Page 5 - Newsletter Spring 2021

We Do This Every Year,

Right? Reflections by Jennifer F. Sylvester,

wife of Torrey A. Sylvester ‘54

I came from the prairies of Western Canada, but not from the farms
there, because my father worked in city government, so we were sort
of city-fied. We visited friends on their farms, but these were mostly
grains and machines did the bulk of the harvesting. Thus “picking”
potatoes was totally foreign to me until I married a County boy and
learned of this annual fall event. I even tried my hand at picking
after having my first child, thinking I should try to understand just
how it is done. What I learned is how it hurt. I was told it was more
difficult if you were “tall” so that was my excuse when I quit after 3
days!!

"...picking potatoes was totally
foreign to me until I married a
County boy..."

The Sylvester’s son, Sam, picking ‘spuds’
Fast forward from that first experience, and that “first child” is now
10 and wants to “pick.” We had just moved to Houlton, so this was
a thrill for him. I was not so sure but went with it for the sake of
peace in the home. Here is what I learned: Fast forward even more. I now had four children I sent
to the field each day. Some driving the truck, working the
4:30 Listen to WHOU for the pickers report. No rain. Wake our harvester, or picking. Same MO. Only now the oldest
son. Prepare a good breakfast, pack a giant lunch complete with would listen to the radio, call me if necessary, and off they
Table Talk pies (a tip I learned from my sis-in-law), although mostly would all go laden with lunches and optimism. I would
she baked fresh for her farm family. pray for sunny weather so I could catch my breath before
they all returned, hungry, dirty, and happy, especially after
5:30 Send son off with clean clothes, big lunch, and prayers for payday. I bought into the rhythm of the harvest and even
safety. the romance of it all, for with that annual event, came
optimism, camaraderie and prosperity and it was good to
9:00 Rain starts. Son comes home, covered in mud, empty lunch be a part of such a feeling.
bag because he was bored!
But my honest to goodness statement “We do this every
9:15 Laundry!!!! year, right???” will always be remembered by Torrey and
me with laughter, as my introduction to the work ethic of
The County.
10:00 I’m hungry!!!

This is when I first said to Torrey, “We do this every year, right?” I
knew it intellectually, but viscerally I could not get my head around
it.

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