WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) —
An old farm house on Main Street in Cobden was purchased in 1956 by Jack McLaren. He renovated the building, turning it into the store where he and his wife Janice McLaren started an electrical business on May 21, 1954.
Both Mr. and Mrs. McLaren grew up on farms in the area. Being from a dairy farm in Foresters Falls, Mrs. McLaren was a vital part of the business. She managed operations and helped in the decision making, all while running their family home.
When they were approached by Surge Dairy Equipment Company and offered a dealership, they did not pass on the opportunity. “It seemed to fit well,” said Mr. McLaren.
Most farmers had small herds and shipped cream, so to meet the needs of their customers, the McLaren’s began to carry milk cans followed by bulk tanks. According to Mr. McLaren, “we were in the right business at the right time and sold a lot of bulk tanks.”
As business grew, they purchased property on Highway 17 in 1972, where they built the existing building. Their business then ventured into other avenues of farming, including building barns and sheds, as well as selling stabling, manure equipment and grain storage.
The McLaren’s put an importance on training their staff to sell, install and service the equipment carried. They also placed an importance on the proper keeping of inventory and stress farming is a seven day commitment.
“Customers get to know the staff and like to see the same employees coming back to install and service their equipment,” stated Mr. McLaren. “We have also been fortunate to have great long-term customers and suppliers over the years.”
In the early 1990’s, Wayne McLaren took over the business from his father and has continued to run it the same way. While Wayne’s two sons chose different paths, “it was nice to see the business carried on by my son and being able to support our customers over the years,” said Mr. McLaren. In 2011, McLaren Systems was inducted into the Renfrew County Wall of Fame for their contributions to agriculture.
Both father and son acknowledge the agricultural industry has seen changes over the years. Most small farms used to have 10 to 12 cows, compared to the larger and more modernized herds of around 200 cows found today. Milking parlours and robotic milkers are just a few of the changes which make it harder for small farms to compete. “Farmers are retiring and not being replaced,” said Mr. McLaren. “Before, there were around 70,000 cattle in the Renfrew County, Lanark County and Pontiac County areas. Now, it is hard to find 7,000.”
Mr. McLaren retired in June of 1994 but is never too far away. He likes to keep an eye on things and may fully retire eventually, but for now his interest keeps him coming back.
Wayne fondly refers to his father as, “a true people person who is always there for his customers and family.” The McLaren’s have been happily married for 65 years and have four children, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
