Courtesy Photo
By Maranda Klaver
AgriNews Contributor
May has been a bit of a quieter month event wise, but that’s quite alright considering May is a very busy month for us farmers.
At home and at work, I have been very busy with planting. At home, I always enjoy being able to help my dad with getting the crops in. This year we have lots of winter wheat, so it hasn’t been as quite as much of a mad dash to the fields since we don’t have as many acres of other crops to be planted. I am usually found in the 8420-working ground with the cultivator, and he’ll follow with the corn or bean planter and then later I’ll switch gears to the 4020 and roller to pack the beans. It’s been a successful spring for the planting part, thus far at home, corn went in quickly with no problems, other than with beans we had to wait for fertilizer. I guess that’s what happens when you’re too efficient!
I work for Corteva agriscience through the week and it’s a good thing I don’t get sick of field work since my weekends get filled with planting activities at home and then I get to do it all again during the week. We have test plots of canola and I enjoy learning about and working with this different crop that we don’t grow at home. I drive a 6-row planter on a 6155M tractor and help plant anywhere from 5-50 acre plots all over Huron, Perth, Bruce and Grey county. Days get long but it’s always very rewarding to see the crops start to peak through after a little rain.
I was fortunate to be able to sneak away one Saturday while things were under control at home and head to the Milverton Family Fun Fair to be a judge at the baby show and sweetheart of the fair competition. I had the privilege of judging with the newly crowned District 8 ambassador Abigail Peel from Howick Turnberry Fair and former Mitchell ambassador Emma Steckly (Francis). It was very difficult to pick the winners because everyone did an amazing job.
After the judging was complete, I headed home for a 2-hour break before I left for my next event. I made sure dad; my boyfriend and sister were all good and fed in the fields before I headed off to Tiverton. Bruce County plowmen Tom Evans has qualified for the World Plowing Championships that will be held in Latvia this October. This will be his third time representing Canada in the World Championships. He has previously represented in Kenya and the US, competing in the reversible class and has found lots of success at the Canadian (3 time champion) and at the International Plowing Match. He is certainly well decorated and we are very proud of him! A fundraiser dinner was held to help support him in his travels, as well with a silent and live auction. When I showed up with the Bruce County Queen Hanna Van Stuyvenberg, his tractor and plow were sitting out front of the building and we could smell the ham the minute we opened the door. The community centre was packed! Everyone had come out to support Tom. I was lucky to speak a few words about Tom and wish him the very best of luck after dinner; followed by helping with the live auction. It truly is amazing to see a community come together and we know Tom will certainly make Canada proud once again.
