To the editor:
Since the age of 12 I have worked in a potato house for four weeks out of my school year. I am the oldest grandchild of 33 who make up the sixth generation of our family farm. In 1886, my great-great-great grandfather started with less than 65 acres of potatoes in our small northern Maine town of Mars Hill.
Today, our family farms over 8,000 acres from western Maine to northern Maine. My family has always told me that the farmer is the first to work and so that is what we did. Waking up before the sun rises over the mountains, and getting home late in the evenings are just a basic day on the farm. I have learned the joys and struggles of hard agricultural work but wouldn’t change my life for the world. By working on my families farm I have gained a work ethic at a very young age, which is beneficial when it comes time to get a job. As soon as a business owner sees that you have worked harvest in The County, they know how hard you can work.
Today, the MSAD 1 school board voted to eliminate the harvest break from their school system. Their reports say that 14 percent of their 538 students participated in harvest on a local farm. But, an additional 43 percent of students participated in work during the harvest break either on the school farm or in non-farming jobs. This is showing that over half of MSAD 1’s student body is participating in some kind of work during this three week break to help local farmers.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture there are 8,173 farms in Maine. That is equal to $763 million yearly that helps Maine’s economy. Of this, $129 million is directly from potato production in Maine. Why would a school system take away help from an industry that is helping Maine’s economy. Not only is this effecting MSAD 1 school system but also surrounding school systems. Other schools in Aroostook County must follow the same schedule as MSAD 1 which will eliminate the harvest break in these school systems as well. As a recent graduate of high school, I see the life lessons and impact that harvest break has had on my life and I wish that the school board of MSAD 1 could have put that into perspective before making such a detrimental decision of eliminating harvest break in its entirety.
Dayna McCrum
Mars Hill
