Ryandale Farm celebrates 150 years of farming

The year 2010 is a milestone for the Ryan family. The Ryan family's ancestor started farming along the Nation River 150 years ago in Riceville, Ontario. What a journey it took to bring them there.

The book entitled "The Descendants of John Ryan and Maurice Shane" starts by stating: "We do not know for certain, the reasons why, in 1814, John Ryan with his wife and seven sons decided to set sail from Wexford, Ireland to cross the stormy Atlantic to an unknown land."

Little did they know back then, that their son, George, would have a son of his own and that he would be the reason why family, neighbors and friends will be gathering on Saturday, August 7 to celebrate 150 years of farming at Ryandale Farm. On August 10, 1860 the Land Registry Office in L'Orignal shows Hugh Ryan as grantee of 200 acres located on Lot 8, Concession 11, in Plantagenet Township. Five years later the land was divided in two halves, the west part registered to Hugh and the east part registered to his brother, George Jr. The two were described as being close brothers and the beginning of two strong lines of born farmers. They worked jointly at clearing land, digging ditches and building their first log buildings.

Eleven years later, in 1871, Hugh married Mary MacGregor. Three boys and four girls were born from that union: Ellen, Catherine, Alfred, Jane, Anne, Lewis and Urban. Hugh built his second house, a frame structure covered with red brick from the Scott brickyard that was located just up the road at the corner of Concession 12 and Scotch River Road. This house is where the family grew up and was in use until 1920. Hugh saw his oldest son Alfred, settled on a farm in the area; his second son Lewis, take over the family farm and; his youngest son Urban, settle as a homesteader out west.

In 1921, Lewis, just like his brother Urban, left home to settle in the prairies. It is at that time that Alfred purchased the property and moved back to the homestead with his wife Florence Shane and their two sons, Walter and Norbert, as well as their two daughters, Jessie and Mary.  In 1936, Alfred, who was joined in farming by his two sons Walter and Norbert, purchased his cousin, Simon Gordon MacGregor's farm across the road. It's in 1948, that Walter built a house there and settled with his wife Ethel McKinley and their three children: Gregory, Alma and Colleen.

Norbert took over the family farm with his wife Pauline Shane. The result of their union was six girls and two boys: Lynne, Leona, Sheryl, Kevin, Rita, Helen, Howard and Deana. Up until now, progress had been very slow over the years. But with the 1950s came machinery on tires, trackers replaced horses, and changes became essential. Renovations, which took place in the 60's, included eliminating hay mows, barn floors and horse stables turning into cow stalls and box stalls with a stable cleaner running the full length of the building.  A hay conveyor at one end of the barn was installed and carried bales the full length of the building, dropping them into the different lofts. The 70's saw the 30-gallon milk cans, cooled with ice which was taken from the river and stored in sawdust. Those days have long disappeared and been replaced by a bulk tank-pipe line milking system now providing a set quota of milk from the refrigerated stainless steel tanker truck. The 80's saw the end of cows swimming across the river for their daytime pasture and the next generation, the fourth one, taking over the family farm and expending it.

Knowing the story of the beginning of this farm when it was divided between Hugh and George Jr., is to understand why Charles (George Jr.'s son.) expressed his wish to his sons, Garrett and Lawrence that "should they ever want to sell the river farm, first chance was to be given to Norbert." His wish was granted and Howard, Norbert's youngest son, acquired the land as he became the Family Farmer. Howard also added the Franklin farm to his holdings, a farm which his father had rented for many years.

Howard married Roxanne Lalonde in 1995 and they became what is now commonly known as a reconstructed family, with both their boys, Christopher and Miguel.  Roxanne helped Howard with daily chores every chance she had, until the boys were old enough to help out.  Christopher knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a farmer, just like his father, so yet another generation of Ryan's will be taking over the family farm in the coming years. After high school, Christopher pursued his education at the Agriculture College in Alfred and is now working the farm along with his father.

Knowing that Christopher wanted to farm, Howard added more silos to store feed, renovated the barn to accommodate more cows and purchased additional milk quota to support the growing enterprise.  Ray Reid's farm was purchased to allow more land and a place to keep the young animals. About 15 years ago, after thinking long and hard about it, a decision was made to convert the Ayrshire herd to Holsteins in the effort to produce more milk. In 2006 South Nation Holstein was created and now counts 100 heads of cattle to the profile. The last Ayrshire cow, Christopher's 18-year old pet cow, "Joe Blow," was put down due to old age last fall and buried on the farm.  Therefore, there was Ayrshire cattle on the farm for 149 years.  The current herd includes 55 milking cows providing an average of 11,000 kilograms of milk per lactation and 60 heifer calves ensuring the continuity of the farm.

Howard and Christopher share the workload evenly, discuss and decide together which jobs or projects take priority.  Christopher has become the boss of the cows. Each year he attends as many local fairs and cattle sales as time permits. He attends the Victoriaville Quebec Holstein Show in the spring as well as Toronto's Royal Winter Fair in the fall.  He checks out the cattle, investigates what bloodlines work best together, and brings his knowledge home to breed each of his cows to the bull best suited for her in the hope that every heifer calf born, will turn out to be a better cow than its mother.

In the past year, Howard & Roxanne purchased a house in Riceville, allowing the next generation space to grow. Christopher is now living in the homestead with his girlfriend Isabel Larocque. Just like Roxanne did a few years ago, Isabel has gotten involved with the farm and helps out when the opportunity arises.