It’s all in the family.
Four generations of family members named Michael Smith are being celebrated for 100 years of farming at the family operated 13 Maples Farm on Somenos Road. They were recently recognized with a Century Farm Award for their contribution to B.C. agriculture and their local community which they received in the mail in June.
“I am proud of our family’s history of farming in the Cowichan Valley and quietly contributing to our local community,” said Michael D. Smith, current owner of 13 Maples Farm. “I hope to hand down the farm to my daughter Charlotte and fifth generation Michael J. in the future. It’s just nice for us, there’s a lot happening in the world so it’s really nice to have a piece of paradise like this.”
The Century Farm Award program was created in 1994 to mark the centennial of the Ministry of Agriculture, and honours agriculture families and organizations that have operated in B.C. for more than a century, while celebrating the rich heritage of farming, and ranching in B.C.
“Family farms are so important as they provide nutritious home-grown food for their communities and the Smith family have been doing this for more than 100 years in the Cowichan Valley,” said Minister of Agriculture and Food Pam Alexis. “Century Farm Awards celebrate long-standing B.C. farming families and I want to congratulate all of the Michaels and the entire Smith family on their well-deserved achievement.”
The Smiths have been farming in Cowichan since 1987. The colourful story of the four Michaels and the rest of the Smith family started more than 130 years ago when they made the trek from Nova Scotia to the Cowichan area after originally immigrating from England in the 1850s. Brothers Michael and Bob first planted the seed and began a mining, logging and a dairy operation at their farm of more than 40 hectares on Somenos Road.
In 1936 Michael J., the son of Michael and his wife Edith, took over the family farm, focusing on dairy. Michael J. carried on the family tradition two-fold, and out of his of his three children, he named one of his two sons Michael K. While his other children Marg and Frank left the farm for other pursuits, Michael K. stuck around and eventually cared for 35 head of cattle and 200 layer hens. Wearing a couple of hats, he was also the president of the Duncan Farmers Market, and when not tending to the animals on their acreage, Michael K. would work alongside his dad at the Crofton Pulp Mill.
“It was a real surprise to find out we were getting it,” said Michael K. “It’s nice to be recognized that we have been here that long.”
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Over the years several parcels of land on the family farm were sold to make way for Somenos Road. This was followed by the development of the Trans-Canada Highway. A third section was cut off for work on a water pipeline. Today, the fourth generation Michael Smith, Michael D. continues to tend to, and work on 13 Maples Farm, which is now 10.5 hectares.
“We’re really excited, and happy to receive this honour,” said Michael D. “It’s been a lot of work, but it’s cool to be able to do it, and still have it preserved. The fact that we’ve been able to continue to do it, is probably the best part.”
Michael D. has two little ones of his own, his son Michael J., and his daughter Charlotte, and while he says it would be nice if they wanted to continue to carry on the family tradition, it is a choice that will be theirs as they get older.
While the farmland has decreased in size, it has grown in other ways. Michael D. currently has eggs, chickens, pigs, goats and crops, as well as a farm-stand.
You can find more information on how to nominate a farm, or organization for a Century Farm Award by visiting the Century Farm and Ranch Award website.
“It is so important that we celebrate and recognize our legacy farm families in British Columbia,” said Nanaimo-North Cowichan MLA, Doug Routley. “I want to congratulate the Smith family on their Century Farm Award and say thank you for your incredible contribution to our community for more than 100 years.”
chadd.cawson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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