b'GROWERSPOTLIGHT Antworth family(L-R) Greyson, Ethan and Eugene Antworth farm together in Upper Knoxford, N.B . PHOTO: SANDY ANTWORTHWorking on the Next GenerationEugene Antworth is working with his two sons to transfer the familys potato farm to the next generation. BY: ASHLEY ROBINSONEUGENE ANTWORTH has been farming hisbe somebody working at it most of the time. due to the pandemic didnt want to jeopardize whole life, although officially its only beenAntworths wife, Sandy, also works on thereceiving CERB or unemployment payments by 42 years. He grew up on his familys potato farmfarm, assisting with the office work. Sandy didworking too many hours, which seasonal farm in Upper Knoxford, N.B. and now is the fourthwork off the farm as a teacher for 30 years, beforework would have caused.generation to farm the landhis sons, Ethanretiring five years ago. We have some locals that will come. But a and Greyson, are set to be the fifth. The farm has grown over the years. When Ant- lot of them, nine of them come from the other Weve been doing a lot of thinking about suc- worth first took it over from his father they wereside of the province. These were people who cession and got a pretty good idea of where wereworking just over 100 acres. As more land becameused to work in the mines or drove trucks of going to go with it, Antworth says in a phoneavailable with neighbours selling, Antworthstuff like that, but there was no work on that interview, adding he wants to retire in about 10bought and expanded the farm. side of the province, Antworth explains.years time. Farming isnt always easy and 2020 was noThe pandemic wasnt the only struggle the They farm just over 3,000 acres and growexception. When the pandemic hit North AmericaAntworths faced last growing season. A drought processing potatoes for McCain Foods, alongin March, Antworth saw his processing contractthroughout the Maritimes also dragged down with wheat, barley and grass. Antworth startedvolume cut.their potato production by 15 per centoverall working on the farm straight out of school whileWe found out everybodys still going to eat.potato yield in New Brunswick dropped by 23.6 his sons both attended university to study plantIt has made it more difficult because of COVID inper cent from last year according to Statistics scient and business before returning to the farm.trying to be careful and not be around (others),Canada.When I started, you went out and got on ahe says. It varies from area to area. Its just whoever tractor and went to work. Today when they start,During seeding and harvest, they hire extracaught rain, and maybe the next area two miles they had to come to the office and learn the officehelp on the farm. In the spring, the Antworthsdown the road didnt get any rain. Its just end of it first, Antworth says. When I started, wehire 12 people, and in the fall 24. Seasonal hiringall over the place, Antworth says about the did the paperwork whenever. Not today, it has towas hard this year as many who were out of workgrowing season.76 SPUDSMART.COM WINTER 2021'