Holman celebrates 90th birthday
Hard work the key to longevity for long-time farmer
For some folks who live into their ninth decade or more, the secret to longevity is a glass of wine a day, maybe a favourite food or two and having family and friends for support.
For George Holman, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday with a special celebration at the Central Lutheran Church, it’s a rather simple solution – good, old fashioned hard work.
“It’s like I just told that chap I was talking to, hard work never hurt nobody,” Holman said during a brief break from visiting with dozens of well-wishers at the event. “I started out driving horses, probably when I six years old… part of it is different lifestyles, it’s all mental now. There’s no real manual work, everything is done by machines. Back then, you were out walking with the horses; you’d go half-a-mile and you’d stop and rest and then you’d keep going. You got your exercise with them at the same time.” Holman spent much of his life on a farm 10 miles east of Moose Jaw and in between his work in the fields, he also drove school bus for years while also running a snowplow on his tractor to keep the municipal roads open during winter. Then there was a time spent working for a small machine shop in the city before it was back on the farm, this time helping out his neighbours with their crops. “I guess you could say I’ve lived a mixed life,” Holman said with a laugh. In between the days spent working, Holman married and had three children, with the birthday party featuring plenty of family and friends to wish him well on the occasion.
“I think it’s really nice… there’s a whole few tables of inlaws and family, so it’s nice to be here and see everyone again,” he said.
So does he see a 100th birthday celebration in the future?
“I don’t know, but my parents were both long lived, my mother lived to be 96 and my father until he was 87, so we’ll have to see,” Holman said.