Adam Prudhomme
Editor
For over a century the Baldwin family has operated Gentility Farms on RR 2 in Adolphustown.
In honour of this rare feat, the dairy farm was recently designated a Century Farm by the Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario and recognized by the Town of Greater Napanee.
To mark the accomplishment, Kevin Baldwin, who operates the dairy farm with his son Adam, was recently presented with a plaque and certificate from Greater Napanee Ward 1 councillor John McCormack. It was through the help of McCormack that they were able to submit the necessary paper work to receive the prestigious designation.
“My great-grandpa, in 1920, bought the farm and started it and then it was passed down to my parents,” said Kevin. “My great-grandpa raised four kids on the farm. My parents raised five kids on the farm. I’ve raised four on the farm and Adam is working on the farm now, partnered with me, and he’s got three children.”
Through a bit of research, Kevin was able to track down the land registry that showed his great-grandfather Delbert Baldwin purchased the farm on Jan. 30, 1920. On July 20 of 1965 it was transferred to his mother, Cecilly and then later to him.
Gentility Farms as it appeared in the 1950s compared to modern day. Submitted photo.
“The farm has always shipped milk, for 102 years,” said Kevin. “The Ontario Milk Marketing Board that we sell our milk to, it has only been going for 65 or 70 years. There was always those little cheese factories that took the milk before and that’s who they were selling to. Way back when my great-grandfather had it, they didn’t milk cows all year long. They milk in the spring, summer and fall and then they dried the cows up and took the winter off. Now we’re into right around the clock.”
With the designation comes a sign that they now proudly display at the front of their property that notes the farm has been in the same family for 100 years. The concept of a Century Farm designation was created during Canada’s centennial year of 1965 and is overseen by the Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario. To qualify, a direct descendent of the same family must have owned the farm for at least 100 consecutive years and a family member must still be living on the active farm.
Once the paper work was submitted, the process was a rather quick one as their sign arrived within a month. While that may seem like a short turn around for these types of projects, Adam quipped out the actual process was over 100 years in the making.