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"A Family Tradition for 130 Years" Farm wife finds life ich anc If you've ever wondered about the role a farmer's wife plays, chances are you'll dis- cover they're enjoying a wonderful quality of life, with the good experiences definitely outweighing any negative aspects. The Port Perry Star spoke to two farm wives recently who offered to share their views with our readers. By Heather McCrae The Port Perry Star OR DONNA BARKEY, the role of a farm wife has been a rich and rewarding experience -- and the farm's been an excellent place to live, the Blackstock woman says. While some women come to the farm through matrimony, such wasn't the case with the farmer's daugh- ter, who grew up on a farm in Pinegrove, south of Uxbridge. Donna was never in 4-H ("I took music lessons instead," she said), but she was involved in Junior Farmers. In fact, it was through that association she met her future hus- band. The year Donna was at teacher's college in Toronto, she met Frank at the Royal, where he was helping in the Junior Farmer's booth. The Barkeys' six children have all belonged to 4-H. Carolyn, 21, is now in her final year, and her 16-year old sister, Kathryn, will continue in the Durham East Dairy Club. And for the first time, she's a member of the Durham East Swine Club this year too. "4-H has been excellent for.our children" Donna says. It's given several of her children the opportunity to travel abroad. Sharyn won a trip to Madison while a son, Glen, now 25 and married, was able to take part in a 4- H exchange trip to Scotland. You know the saying "like mother, like daughter"? This applies to the Barkeys. While Donna was a dairy princess three times (twice before her marriage, and once after), her daughters Sharyn Sargent, Elaine Cole and Carolyn all served in the title as well. But Kathryn won't be part of the family's routine, as the dairy princess program was cancelled at the end of Carolyn's reign. On the Barkey farm, everyone pitches in to help. Even though she lives in Seagrave, Elaine is always ready to help with the haying and chorgs, if needed. While Glen works for Cormdale Genetics in Georgetown, he still helps milk the cows as he and his wife live north of the farm. And it appears agriculture will remain a good part of the Barkey family. Eric, 23, will be starting his final year in Agricultural Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten A PAPER MUST COVER GOOD AND BAD NEWS The constantbarrage of bad P| news stories the past few months about vandalism, car thefts, break and enters, assaults, etc, leaves a person a little numb attimes and asking the question - "what's going on this summer." We often get asked why we print so much bad news and why we don't print more positive stories about things happening in the community. Well we do! Every week we report good news stories in the Star, put unfortunately most people don'tremember them near as long as the stories relating to tragedy. Bad news - whether it's a car accident, a robbery or Economics at the University of Guelph this fall, while Carolyn is working on her Animal Science degree at the university too. "When the kids were young we weren't able to take m4ny holidays, but now that they're older and can manage the farm, Frank and I can get away more often," said Donna. ; While Frank likes to go to the Holstein and Dairy con- ventions, Donna always manages to miss one of the two "because Institute falls on that same night". "We've met a lot of wonderful people orhelt h sales and showing of our cattle," she said. On: os Ss the fami- ly has witnessed some of their animals acflieve gloryinthe show ring. For instance, when one of their cows was sold? in a sale in Preston, England, Donna and Frank attended the event. Another time when Carolyn was in Scotland a cou- ple of years ago, she had the thrill of seeing one of their former animals crowned Junior Champion at a cham- pionship Holstein show. E Now, with new mechanisms offered on the farm, Donna feels farming is a lot easier now than ever before. For instance, instead of milking machines and carrying pails of milk to the tank, the cows are hooked up to a pipeline and the moo juice travels from the animal along the line to the tank. "There isn't half the heavy lifting there was a few years ago". In 1987, when Frank was Holstein President for i Ontario, he was on the road a lot, which left Donna and the § children at home to manage the farm. At one time she says ne knew all the statistics about each animal but now admits her knowledge is a bit rusty. "But I still know a lot of the cattle's genetic background," she smiled. Now, the children and Frank do most of the work "I'm just a support person - I'm here to help" Donna says mod- estly. "But I can still milk cows, help: deliver calves and feed them". "Living on a farm has been the best teaching tool" she feels. "Everything doesn't turn up roses. If a eal dies, it isn't the end. But this way the kids see the whole cycle of farming". "The dairy industry.has been good to us" she says "We've made a lot of wonderful friendships and have had home. a lot of opportunities that maybe we ret have had For the last three otherwise." houses for everyone | They've had people come from all over the world to tour their farm. "I'm always there to provide a coffee pot," Donna smiled. Currently, the Barkeys have about 100 i head of Holsteins with 35 of these animals milking. proudly says "they're c A hobby Donna enjoys on the farm is tending to her For another woman's view flower gardens. She has a large variety of roses, from flor- role as a farmer's wife in ne Donna Barkey nother enjoyment is ¥ come to visit. Ages 6, and the arrival of a motorcycle gangin town, create a lot So it's gratifyingwh more interest for the majority than stories aboutpeo- along like two events | car ple who perform wonderful services for the communi- end while outon assignn ty or reach important milestones in their lives. In Seagrave, Mary Taylor During the past month this paper has printeddoz- and neighbours threw a giant pi ens of good stories, but 'm sure mostofthemhave raise = for her cousin Fre been forgotten by our readers. needofa marowtian For instance: during July we reported on Roy Grier- son being honored by Durham Region Community ~~ made something ghappen by Care; Dorothy Fulford being elected the firstwoman raising funds to help president of the Durham Region TowingAssociation; sands of Wm local school students graduating; Vicki Sanderson We hope Tn being named Hostess of the Year for Welcome Wagon: new Canadians receiving their citizenshipin * And how about Port Perry; Marion Lee receiving a CanadaAchieve- upon themselves tors ment Award; a family reunited after 25 years apart; ~~ mals at Northwood Leslie Bradley winning Canadian and Ontario titles Notonly did the girls for her singing; plenty of coverage of the Canada Day, made all of the item: Festival Days, Highland Games and many more. These were all good news stories, but notsensa- tional. Even so it's important to give abalance of the good and bad going on in the community.