Being a good neighbour is a two-way street, says Cliff Whitelock.
The Drayton Valley, Alta., cattle producer and his wife, Audrey, won
last month’s good farm neighbour award at a ceremony sponsored by the
United Farmers of Alberta, and a radio station and magazine.
“I’ve always tried to be a decent neighbour, and help with a tractor
breakdown or help bale or combine,” Whitelock said.
“About any way I can help, I do.”
The cattle producer said his attitude came from growing up in the
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drought years of the 1930s.
“When I was a kid there was no money. My dad taught us to help others.
If I was done my work then I would help someone else finish up haying
before a storm.”
The Whitelocks have also been on the receiving end.
“I have excellent neighbours. When I’m still calving at 3 a.m., I just
have to pick up the phone and call and they’re here.”
Whitelock said in a bad growing year like 2002 has been, there is not
much more he can do in his community other than the usual. This year
his neighbours helped him hay before the rain started drizzling. He
then helped them with their silage.
The Whitelocks run fewer cattle now – 125 head, down from 200. But that
is not due to the drought. It was just time to cut back as he heads
into retirement.
His advice to farmers on being a neighbour?
“I’d hate to live in an area where you’re totally alone in your day to
day work. It’s not good if you depend on hired people – it’s even hard
to find people to hire.”
