David and Joan Reid were honoured when they were chosen to be the Farm Family of Renfrew County.
The announcement was made during the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Renfrew County Plowing Match held on the Afelskie Farm just west of Cobden.
Mary Harris from Bank of Montreal (BMO) took to the stage to make the announcement. She said in 2012, BMO started a program to recongize farm families who contribute to their community.
“They are the salt of the earth that show all the values that we associate with the family farm,” she said.
In 2012, the Andrew and Anne Bromley were the first farm family in Renfrew County to be recognized. Last year, it was Stewart and Vera McBride and family.
“This year, the Renfrew County Farm Family of the year is Dave and Joan Reid,” Ms. Harris said.
She explained that each year, local plowing match associations from across Ontario nominate a family to represent them. Out of those nominations, 10 are selected to be honoured at the International Plowing Match, she continued. As well, from those 10, one farm family will be chosen as the Ontario Farm Family of the Year.
“I am so proud the Reid family are the ones representing us in Renfrew County,” Ms. Harris said.
With two of his four children, and their families on stage, Mr. Reid said, “I was certainly surprised and pleased when the plowing match committee asked if we would represent Renfrew County.”
He noted the couple has four married children, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Dai Bassett, emcee for the plowing match and the mid-morning to mid-afternoon disc jockey at Valley Heritage Radio, noted Mr. Reid calls the radio station each fall when the sunflowers are out.
“You call and tell our listeners to come out to the Wright Road to see the best sunflowers,” Mr. Basset said, adding with a laugh, “And they’re all smiling.”
Following the presentation of the award, Mr. Reid said, his family started farming on what is now known as Reid Road in Admaston Township in the late 1800s.
“I was born on that farm,” he said. “I go 500 feet out the back door to go to the barn to work.”
Reid Family History – provided by David Reid
My great-grandfather Robert came to Canada from Paisley, Scotland and settled in Renfrew County at Ferguslea, Admaston Township. He was a weaver and made woollen blankets and farmed. He was quite active in the Presbyterian Church and formed a youth group of older children called Christian Endeavour. His wife Jeanie felt sorry for the Irish people in Mount St. Patrick having to drive by horse and buggy approximately 20 miles to mass at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Renfrew early Sunday mornings, and not able to eat until they got home. She knew when they were returning and would hail them down and invite them to come and eat. Many took advantage of the invitation and became close friends of the Reids.
After the death of my great-grandfather, my grandfather James went to Pembroke to transfer the deed to his name. He found out, to his surprise, that the deed was never in his father’s name, so he had to buy another farm at Lot 13, Conc. 4 in Admaston. James was very active in his church, being Sunday school teacher, superintendent, elder, treasurer and sang in the choir. He enjoyed showing horses at Renfrew Fair and operating his mixed farm. My grandmother Mary was equally prominent in the church. She was president of the Maple Hill Club of the United Farmers of Ontario. She was also the first woman trustee of the Admaston School Board. Mary served many years as president of the local Women’s Missionary Society, the Women’s Auxiliary and the Ladies Aid Society of the church. She was vice-president of the Lanark and Renfrew Women’s Missionary Society and president of Renfrew Presbytery of the United Church. She was also first lecturer of the LOBA of the Renfrew Lodge.
My father George and mother Audrey were very active in church activities, teaching Sunday school and leading youth groups. Father was an elder and treasurer and sang in the choir. He was a Master of the Orange Lodge. He opened a Royal Scarlet Chapter in Horton and McNab in Renfrew County for the Masons. He was known across the county, entertaining groups with his recitations. My mother and father organized a Farm Forum group in the county. Farmers would come to the house in the evening and listen to a radio broadcast on farming issues then discuss it and send their opinons to the government. Mother helped form the Renfrew County Medical Services, which also took in Pontiac, Quebec. She was a director and secretary manager until the Federal medical program was formed. Mother helped form the Balsam Hill Women’s Institute and became a life member. My father delivered milk in Renfrew and welcomed the many new families. Many of those families became life-long friends. He was secretary o the Renfrew Fluid Milk Producers. Father headed a delegation of milk producers to Ottawa and got a three cent a quart increase in the price of milk. Producers would now receive eight cents a quart. My father George was killed in a farm accident involving cattle in 1952, he was 47 years old. I had just turned 15 the day before Christmas Day. My mother and I, along with my two younger brothers, and with help from the neighbours, carried on the farm work. I also had a brother who died at one-and-a half years old. My younger brother Donald graduated from Queens University and was a United Church minister.
Joan and I are active in the church teaching Sunday school and young people programs. I was an elder for many years in the local United Church and I am now an elder in the Renfrew Presbyterian Church and also on the board of managers. I formed a teenage group with the three churches in our charge and enjoyed it for many years. I completed many projects with the 4H clubs. I was a grand champion showman at the County 4H show. Other highlights include representing the county on judging teams at the Ottawa Winter Fair, Ottawa Valley Seed Show and the Central Canada Exhibition. I was on championship teams competing all over eastern Ontario. I was selected to represent Renfrew County and Ontario at National 4H week. I was a 4H leader for many years. Myself, and two of my friends, got the Junior Farmer program started again in the county. We won many square dance competitions. It grew to four clubs and a member became provincial president. I was secretary for the Renfrew Milk Producers until the Ontario Milk Marketing Board was formed. I became secretary-treasurer for the Renfrew County Milk Producers and was there over 30 years. Joan did the typing for all the correspondence. I joined the Renfrew County Soil and Crop Association and received a certificate for being a director for over 50 years. I enjoyed showing the crops and was proud to show off the corps we grew in the county with many championship exhibits at the Ottawa Valley Seed Show. I joined the Canadian Seed Growers Association and was a pedigreed seed producer for over 25 years, growing new varieties of crops of registered seed for farmers. I was secretary-treasurer and manager of the Admaston Cemetery for over 50 years. Joan helped me with the paperwork and keeping records. I was inducted into the Renfrew County Agricultural Wall of Fame.
Our farm also hosted a Renfrew County Plowing Match. I was a director for a few years with the Renfrew County Plowmen’s Association. We also hosted Rural Ramble.
I was a director of the Renfrew Agricultural Society for many years and received my 50-year pin for veteran breeders of Holsteins. I was a director of the OFA in the county for many years. I was secretary-treasurer for the Renfrew County Wheat Producers until the Ontario Grain Farmers were formed. I was then elected to represent the county at their meetings.
I belong to the Renfrew County Land Owners and the Ontario Landowners Association.
I graduated from Kemptville Agricultural School in 1960. While there I was elected to student council and year representative. I was on the judging teams and my friend and I ran the tuck shop for the school.
Joan Reid was Joan Bennett, daughter of Ruby and Derwood Bennett, and had two brothers and five sisters. She was born in Cobden, Feb. 17, 1941. She grew up on a mixed farm on the Queen’s Line for 19 years.
In the early years, she attended a one room school house, SS#9 Ross Township, to which she walked every day regardless of the weather. Many close friends came from that one room school. In her teens she attended Cobden and District High School, was on the student council, played basketball and was on the cheerleading squad. Although it was a small squad, we certainly did our best to cheer on our football team. She was a member of many 4H clubs. After high school, Joan spent four years working in the offices of building supply companies in Ottawa.
In 1963, Joan and David married. I often said I married the Queen of the Queen’s Line.
We worked together on the farm where we raised four children – two boys and two girls – now grown and with families of their own. Joan joined the UCW of the Admaston Church and remains a member today. She also joined the Balsam Hill WI and became a life member in 1999. She was an assistant 4H club leader and assistant CGIT leader. She was named Citizen of the Year in 1998 for Admaston Township.
Joan was the Admaston representative on the Senior Home Support Program in Renfrew and continues to visit the people in the senior homes.
Our children:
Gail married to Steve Campbell and they have a very busy bed and breakfast in Renfrew. She is a pharmacist in Pembroke, and belongs to the UCW, WI and a book club.
George married Kim Covert and they have three sons and two daughters, three granddaughters and one grandson. George cash crops and works in the bush during the winter. He keeps the equipment running on both farms.
Robert married Michelle Lamontagne and they have three daughters. They are on the home farm and very involved in skating, ringette, piano, violin, and of course 4H. After graduating from the University of Guelph, he took over the dairy farm and we added more farms and cash crop. He sells much of his crops as bagged feed f.r small farmers and wildlife lovers.
Katherine married Chad Clost and lives in Ottawa with their two boys, who are into hockey, soccer and ball. She graduated from the University of Guelph and works at Smart Technology. Chad is a real estate broker in Ottawa
