To work in Canada is a privilege

I remember my first real summer job, other than on my father’s farm which started much, much earlier, pitching green peas from the trucks into the conveyors that took that green stuff into the Winkler pea cannery. Most likely in 1962 or 63, can’t quite remember, but I. R. Dyck was the manager and the inside boss Edgar Loeppky of Altona, MB.

Temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit, it felt like global warming then already, standing on top of the green peas, drinking water as often as absolutely possible. The initial pay, 90 cents an hour, and a ten cent an hour bonus if we lasted through to the very last load that came from the field that summer. I remember a few lasted to the very end, and what a surprise to get that larger than expected cheque at the end.

However, I did make up my mind that I had worked at this job two times, my first time was also going to be my last time.

With the talk of raises to the minimum wage wherever you look, and a real shortage in farm labour, it’s tough for some areas to get the desired help they require whether on the field, in the yard, or even in meat and other processing plants.

Many people while unemployed in cities and some of the larger rural towns find it difficult to first of all understand what working on the farm means, or any other Ag sector, maybe because there aren’t the people who are willing to give them a heads up or an update.

So now we bring the Syrian refugees into our communities and will they want to work on the farm or places like that.

When the hog industry was flying high, meaning some ten years ago, hog workers often had the say as to how long they’d work at one place, and if they didn’t like it there, they knew the hog barn down the road would most likely take him in, and pay him even more. Those times came to an abrupt end, when the hog industry tanked, and producers simply closed barns.

Now with the hog industry back on its feet and even making a little money, producers need people to work in those full barns.

Also, today’s advancing technology and driving a million dollar piece of equipment, I kid you not, whether grain farms or hog barns takes some learning, training, and precision operators.

You may smile and ask where is there such equipment? A new John Deere track tractor with all the bells and whistles, adding the exchange, at least several weeks back, $850 K, add to that a $250 K air seeder, and a million buck quite easily making one pass down the field.

It wasn’t but a few years back, that farmers in Alberta, and parts of Saskatchewan couldn’t get people to drive the tractors, combines, and / or trucks because the $50 an hour plus paid by the oil patch companies. Often farmers would park some equipment rather than pay that amount. Of course, that has changed drastically where many of those oil patch workers are now looking for work.

I know of some of the larger farms in southern Manitoba would either buy or rent land from a retiring farmer in his early 60’s who then in turn would work for the farm that took over his farm. A great deal both ways because it gave the bigger farm a trained and competent worker/operator and that person could continue on with his love for farming. Often in bigger, newer and better equipment than he’d ever run on his smaller farm.

I maintain, if both parties are willing, there is good work, at a fair wage, working in the farming industry.

Easter – Today I’m thankful I serve and worship the God of the whole Bible, who has a Son Jesus, whose death, burial, and resurrection are vital to the Christian faith. We celebrate Easter because of God sending His only begotten Son into this world, so we can have salvation, on this earth, but also for all eternity. May the God, who created the universe and keeps the world in the palm of His hand, give you life, and life everlasting.

To serve Him, and to serve agriculture the basic industry in this world for me is an honour and a privilege. To God be the glory.

While never going back to pitch the green peas from truck to conveyor, I did help grade fresh potatoes in a potato storage in Plum Coulee, help catch them in 120 pound bags, sew them shut with a big needle and baler twine, and stack them on a pile. Looking back, even that was a privilege. If you want to work and eat, there is work. •