Presque Isle, Maine — The Maine Potato Board recently announced the recipient of its Farm Family of the Year 2010, bestowing the honor on the families of Dominic and Gilbert LaJoie, brothers who represent five generations of farming.
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. Their father Norman still works here and there, and their mother Maxine doesn’t let much time pass without asking how things are going on the farm.
Both Norman and Maxine are more “present” on the farm than they probably realize; it is their guidance that continues to ring true on the farm. “Probably the greatest lesson dad ever taught me was to have patience and faith,” said Dominic. “He’s optimistic…he’s just gifted that way. He can take the worst situation and turn it around.”
So far, this attitude has worked. The family, like all farmers, plugs away day in and day out, but it’s met with success and its members have achieved a lifestyle they love. “We’re proud of our family, working together and bonding,” said Dominic. “We all have a great working relationship, and Gilbert and I, well, it’s like we have ESP. We all do our own thing but we think alike.”
Together, these men, along with the active support of their wives and children, harvest about 380 acres of potatoes, 450 acres of grain, and 35 acres of beat. They 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 every one 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 great 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:
1) Never give up,
2) Be open-minded and embrace change, and
3) Take chances.
Dominic 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.
There are about 380 potato growers in Maine, from Aroostook County to the western mountain region around Bethel and Fryeburg. The total impact of the potato industry on the state’s economy is $540 million in sales, 6100 jobs, over $230 million in personal income, and over $32 million in state and local taxes.
To find Maine potatoes, consumers should look for the Maine Quality Trademark – a blue, white, and red State of Maine trademark – or ask store produce managers for Maine potatoes (as not all bags are marked). For more information visit www.mainepotatoes.com.
The Maine Potato Board
The Maine Potato Board was created in 1986 by an act of the Maine Legislature for the purpose of establishing a cohesive framework for effective leadership within the potato industry. Its mission is to provide a competitive environment for Maine’s potato growers, processors, and dealers. The board also strives to create both stability and the infrastructure for future growth, while promoting the economic importance to the state and quality of the product.
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