Multi-generational farm looking to pass the torch

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This article was published 31/10/2024 (527 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ERICKSON — Scott Gray has run a farm with his father-in-law for nearly 30 years. He’s now showing his son the ropes in the hope the torch can be passed to the next generation.

”We’ve grown to the point where my father-in-law is starting to pull back,” said Scott. “We’re kinda at a point where we need to start transitioning that work.”

His father-in-law, 79-year-old Norval Lee, grew up on the farm. He’s been working this land his entire life, and when people ask him if he’s lived here his entire life, he says, “Not yet.”

With 80 on the horizon, Lee has been shortening his former 14 to 16 hour work days. He’s passed the bookkeeping onto Scott, a job they shared for decades, and isn’t able to do as much heavy lifting as he used to.

But the work still needs to be done, and this is where the need for the next generation comes in. Scott has been showing his son Matt the ropes. He said that the way things are going Matt will need to take on more responsibility “very soon” if the land is going to carry on being a family farm.

“As a young kid he didn’t take too much an interest in working with the farm, so we didn’t push it,” said Scott. ““I don’t think he was that interested in working with his dad to be honest,” he said with a laugh.

Matt, who works full time as a plumber, came back to the farm in 2020 and has taken a new interest in the farm work, at the right time. Matt’s been working hard four years now, and Scott thinks the learning process will be another five to 10 years if the young man commits to take up the reins. Scott said his son has picked up the hands-on work well, but he’ll be looking to teach him about management, accounting and marketing in the near future.

“The part that is going to be the biggest obstacle is the business,” said Scott. “It’s a big business.”

The farm spans roughly 3,000 acres where the family grows wheat, barley and canola. There’s 19 towers on the property, space for up to 200,000 bushels of storage. It’s a lot of work, and the family recently hired a farmhand to help get everything done.

Pointing at a field beyond, 200 acres roughly, Scott said its a full day of work at harvest time. When considering the entire farm all-season-round, he said it makes for full days, always with something to do.

“Hard work, but I love the hard work,” he said, walking beneath the towers. “I live in Heaven … It’s just a great lifestyle.”

Over the years, the family bought a few pieces of land as neighbours became ill, passed or moved away, increasing the workload on the farm and making it even more crucial to get the next generation involved. But it’s not easy to convince young people to commit to a farm in rural Manitoba. Even for Scott, back in the 1990s, this decision was difficult.

When Lee was looking for help, he said he pitched Scott. “I said, ‘Scott if you ever want to farm here’s your chance, (and) a couple years later he said, ‘Is the offer still good?”

“I was looking for a better environment to raise our family,” Scott says. “I mean you can’t find a better way to raise a family. It’s a small town. We have a great yard. A great community.”

» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com