Agricultural History
Agriculture, the backbone of Seymour Township, has changed drastically over the centuries. In the early 1800's, the pioneer and his family built a log shanty and cleared a few acres to grow some wheat and a few vegetables. Seymour settlers were all willing to help each other and `bees` were the regular way of helping a farmer in distress or who needed help for a big undertaking. All were just as ready to go out and cut a man's grain or plow his land as they were to help him erect a home or a big frame barn. All worked and all helped.By the 1850's farmers began to produce a few items for sale like wheat, potash and livestock. Cheese factories were springing up all over Seymour as dairy products like butter, cheese and milk took off. A steady income meant better cattle and larger farm buildings and homes. As transportation methods improved, export of products increased.
By 1919 every county, including Northumberland, had an agriculture representative to assist farmers and support the rural organizations. The arrival of the motor car changed our rural community drastically as people could travel around and outside of our locality with ease. During the 1930's, the great depression occurred and the farm community was reduced to a subsistence level of operation. The two great wars did much to increase the production of food for Canada and starving Europe.
After 1950, farm production increased while farm populations decreased drastically. Farm acreage declined as millions of acres went out of production, 3.8 million acres from 1941-1961 alone. The average farm size grew from 105 acres in 1901 to 154 acres in 1961. Today the small family-operated farm is still alive in Trent Hills but, in other areas, large business-like acreages that specialize in cattle, swine, poultry, milk or food products are becoming more common. Many local farm families supplement agricultural income with off-farm employment.
Historically, there had been more than 17 cheese factories in the Trent Hills area alone but now, Empire Cheese Factory is the lone survivor, as it is the only operating cheese producing plant in Northumberland County. The first Empire Cheese Factory was built in the late 1870's. In 1953 Empire amalgamated with Kimberly Cheese Factory. Today is is still owned by local dairy farmers and is the first cheese manufacturing plant east of Toronto. At Empire, the traditional way of cheese making in an open vat has been handed from cheesemaker to cheesemaker to insure the quality and flavour of the cheese and curd.
Traditional agriculture is still alive in Campbellford but new, expanded agriventures are on the rise in our area with bison, llama, ostrich and emu farms on the rise.
To see all that Trent Hills produces locally, all you need to do is stop at the Farmer's Market Wednesday afternoons or Saturday mornings. The Farmer's Market changes with the seasons and offers a wide variety of items grown right here. Vivid plants, hanging baskets, spring flowers, crates of strawberries, pungent herbs, garden vegetables, gooseberries, raspberries, corn, fruits of all kinds, gourds, pumpkins, dried flowers, squash, carrots, beets, potatoes, pickles and preserves, honey, maple syrup, cider, apples, to fresh bread and deserts.
The Campbellford-Seymour Agricultural Society was formed in 1854. Back the Campbellford Fair took place in October and was held at various locations. By 1878, attractions included horses, sheep, swine, grains and seeds, dairy and kitchen products. The Riding Show became a popular event for the area farmers. By 1889, roots and fruits were added to the usual farm products and to kick off the festivities, Campbellford and Hastings would have a friendly baseball game.
In 1895, the society purchased land at the present location of the Campbellford Fair Grounds. Eventually buildings were erected including a cattle barn and a horse barn. The General Exhibition Arena was built in 1922 for housing poultry but by 1937 it was being used for produce, cheese, school projects, homemaking and flower displays.
The major centenial project in 1967 was the construction of the Campbellford-Seymour Community Arena. Today the Campbellford Fair is a continuing success held over 3 days on the second weekend in August each year. It is still an agriculturally dominated fair but has many other attractions including a large midway with various rides, novelty contests for kids (and the young-at-heart), a petting zoo, school displays, and the biggest attraction - the demolition derby. Horses, cattle, ponies, swine and poultry are exhibited and judged. Other events include Western and English horse shows, a tractor pull competition and horse & pony drawing matches. Still great family fun after all these years.
For more information on the history of agriculture in our area, check out Gleanings or contact our local Heritage Society.