The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Traffic should be heavy on the River Road this Saturday as people travel to 280 River Road to bid on the large array of farm equipment on display. Peru’s farm community is losing a family. Brian and Carole Sipley are moving to Williamsburg, Iowa where they’ve purchased a larger farm.

Brian and Carole purchased their 650-acre Peru farm from Leeward Babbie in 2001. They named it BCS Farms. As Brian explained, “Carole and I operate this farm together and the farm’s name reflects that.”

The Sipley’s new Iowa farm will have 800 milking cows, double the size of their Peru farm. It’s large enough to bring the couple’s sons Zachary and Benjamin into the family business. Over the past month the Sipley’s 400 milking cows have been transported to Iowa where Zach and Ben have been tending to the herd and getting the new farm up and operating.

The Sipleys would have liked to expand their Peru farm, but as Brian explained, “There’s no growth potential here. I can’t compete with the large farms for the available land.” Ironically, Iowa land sells at a higher price than land in Peru, but it’s available. Carole said, “Everywhere you look there’s corn.”

Brian Sipley will be joining his sons next week while Carole will remain in Peru until their daughter Emily, a senior at Peru High School, graduates. Emily traveled to Iowa during February break to check out their new farm and her new hometown. She said she’ll miss Peru and all her friends, but she’s very enthusiastic about her family’s new undertaking. “My brothers are amazed at how friendly and helpful all the people they meet have been.” Emily is a high honor roll student and flutist in the Peru High School Band. She’s received scholarships to attend Iowa State University where she’ll major in agricultural business.

On Wednesday morning of this week, a virtual parade of trucks, all with Vermont license plates, passed through the center of Peru on the way to the Sipley Farm. Earlier in the day a North Hero, Vermont barn burned. None of that farm’s 330 cows were lost, but a barn was needed to board the cattle. As they did when a Plattsburgh barn burned a few years ago, the Sipley’s and BCS Farm’s future owner Jon Rulfs of Adirondack Farms agreed to board the cows until the Vermont farm is back in operation.

Although visibly exhausted as they prepare for Saturday’s auction, Brian, Carole and Emily Sipley radiated a spirit of determination and excitement when speaking of the months ahead. Carole Sipley expressed the family spirit when she said, “We’re always open for a new adventure.”