By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD – The families of Dominic and Gilbert LaJoie, brothers who represent five generations of farming in Van Buren and Cyr Plantation, were honored July 16 as the Maine Potato Board’s 2010 Farm Family of the Year.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
The families of Dominic and Gilbert LaJoie, brothers who represent five generations of farming in Van Buren and Cyr Plantation, were honored July 16 as the Maine Potato Board’s 2010 Farm Family of the Year. Dominic and Gilbert operate LaJoie Growers LLC in partnership with their nephew and son, respectively, Jay LaJoie. The LaJoies harvest about 380 acres of potatoes, 450 acres of grain, and 35 acres of beets. Pictured are, from left, front row: Aaron Bouchard, nephew; Shae Bouchard, niece; Nicholas LaJoie, Dominic’s son; Normand LaJoie, father; Maxine LaJoie, mother; Rachel Sirois, niece; Thomas LaJoie, Dominic’s son; and Micaela Gendreau, niece. Second row: Sky LaJoie, Gilbert’s son; Michael Perreault, Gilbert’s step-son; Lindsay LaJoie, Dominic’s daughter; Laura Morrow, Dominic’s mother-in-law; Brooke LaJoie, Gilbert’s daughter; Cathy Sirois, niece; Megan LaJoie, Dominic’s daughter; and Emily Desjardins, niece. Third row: Steve Moore, brother-in-law; Julie Moore, sister; Norma Desjardins, sister; Raymond Morrow, Dominic’s father-in-law; Gisele Gendreau, sister; Sarah Sirois, sister; and Denise Hayes, sister. Fourth row: Paul Desjardins, brother-in-law; Monica Beaulieu, sister; and Jerry Hayes, brother-in-law. Top row: Dominic LaJoie, Rachel LaJoie, Dominic’s wife; Jay LaJoie, Gilbert’s son; Kim LaJoie, Gilbert’s wife; and Gilbert LaJoie.
The LaJoies were the guests of honor at the Board’s annual Industry Dinner held during the Maine Potato Blossom Festival in Fort Fairfield.
Dominic and Gilbert operate LaJoie Growers LLC in partnership with their nephew and son, respectively, Jay LaJoie. The brothers run most of the field operations while Jay manages the office. The LaJoies, along with the active support of their wives and children – and parents Normand and Maxine – harvest about 380 acres of potatoes, 450 acres of grain, and 35 acres of beets.
Dominic, who sits on the Maine Potato Board and is an active participant of the National Potato Council, sitting on the Environmental Affairs Committee and the Trade Committee, said his parents are “the main reason we’re part of the industry today.”
“They have shown us the true value of working together as a family, and that by sharing our different talents, we can all become successful together,” he said. “Probably the greatest lesson Dad ever taught me was to have patience and faith. He’s optimistic … he’s just gifted that way. He can take the worst situation and turn it around.”
During the awards ceremony, Normand shared how when his children were small, they all “did paddycake.”
“That’s when I knew they were ready so I took them by the hand to the potato field to pick rocks,” he said.
The LaJoies sell their potatoes to Terra Chips, a company that has pioneered new varieties of potato chips and, as a result, carved a new niche in the natural snacks market. Working with Terra Chips symbolizes a big change the LaJoies have experienced in their lifetime of farming.
“It used to be that potatoes were upfront, and everyone always grabbed a bag,” said Dominic. “Now consumers have so many choices. There’s so much competition, and we’ve had to innovate to meet new demands.”
Innovation in farming is also obvious when it come to technology.
“Today, our tractors, sprayers, everything has computers,” said Dominic. “We’re very precise, don’t waste anything, and are more efficient with less labor.”
Labor is less, but it still takes clear minds and a lot of hands to run a farm. LaJoie Growers hires about four full-time employees – a number that swells to about 15 during the busy season. Dominic hopes over the years new generations continue to stay interested in and committed to farming. He’d like to see more people follow in the footsteps of his nephew Jay, who’s been an instrumental addition to the team.
Dominic’s advice to those who follow is threefold: Never give up; be open-minded and embrace change; and take chances.
“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank the Maine Potato Board and everyone in the industry for this award,” Dominic said. “We feel very honored and fortunate to be part of the potato industry in Maine.
“It is a blessing to have the opportunity to farm with my family; at the end of the day, that is very important to me. Family is Number One,” he said. “I’m very blessed to have the family that I have.”
In addition to thanking his wife and children, Dominic also recognized his six sisters who were all in attendance.
“I remember when my sisters started to leave home … going off to college. It was a big concern for me because all I could think of was that our help was leaving,” he joked. “I figured it was the beginning of the end. I’d look out at harvest time and we had the old mechanical harvester and it had room for six people on there, and I figured that’s where my sisters were working and now they’re leaving.
“With the circle of life, Gil and I, after my sisters left had to make our own crew, so we both had children,” said Dominic. “My two daughters have left for college and the help is leaving again.”
Gilbert also shared some thoughts on the importance of family, who are more like best friends.
“You know how you have a couple of best friends in life that you like to spend time with? I have the opportunity to be surrounded by best friends … I have my dad, brother and son … all of my children. It’s pretty amazing to be able to get up in the morning and go to work with your best friends.
“When I get up in the morning I’m anxious to go to work, and when I come home at night, I’m anxious for the next day. It’s very rewarding,” said Gilbert. “I thank you all very much for this honor … it’s very nice.”
During the Farm Family of the Year awards presentation, Tim Hobbs, director of development and grower relations for the Maine Potato Board, presented the LaJoies with an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol on behalf of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. Brandon Roope, president of the Maine Potato Board, also presented the Farm Family with engraved clocks.
Sen. Troy Jackson (D-District 35) and Rep. Bernard Ayotte (R-District 3) presented a legislative sentiment to the LaJoies.
“It is a pleasure for me to recognize the LaJoie family,” said Ayotte. “It certainly is an honor for myself and Sen. Jackson to represent them in Augusta. Being a LaJoie in Cyr Plantation and Van Buren can be compared to being a Kennedy in Boston. They have good looks, they have intelligence and they’re very powerful. They are also very deserving of this honor.”
In congratulating the LaJoies, Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board, thanked the family for their willingness to go the extra mile.
“They are some of the nicest people in agriculture and the nicest people in the potato business,” Flannery said. “Because of Dominic’s involvement with the Maine Potato Board, we’ve taken advantage of him a bit and asked him to do things that aren’t at the most convenient of times of the year to do it, and he’s never said ‘No’ to us. That means a lot to us and means a lot to the industry.”
