Schools family honored at Maine Potato Board industry dinner

The Maine Potato Board hosted the industry dinner on Friday, July 20 at the Fort Fairfield Community Center. The dinner was attended by members of the Maine Potato Board as well as several area farm families including the guests of honor, the Schools family of Littleton, winners of the Farm Family of the Year award. Also attending were a number of visiting political figures including Rep. Michael Michaud, Rep. Tom Allen and a number of state legislators as part of a legislative tour of the Maine potato industry. Each participant in the legislative tour introduced themselves to attendees and expressed their appreciation for Aroostook County’s hospitality.     Following the dinner, which of course featured new potatoes, the Schools family was presented with a certificate, American flag, and clock with an engraved plate, in honor of their designation as the 2007 Farm Family of the Year. Accepting the award was Gregory Schools.
Schools belongs to a family farming tradition spanning back to his grandfather, Thomas A. Schools who started the family farm with wife Hannah Rugan, at the site of the former Mulberry Inn in Littleton at the turn of the century. The family homestead passed down to Thomas Schools’ son Lawrence who continued to farm after his father’s death in 1941. Lawrence Schools would go on to raise 10 children, with wife Ethel Rooney Schools.  The farm would then pass to son Tom Schools, eventually joined by brother Gregory in 1985. Tom along with wife Gail Stairs Schools and Gregory along with wife Leslie Holmes Schools ran the farm together until Tom’s death in 1999. Today Gregory and Leslie run the family farm. In addition to raising potatoes they have also raised two daughters. Anna, a recent graduate of Houlton High School plans to attend the University of Southern Maine, while Laura will be entering her junior year at Houlton High School in the fall.
Along with running the farm Gregory Schools has held a number of positions within the agricultural field. He is currently vice president of the Agricultural Bargaining Council and has been on the board of directors for several years. He was recently voted on to the Maine Potato Board executive processing council from District 5 and is also president of Little Potato Growers Inc.
“The Schools family has been a credit to the potato industry for generations. They have been active in the industry, constantly working to ensure the future success of the Maine potato industry. We appreciate their continued hard work and support of the industry,” said Maine Potato Board Executive Director Donald Flannery.
During his acceptance speech Schools outlined what it takes to be successful in the agriculture industry. Schools first mentioned the importance of community. Schools mentioned the many area farmers who have helped the Schools farm over the years. This community support is an integral part of a successful farm, according to Schools. Next Schools mentioned the importance of reliable customers, giving as an example McCain Foods with whom the Schools farm has had a longstanding relationship. Next he mentioned the importance of family, and the support his wife has provided for him over the years. Schools also thanked his mother and his sister-in-law for their support. Lastly Schools said that every farmer needs faith to be successful, because once the seed is in the ground, all a farmer can do is pray for good weather.
“Success in farming can be fleeting. Until the end, the finish is always unknown. I believe that hard work, dedication to your profession and community, as well as having the ability to adapt will lead to good things,” said Schools.
The evening ended with a presentation by humorist Gary Crocker, who entertained the audience with a number of stories about life in Maine.