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BY PAUL GRIGAITIS CENTRAL PLAINS HERALD-LEADER Since 1871, the Sissons family farm has watched the city of Portage la Prairie grow around it. Though the cultures between agriculture and urban living often clash, the Sissons farm has learned to adjust to its surround ings, expanding in both area and business. Its success has been recog nized. In 2003, Sissons Farms Ltd. was named Farm Family of the Year by Portage and District Chamber of Commerce. “It has an impact on us, obvi ously,” Grant Sissons said of the proximity to the city. _ You're dealing with a lot of people that don’t understand agriculture. A pis barn wouldn't go over too well in this communi ty. Grant's brother, Don, said traf fic can be a issue within an urban area. “You're always concerned about moving big equipment around.” Don said objections to some farm operations, such as aerial spraying, can stem from the near by residents’ lack of understand ing. “It’s not always the damage caused, but the perception of what we’re doing,” he said. “We just learn to adapt.” Like Portage, the Sissons farm has grown as well. The property that was originally approximately 500 hectares has grown to 1,600 hectares. Livestock including cat tle, chicken, and hogs were raised at the farm until the early 1970s. Early crops included barley, oats and wheat. Sugar beets were pro duced for 25 years. In the 1980s, production shift ed to grains and oilseeds. “Our seed plant has grown extensively,” Grant said. What was originally sold in individual 45-kilo gram bags is now sold in ulk and manual labour has been reduced. “It’s a forklift now, instead of your back.” The biggest changes seen on the Sissons’ farm has been the expanded area and modernization of tech nology, according to Grant. “We can do more acreage with less people,” he said. Presently, the Sissons are adapting to a change in opera tions and communications. Don Sissons, whose heritage farm is located just north of Portage la Prairie Mall Marketing and management is now of more importance than in the past and the oe of commu nications has picked up readily. “Farming has changed so much,” Grant said.” You’re on the phone all the time — e-mails all the time. Things happen quickly. Mail’s no good anymore because by the time you get it, things have changed.” The only constant on the fami ly farm besides the Sissons’ name is the one factor that will always affect agriculture. “You're always at the mercy of the weather,” Grant said. Sissons Farms Ltd. is now in its fifth generation of family own ership. “It’s not the oldest, but one of the oldest farms being operated , the same family in Manitoba,” rant said. Don is looking forward to passing it on to the sixth genera tion, though he remains more op timistic than Grant it will actually happen. On has three children: a daughter Lisa, 22, and two sons. Kale is 17 and still in high school. His older brother, Blye, is plan ning to go to university to study agriculture. Grant is skeptical the family farm will reach the sixth genera tion because his son, Scott, has shown little interest. “It may be at the end of the line,” Grant said. Scott now lives in Winnipeg with his wife and two children. He works as an accountant. Despite Grant’s skepticism, Don is confident the farm that has been so successful for them will remain with a sixth genera tion of the family. “It’s always produced a quality crop. It’s what's kept six genera tions of family interested in this land.” Submitted photo A metal-wheeled tractor harvests grain at the Sissons farm just west of Portage la Prairie in the 1940s. Paul Grigaitis/Central Plains Herald-Leader Don Sissons, left, and brother Grant stand on the family farm in Portage la Prairie that has been owned by five gen erations of Sissons since 1871.
Newspaper Details
Portage La Prairie Central Plains Herald Leader
Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, CA
Sat, Apr 14, 2007
Page 38
Full Page
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CA 30 Jan 2026
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