Letter from the Editor I am not, nor have I ever been, a far- mer. I have worked with many far- mers over the years as customers, but I am not suited for the early mornings, late nights, or the stress of relying on just the right amount of rain – whether we are getting too much or not enough. I’ve worked with farmers whose
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entire year’s worth of crops and hard work were wiped out by a late frost. I’ve spoken to those who were up until four in the morning covering their strawberries in hay to protect them from a cold snap, only to lose the crop to pests anyway. That kind of stress would have me handing in my John Deere! I have a deep respect for those who raise livestock. I know I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t handle the ‘circle of life’ part very well. Delivering baby animals? Amazing, but I’d probably faint. Dealing with illness, predators, or anything beyond my control that might harm the animals? No, thank you. The emotional toll would do me in by week two. While I am most definitely a meat lover, it makes me sad seeing a trailer-load of pigs headed to their final destination, even sadder when I see an empty trailer. I respect our farmers for all the little things they do every single day to keep things running smoothly on the farm, only to have people turn around and say their prices are too high, then buy something shipped in from across the world. If you’ve ever stood beside someone picking through Ontario tomatoes while reaching for the ones from Mexico, you know what I mean. Of course, farmers grow more than just crops and livestock. They nurture people, too, family farms, generation after ge- neration. I have friends who grew up on farms, who tell stories about hauling tobacco leaves that were bigger than they were, and mornings that started with chores before the bus arrived. They talk about the hard work, but also about the pride, the love for what they do, and the deep respect it teaches them for the land and all that lives on it. We’re fortunate in our community to be surrounded by such dedicated growers, caretakers, and stewards. As we move into the later part of summer, the back-to-school season, and the heart of harvest, let’s give thanks. Let’s support our farmers, wave from our cars, and be patient when they’re inching along the road in machinery twice the size of our vehicle. And to the farmers of Elgin County, growers of food, family, and future, may your fields be fair, your animals healthy, your machines cooperative, and your neighbours understanding when your tractor takes up both lanes. WORLD PREMIERE
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Real Agricultural Elgin Living Summer 2025 cover Tanya displays the leading leaf at the 2025 Rosy Rhubarb Festival. Photo by Geoff Rae.
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