After a massive barn fire at Gouldhaven Farms on the Queens Line in Whitewater Region Township, Field took to social media to highlight the quick action of the farming community.
“The Renfrew County agriculture community is teeming with helpers. Within minutes of the community becoming aware of a barn fire at Gould’s dairy farm tonight and just shortly after the fire trucks pulled in, pickups and cars full of farmers arrived to help contain the cows and wait for instruction,” she wrote. “Within an hour of the first spark, trucks and trailers were lined up ready to haul the cattle to their temporary homes. An empty milking barn was offered, an empty feedlot found, and inside of three hours from the start of the fire, the last bunch of the roughly 100 animals was sorted, recorded, loaded and sent on their way.”
Field, who along with her husband Barend van Lindenberg, was among those who jumped into action on the evening of Dec. 1, spoke to Metroland Media about the experience.
Gouldhaven Farms is a fifth-generation family-run farm near Foresters Falls, run by Barry and Vera Gould and their sons Scott and Jason. When Angela and Barend heard from their son around 9 p.m. about the fire, they sprung into action, jumped in their vehicle and headed to Gouldhaven to see how they could help, calling others along the way. They were also in touch with their cousin, Willem Vanlindenberg, who lives next door to the Gould farm.
By the time they arrived, they helped round up the remaining few cattle (much work had already been done by those already there) and, while shocked at the magnitude of the fire, they were amazed to see how many people were on hand to help handle the situation.
Some cattle were lost, but the situation could have been much worse.
“There were losses, but the majority of the herd is safe,” said Field.
To her knowledge, the house and garage were not damaged, but the main barn is a total loss.
The family is understandably overwhelmed and devastated, she said, but they are also grateful for all the help from the community.
Field said this is the third time she’s seen a local farm affected by fire and it never ceases to amaze her how supportive the agricultural community is.
“It really blows my mind that people can come out in support of a neighbour or even just a fellow farmer and get everything organized so fast and so well,” she said. “It really does give you hope that things aren’t as bad as they seem.”
Field said it is encouraging to see how the Goulds are being so well cared for, noting they are a well-respected family in the agriculture community.
“They’re kind, they’re humble, they’re well-known in the dairy community at large. They’re all-round good people and it’s so upsetting that something like this has happened to people like that,” said Field.
There will be much to figure out in the days to come and much more to be done.
“And I can guarantee the community will come together and help them out,” said Field.
Plans are already in the works for a benefit event for the Goulds in January – a joint initiative of the Renfrew County Federation of Agriculture, the Renfrew County Dairy Producers Committee and the Renfrew County Holstein Club.
