Vol. 96 No. 9 September 2010
Langley Farm Going Strong After One Hundred Years
Smith family accepts B.C. Century Award
By RONDA PAYNE
LANGLEY – The more things change, the more they stay the same. For 137 years at
the Smith family farm in Langley, many things have changed (like the fact the Smiths are
now farming goats and exploring new business ventures) while surprisingly, much has still
stayed the same. Gregg Smith, a fifth generation Smith, lives in the farm house, a working
farming relationship continues with the Davis family farm (neighbours and fellow century
farmers) and the family remains focused on the future in farming.
Another new change for the Smith family is their receipt of a century farm award in
July, announced by Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA rich Coleman on behalf of agriculture and
lands minister Steve Thomson. Farms or ranches of a minimum of five acres that have
operated as a business for more than 100 years and are owned by the immediate
descendants of the original owners are eligible for the award.
“The Fraser Valley has a long, proud history of farming,” said Coleman as he
presented the award. “Our region is one of the most intensively farmed areas in all of
Canada. Family farms like the Smiths’ are continuing the legacy of food production and
agriculture that began in communities across British Columbia more than 200 years ago.”
The 50 acre Smith farm stretches from Glover Road to the bottom of the hill along
the appropriately named Smith Crescent. Even more impressive than the span of the land is
the span of the family.
It all began on a portion of the former Hudson’s Bay Company farm when it was
purchased and settled by John Smith in 1873. He operated a mixed farm of dairy cattle,
broilers, laying hens, potatoes and forage crops. As the family grew and changed, so did the
farm with dairy farming becoming the focus after the 1950s.
Glenn Smith and wife Marianne are current owners of the farm with Glenn’s brother
Kevin, who farms in Salmon Arm, and their mother, Sylvia, who now resides in Cloverdale.
Always a family affair, it was Marianne who decided to make the recent changes and
introduce a new goat dairy operation.
Approximately 150 goats are either raised for meat or are milked with the intention
of selling goat milk and handcrafted cheese and other products produced in their own onsite processing facility under the Milner Valley Cheese label they have created.
The milking system was introduced this past June so while they work on ensuring
consistency of their processes, they have arranged for the appropriate licensing and are
working on creating a farmgate shop in the designated Historic Site, a 1911 farm house.
They plan to begin selling products by the end of the year.
Glenn and Marianne’s sons, Gregg and Brad, are interested in the new venture and
have significant involvement in the milking of the goats.
“It’s a good lifestyle for the boys to see and live,” notes Marianne. “We might just get
a cheesemaker out of it.”
It is partially the heritage that keeps the Smiths involved in their goat, sheep and
forage crop farming. It is unique to have a farm so close to an urban centre and the family
intends to keep farming as long as they can.
“We’re trying to preserve the heritage of local agriculture by keeping this rural part of our
urban community,” says Glenn.
Of course, the new on-farm processing facility brings excitement and the Smiths are
looking forward to providing consumers with locally created artisan products.
Those interested in the Century Farm program can find more information and apply
on the Century Farm Award website at
[http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/regional/CenturyFarmAwards/CenturyFarms.htm]. Previous
recipients of the award who received only a certificate can re-apply to the to the program
to obtain a Century Farm award sign for their farm.