12 THE RURAL VOICE/JUNE 1980
oldest children, Ken and son Neil and mother Carol &
younger children Jean, Kenneth and David. (Photo by
Gibb)
the next guy %will keen on fixing too until
the day he dies."
Don Moylan. who farms a beef and cash
crop operation at RR5. Seaforth. said that
on sophisticated operations. w here there's
more hired help. Children don't have a
chance to do as Hutch. and uta% :.row away
from the farm.
Kids who don't work
on the farm, may grow
away from it
His own tastily. however. take. an .i,
role in farm life. Marianne, 8. the onl> ,ul
in the family. said she and her brother
Patrick feed the cattle after school ach day
and also feed the 11 chickens that roam
around the barns.
Her younger brothers John. five years
old, and Michael. three and a half, help
collect eggs. each night. John also some-
times helps with putting down the straw.
Patrick, 10. a Grade 4 student at St.
Columban Separate School. feeds the
family's 27 hicfers at night. puts dm% n
bales of hay. and had recently dri%cn the
tractor while cultivating a five -acre patch of
land within easy sight of the house.
The two Movlans who attend school arc
well -versed in farm safety. Marianne said
an OPP constable visited their class and
told them "not to get in the way of the
tractor and all the machinery and to be
careful in the barn so that we don't get
kicked by the cattle." She said she
remembers this wbcncv t r she has to look
for eggs in the cattle pen.
Patrick said he also learned "if you're
goin;: tp ,' rk a'. steep hill (in thc tractor).
then don't .) up frontwards, or %ou'll tip
the tractor.''
Patrick said• he operates the family's
t'ac'or with the cab on it. but only on lc:el
.r. -nd.
Both Patrick and Marianne agree that
they like life on the family farm. As
Marianne points out. "there's lots of space
to throw or kick a ball.' i trick adds that in
the city. children 'ha%e to go to a
playground for space to tear around. "but