Growing Up on the Farm, a look into local agriculture, fueled by KUBOTA. Today, we are profiling Gables Farm in Rideau Lakes, Ontario.
Mark Schellings and his family have owned and operated Gables Farm in Rideau for about 70 years. The dairy farm was started by Schellings’ grandfather and has since been passed down through generations.
Schellings said the farm currently milks 110 cows in a freestall barn while also growing corn, soybeans and alfalfa hay.
He said the farm’s name comes from the family home, which features six large gables.
A typical day starts around 5 a.m. with feeding, milking and caring for the cows. Schellings also spends hours working outside, including cutting and baling hay, planting crops and maintaining the farm.
Schellings said one of the biggest challenges facing the farm is finding reliable workers, especially those who can work evenings and weekends. Rising input costs are also creating challenges.
He said supporting local agriculture is important because it helps strengthen the local economy, gives people a better understanding of where their food comes from and often means fresher products.
Schellings said he is very proud of what he and his family have built over the years.
The complete Growing Up On The Farm podcast featuring Mark Schellings is available below:
Story by: Evan Gibb
