OUR STORY
In the mid-1900's a woman and a man met, got married, and bought a farm near Orangeville, Ontario near their home farms. The woman, my grandmother, worked for Hydro One while the man, my grandfather, worked at an insurance office. Together, they worked to fulfill their dream of farming. They raised black angus cattle and worked hard day in and day out to keep the farm going.
Over the years they became parents to Steve and Scott, my uncle and my dad. Steve had a love for tractors and mechanics while my dad, Scott, had a love for raising the animals and growing crops. They grew up working together and learning what it means to work hard for something they want.
Fast forward a few years and both my dad and uncle had moved off farm and were living their own lives. My dad was living in eastern Ontario near Ottawa working for the Ontario government while my uncle was working at a mechanic shop. Although my dad wanted to farm, he knew that now that he had kids growing up on a farm in the east it would be difficult to move back west to the home farm.
In the early 2000's my grandparents decided they wanted to slow down. My grandpa had hurt his back and they made the heartbreaking decision to get out of the cattle business and start to sell some of their land. However, this story doesn't have a sad ending. My brother, Liam, and I started showing interest in moving to the farm near Orangeville and becoming real farmers. So, once I graduated Algonquin College in Ottawa I moved west and began to farm with my grandparents.
We may not have the cattle anymore, but the passion and drive to farm runs in my blood. I love farming and I love people. I can't imagine a life without farming and I am so thankful that my grandparents and family are supporting me and my brother as we take on farming in a new area, with new customers, and new opportunities at Laurel Lea Farms.
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- Kelsey Banks