The Rural Voice, 1988-04, Page 32nisex
DAY OLD CHICKS
and
STARTED PULLETS
from
FISHER POULTRY
FARM INC.
AYTON, ONT. NOG 1C0
519.665.7711
Don't Leave
Your Family
Out in the Cold
or
Your Business
in Ashes
Insure with
Confidence
GERMANIA
FARMERS' MUTUAL
FIRE INSURANCE
COMPANY
— Incorporated 1878 —
HEAD OFFICE, AYTON
ONTARIO NOG 1C0
519-665-7715
30 THE RURAL VOICE
SURVIVING THE HARD TIMES
Dean Lawrie of Blyth studied a farm
in Colborne Township that once be-
longed to his uncle's great-grandfather,
William Hill, and William's son, Hugh.
"Since the beginning of farming," he
reports, "the farmers have had to borrow
money. They have had to deal with low
prices, bad weather, and had to survive
through the depression."
"Hugh Hill survived the hard times
and ran one of the most productive farms
in Huron County in his time ... Hugh
made his money by farming different
ways. In the late '40s and early '50s he
had an egg operation with a complete
grading system. It was the biggest
around. In the early '50s he had pigs,
cows, chickens, which was a variety
farmer, and then he had registered
Guernsey cows. In the late '50s he had
beef stockers and finished cattle. Later
he converted to dairy Holstein cows and
today it is still a dairy operation. Hugh
Hill also ran a saw mill on his farm for a
couple of years."
Dean calculates, based on real estate
values, that the price of the house and
land has gone up $84,300 in 106 years.
"Land has increased $794 per year for a
100 -acre farm."0
TRACTORS
THROUGH
THE YEARS
from a project by
Tammy Lester and Lori LeBeau:
A 1929 Cross -motor Case 18-32.
Price in 1929: $1,200.
A 1972 Case 1570.
Price in 1972: $36,000.
THE DAY MY FATHER CRIED
I heard my father cry one day
It seemed so strange and yet so real
I wanted to go over and sit on his knee
but something strange was stopping me.
He seemed so lonely, so afraid
that nothing could stop the tears in
his eyes.
I knew something was wrong deep
down inside
because my dear old father never cried.
He sat there like a little boy
not realizing that I was hurting too.
I felt the pain my father was bearing
as I watched him keep on staring.
He felt like a failure
because the farm was his life.
I wanted to tell him he could try again
that his life had only just begun.
He had a hard time with bills and all
the cost of living just seemed to keep
growing.
I wanted to tell him that I understood
and no matter what I would do whatever
I could.
The city bankers so full of greed
couldn't care less about Father's need.
The day my father lost the farm
was the day my father cried.
Frances Greidanus, R. R. 1, Londesboro