150 years of farming
Barr family honoured by province for farming in Warsaw area since before confederation
A farm family in Warsaw was honoured by the provincial government Friday for dedicating more than 150 years to agriculture.
The Barr family received a commemorative plaque, recognizing their contribution to local farming.
Blayne and Susan Barr run Bargeolane Farms with their son Geoff. The couple also has two daughters, Jenny and Emily, and nine grandchildren.
Blayne’s great, great, great grandfather started the farm on the Asphodel 4th Line prior to 1867.
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Jeff Leal, the MPP for Peterborough, presented the Barr family with the plaque at their farm Friday morning.
Fifty years ago, for Canada’s centennial, the Ontario Government paid tribute to farmers who’d been working the land since Canada’s Confederation.
Leal decided to bring back the initiative for Ontario’s 150th to honour farmers in the province for their hard work and dedication.
“It’s just a way to say thank you to men and women that have been so important to Ontario’s economy ... often we don’t thank our agriculture community,” said Leal.
Leal pointed out that 1.4 per cent of Ontario’s population supports 98.6 per cent of the rest of the people in urban areas.
The Barrs farm 200 acres of land, renting out another 350. They have 55 dairy cows and a small herd of beef cattle.
Blayne said it was an honour to receive the recognition and knows his dad, the late George Barr, would be proud. Mr. Barr died in the spring.
“He would have been very proud to have been here today. His life was built around building a farm and creating an environment for family to continue,” Blayne said.
The father of three said he doesn’t feel totally left out of the spotlight by urban residents as far as farming goes, but he doesn’t think they fully understand the effort that goes into it.
“We’re such a small number and to get our message out there about what we do and the concerns we have and the effort we put into producing good quality food so people can eat – that’s what it’s about.”
And no matter what’s happening in your life, how late you’ve stayed up or if you’re feeling ill, there’s rarely a break or even a sick day for a farmer. “It’s 24/7,” Blayne said. The announcement lands during Ontario Agriculture Week.
NOTE: To apply for a commemorative Ontario Farms 150 sign, visit www.omafra.gov.ca/english/rural/ontario150.htm or call 1-877-424-1300. Applications will be received until Oct. 31.