The Roopes were the guests of honor at the Maine Potato Board’s annual Industry Dinner held during the Maine Potato Blossom Festival.
While many people associate the “Roaring Twenties” with speakeasies, flapper dresses, and Model Ts, Bruce Roope, son of Robert Jr., cannot think about this memorable decade without thinking of his grandmother, who originally had the farm. Today, thanks in part to Robert Jr., who took over the farm and carried on its legacy until Bruce and his brother, Brandon, assumed operations, the farm remains a vital contributor to Maine’s agricultural community.
“My grandfather, Robert Roope Sr., came to the farm after my grandmother’s first husband passed away, leaving her with four children,” said Bruce. “Her father knew of my grandfather and his ability to run and manage farms, so he went to bring him to the farm and asked if he could help them over the rough period of time. As my grandfather said, ‘I forgot to leave.’
“One thing led to another and he and my grandmother got married, so with four Thompsons by her first husband (Keith, Donald, Dorothy and Jean) came three boys, Robert, Ed and Bill,” Bruce said. “The whole family worked on the farm, and my grandfather was able to help put five of those kids through college. This was in the 1930s and 1940s, so that was quite a feat.”
Robert Jr. left for the service in the late 1940s, but eventually returned to farm with his father.
“They farmed together until my grandfather passed well into his 80s,” said Bruce. “He met my mother, they married, and then the three of us ran it. Eventually my brother, Brandon, and sister, Stacy, came along. We plugged away, but we weren’t the only family members who worked on the farm.
“We had a number of cousins and uncles who helped us over the years,” he said. “There was a lot of family involvement.”
A lot has changed about the farm and the industry, but little has changed when it comes to the Roope family’s love for and devotion to farming. Perhaps nothing demonstrates this commitment more than the fact that “Dad retired at age 65, but has worked every day since,” said Bruce, speaking about Robert Jr., who is now 80 years old.
“Dad” comes up a lot in conversation with Bruce. And, he should. After all, according to Bruce, he’s the one who taught his boys to “keep plugging away, always do your best, modernize, step out, take risks, and always have optimism.”
Holding steadfast to these lessons, “Bruce and Brandon have not only built a successful business, but also have contributed greatly to the industry and community at large,” said Timothy Hobbs, director of development and grower relations for the Maine Potato Board. “They have served on local, state, and national boards (ranging from the National Potato Council to the Maine Association of Conservation Districts to the local school board) and been heavily involved in local, state, and national government, working on behalf of agricultural and all natural resources.
Brandon currently sits on the Maine Potato Board, representing the processing sector and serving as treasurer. He and the entire Roope family are true advocates of agriculture and, from generation to generation, have served Maine’s potato industry for nearly a century.
But, both brothers (Bruce and Brandon) are the first to admit it hasn’t always been easy.
“Times can be tough, even now with the cost of production,” Bruce said. “And, people forget about the role farming plays in feeding our nation and in supporting our economy. We all need to remember how important industries related to natural resources are … we never want to become reliant on another country for our food.”
Along with the challenging times, however, the Roope family has been witness to amazing advancements and innovation. Bruce clearly remembers coming home from high school one day to a four-row planter. He said he couldn’t believe it – he thought that was vast.
“Now we pick up 10 rows at a time during harvest and our trucks carry 200 barrels (300 CWT) of potatoes,” said Bruce, who added the biggest advances have occurred in the past five to 10 years, citing specifically the mechanization of farming. “We’re harvesting 400 acres of potatoes … we’ve scaled back some over the years. We also grow canola, soybeans, oats and barley.”
Bruce said his greatest hope for the future is to keep young people in Maine and working in farming or a related industry. In sharing this hope, he reiterates the importance of agriculture to the state, the nation, and the world. Bruce realizes that to him, farming is a way of life, but to the world, it is a critical ingredient to promoting healthy living and economic vitality.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins was on hand at the Industry Dinner to present Robert Jr., Bruce and Brandon Roope with American flags that were flown over the U.S. Capitol June 14.
“This year, because Bruce, Bob and Brandon all have contributed so much to the potato industry, to their families, to their state,” said Collins, “we decided to fly three flags over the Capitol … one for each of them.”
Sen. Roger Sherman (R-Hodgdon) and Rep. Patricia Sutherland (D-Chapman) presented a legislative sentiment to the Roope family.
“When I was farming with my dad and had beef cattle, there was about 6,000 farmers in Aroostook County and about 150,000 acres,” said Sherman. “We’re now down to about 53,000 acres, so these people [the Roope family] are to be congratulated on going with the times.”
“These folks have been very involved in not only successful farming, but with municipal activities and school districts … they’re overall community representatives,” Sutherland said. “I, too, grew up on a potato farm and understand how we all are part of this industry even though it has changed so much. Congratulations to all of the Roopes for being truly representative of what we consider our farm families in Maine to be.”
Bruce expressed his thanks to the Maine Potato Board for extolling the honor to his family.
“Thanks to the Maine Potato Board for this honor that we’ve been bestowed tonight, and thank you for the recognition from the Congressional and Legislative delegations,” said Bruce.
“I’m proud of this family. I’m proud of my cousins and uncles and what they’ve been able to achieve, and what my grandfather and grandmother were able to put together,” he said, “and leave a legacy for us that, I think, we have every reason to be proud of.”
