L-R Melvin, Jim & Bob Irwin
By John T. Ryan
Peru – October 14, 2017 will be a day of significant change for Bob, Jim and Melvin Irwin owners of Maplegrand Farm at 139 Jarvis Road. An auctioneer will sell the farm’s 170 cattle. A few days later when all the cattle are gone, the brothers will still be farmers, but they will be crop farmers rather than dairy farmers. They’ll continue to grow and sell the hay, corn, oats and apples harvested on the farm’s fertile 1,300 acres.
Ironically, it was 100 years ago in 1917 that their grandparents, Joseph and Lenore Church Irwin, decided to leave Peasleeville and purchase the Jarvis Road farm and it was 67 years ago on October 14,1950 that their late parents Kermit and Bertha Nax “Bert” Irwin were joined in marriage. Joseph and Kermit loved farming and passed that love on to their offspring.
Bob Irwin explained, “We’re not selling the cows because we don’t enjoy it any more, but we’re getting to the point where everything is work. We used to work 12 to 14 hours a day and not think anything about it. When you get into your 60’s it’s not as much fun. It’s more work than it used to be.” They also recall when their father Kermit advised them not to work too long. He wanted them to get out and see more of the world.
Kermit and Bert Irwin had six children: Betty, Bob, Jean, Jim, Melvin and Chris. When they were first married they lived in the house at the corner of the River Road and Route 22B. Bob said, “Dad had 100 acres there. I can still remember looking out the window and seeing Dad harvest oats on what is now LaFlure Lane and Washington Street.” The Irwins still own that house and 3.8 acres of nearby apple orchards.
The brothers treasure memories of life along the Little Ausable River. Melvin explained, “The river is a big chunk of our childhood. Like Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer, we’d go out to run in the hills until Mom would ring the bell for lunch.” Jim added, “We’d all run trap lines for muskrat and we’d fish. The Mason Lumber Company would put up their flush boards and the river’s water level would rise. We’d swim or go rafting. We’d have sliding and skating parties and play hockey on the river. Sometimes there were 30 or 40 kids. We could skate all the way to Harkness.”
Bob, Jim and Melvin formed an ownership partnership in 1982. Anyone in their presence quickly senses their close working relationship. Kermit Irwin taught them well. Melvin said, “I think Dad pretty much instilled that in us over the years. He always said, ‘If you can’t get along you’ll have nothing.’” The brothers have complimentary college degrees – Bob in animal husbandry, Jim in agriculture and engineering and Melvin in agronomy, or as Bob says, “Manure, grease and dirt.”
The Irwin’s registered holstein herd has long been known as one of the best producing herds in the region. In 1980 one of their cows won awards as the top producing cow in the United States and 7th in the world. Recalling that cow Melvin said, “Dad used to say, ‘When all the cows were laying down in the pasture she was still munching.’” The farm’s reputation has grown to the point that its cows and their offspring can be found in Russia, Korea, Saudi Arabia and even South America.
When asked what the most satisfying part of farming has been they responded in unison, “Raising our families here.” Melvin said, “All our kids showed cows at 4-H and the fair. A lot of lessons were learned there. It was a big part of our life.” Between them the brothers have nine children, 8 girls and 1 boy. Jim’s son Tyler will continue working at the family farm.
While Bob, Jim and Melvin Irwin will miss dairy farming, they’ll undoubtedly ensure that Maplegrand Farm continues to thrive. They’ll also continue spreading the good news about life on a family farm.
Click to see Peru Gazette photos of Maplegrand Farm over the past several years.
