Haines Mfg. honored with President’s Award
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Haines Mfg. in Presque Isle, which specializes in farm and non-bruising potato equipment, was honored recently at the annual Maine Potato Board dinner and meeting as outgoing president Brandon Roope presented Junior and Jackie Haines with the President’s Award.
LOCAL BUSINESS HONORED — Haines Mfg. in Presque Isle was honored recently at the annual Maine Potato Board dinner and meeting as outgoing president Brandon Roope, center, presented Junior and Jackie Haines with the President’s Award. Roope told those in attendance that “without Haines Mfg. in our lives, it would be pretty darn hard to farm in Aroostook County. There’s no other place that supplies the parts that we need or the machinery. They are a tremendous asset.” 
“I thought long and hard about this … there’s a pile of people that deserve it,” said Roope, “but there’s a company right in Presque Isle that has done more for our industry than you’d ever know and that’s Haines Manufacturing.”
Roope read some history about the company, which was purchased in 1930 by Junior Haines’ father, F. Harold Haines.
“In 1979, the shop burned and they had to decide whether or not they were going to build a new shop, and fortunately they decided to rebuild,” said Roope, noting that the Haines family has been very generous over the years to many community organizations. “Let’s face it, without Haines Mfg. in our lives, it would be pretty darn hard to farm in Aroostook County. There’s no other place that supplies the parts that we need or the machinery. They are a tremendous asset.”
Junior has worked at Haines Mfg. for more than 65 years and can regularly be seen behind the counter today, while Jackie has been the bookkeeper for 45 years. Their son, Fred, has worked in the family business since graduating from college.
Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board, said Haines Mfg. was a great choice to receive the honor.
“When Brandon came into my office and told me who he wanted to give the award to, I said, ‘That’s a wonderful idea,’” said Flannery. “There’s not a potato grower in Maine — or across the East Coast — that hasn’t had some visit — at some point in time — to Haines Mfg. and had a discussion with Junior. They are very deserving.”
Flannery told those in attendance that “back in his misspent youth” he decided he was going to become a potato farmer.
“My decision wasn’t the best one I ever made in my life, but while I was involved in this endeavor, I bought a farm,” he said. “I went over to Haines Mfg. and told Junior I wanted to grow potatoes but didn’t have anything to work with. I said I’d like to have a rack and a grading table and Junior said, ‘That’s not a problem. We’ve got one right over here.’ I said, ‘Well, we’ve got a problem. I don’t have any money, but I can pay you in the spring’ and Junior said, ‘That’s not a problem … come pay me in the spring, but don’t tell Jackie.’
“To this day I’ve never told Jackie, but I did go back in the spring and did pay Junior,” said Flannery. “That’s the type of company they are and the way they’ve done business. They have been a key part of our industry, and on behalf of our board, thank you for being part of our industry.”
In accepting the engraved clock, Jackie Haines praised the company’s many customers and friends for their patronage.
“We thank you for the honor and we wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for all of our farmers and customers,” she said. “Thank you.”
