The Maine Potato Board Announces the 2012 Farm Family of the Year

Rudy Parent Family Of Hamlin Receives Maine Potato Industry Honor

Maine Potato Board is pleased to announce the 2012 Farm Family of the Year – the Rudy Parent family of Hamlin. Rudy, his wife Dinah, his son Jamie, and his brother Bill farm 1200 acres in the St. John Valley. Jamie is the 7th generation to work this land. Although Rudy is “somewhat” retired, with Jamie being the primary grower in the family, no one can live on a busy, successful farm and not be involved in at least the weekly or monthly activity, if not the daily activity.

Rudy started farming right out of Van Buren High School in 1970, and he purchased the farm from his father Gerard in 1986.  Rudy and Dinah raised four children on the farm: Jamie, their oldest son; Nick, who also works on the farm; and two daughters, Heather and Michelle.  All have grown up working in some capacity on the farm, learning a great work ethic. Lucky for grandparents Rudy and Dinah, their daughters live in the County also, so there is opportunity for loving and maintaining closeness with their six grandchildren and soon to be seven nearby. Typical of a large Franco family, the Parent family is tightly bonded and share as many holidays and special occasions as possible.

Jamie studied automotive mechanics at Northern Maine Community College and sought other career opportunities before joining his dad on the farm.  “He wanted to try some other things, but his heart was always in farming, and we were happy when he chose to come back on the farm and carry on as the next generation of Parents on this land,” said Rudy, speaking of his son.

The Parent family grows 600 acres of potatoes and 600 acres of grain.  The potato crop is primarily for processing, and Rudy was selected again as a McCain Top Ten Grower in 2011.

When asked his thoughts looking back on his years in farming in the Valley, Rudy thoughtfully reflected on three primary changes. “First, there is the mechanization of the industry…we’ve gone from picking potatoes with a hand crew and moving potatoes in barrels to the amazing equipment farmers use today.  We could not handle the size of our crops today with barrels loaded on a truck.  Then there is the size of the equipment available today.  It’s incredible… we’ve gone from ten row sprayers to 36 row sprayers and Jamie’s latest implementation of a six row planter. When you consider the size and capability of windrowers and harvesters and computerized ventilated storages with the ability to keep potatoes for ten months...my grandfather would shake his head in disbelief,” he said. “My father Gerard is 87 years old, and he and his generation have seen the most changes in their lifetime.”

Rudy added, “ And today’s technology changes everything.  All those systems that are available to growers today, whether in the farm office or out in the field, help us maintain our quality potato industry.  It really makes a difference for growers.”
Best piece of advice Rudy has for younger folks in the industry?  “Don’t be afraid to change…you have to keep up with the times!”

Although growing potatoes has been more than a full-time job for Rudy over the years, he has also been a key figure in his home town area.  Rudy has been first selectman in Hamlin for 27 years, has been a member of St. Joseph’s Parish Council for more than 25 years, and now serves on the finance committee of the re-structured parishes in their home region.

 An on-going regional tradition is an annual harvest mass in early September, when parishioners gather to pray for a safe and successful harvest.  The mass annually rotates between Hamlin, Van Buren and Cyr Plantation. When it’s Hamlin’s year, the mass is held in the Parent’s potato house.  Usually 50 to 75 people attend the evening mass, followed by refreshments and socializing.  “We always look forward to our year for hosting the mass,” said Dinah, sharing photos and memories of a meaningful tradition in their parish.  “All our family shares in these times and memories.”

And according to Rudy, a strong faith and family is key to living a productive, meaningful and quality life as stewards of the soil.  “A family operation can better withstand the good times and the bad.  That support from the family and for one another makes it possible.  My strongest asset is my supportive wife.  That’s been the glue for the Parent family.