Matt Willemse finds a unlikely quiet place to play on the floor of the workshop.

 

The Canadian Family Farm has been a way of life for as long as Canada has been a nation.  It has fed a country and the world through a variety of international relief agencies.  Yet this longstanding noble profession is too facing an uncertain future.

Rising input costs, in seed, fuel, fertilzer and declining prices for it’s goods have forced many farm families to take “off farm” jobs, just to keep the business afloat.  The added pressure takes it toll and the Canadian farm industry is facing what it calls a “generation gap”.  Simply put, there are not enough son’s and daughter’s wanting to follow in the family business.

The learning begins long before school. From father to son, Matt Willemse follows his father Rick into a crop of soybean. Never far from his fathers side, Matt learns and listens in same way Rick did from his father.

 

Each spring and planting season hold the promise of a good year. If the farmer is able to beat mother nature, raise the right crop and sell at the peak time, he will hopefully make enough to cover his costs.

 

Unforseen repairs not only cost money, but more importantly take Rick off of the field during the busy planting season

The "Morning Bull Session" - for years, Simon Willemse, left, has been meeting fellow farmers in the back of McGee's Farm Supply each morning at 10:00.

Another day in the books, Rick finds time for one last beer.