Goughan named Agri-Woman of the Year
PRESQUE ISLE — Gloria Goughan, who with her husband, Mark, owns and operates Goughan Farms in Caribou, was honored March 18 by the Maine Agri-Women for her many years of service to the farm family, the Maine potato industry and her commitment and dedication to agriculture.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
GLORIA GOUGHAN of Caribou, center, was honored March 18 as the Maine Agri-Women’s Woman of the Year at the Maine Potato Board’s annual dinner and meeting. Congratulating Goughan are, from left: Judy Kenney and Mary Anne Buck, co-presidents of the Maine Agri-Women. Goughan was chosen for her many years of service to the farm family, the Maine potato industry and her commitment and dedication to agriculture.
During the Maine Potato Board’s annual meeting and dinner, the Maine Agri-Women presented Goughan with the 2011 Woman of the Year award.
A Presque Isle native, Goughan received her cosmetology license from Mr. Bernard’s School of Hair Fashion in the summer of 1974 and began cutting hair locally. She married Mark Goughan in 1976, and spent her honeymoon watching her husband baling hay. She soon started to learn about farm machinery by breaking down ground with the vibershank, riding the potato planter, and driving a bulk truck beside a harvester. In 1980, the farm started its first crop of Christmas trees.
In 1982, the farm planted the first acre of strawberries after attending workshops at the Augusta Agriculture Trade Show and sessions with the New England Small Fruit and Growers Association. In 1985, the Goughans purchased their first greenhouse after attending many workshops at the New England Greenhouse Growers Association.
In 1988, Gloria helped develop a maple syrup operation after thinning out the maple trees in the 250-acre wood lot.
“With 800 taps in the woods, she developed the farm store to the production of maple cotton candy, maple sugar and maple ice cream while dealing with the public and the many educational school tours,” said Mary Anne Buck, co-president of the Maine Agri-Women. “It was at this time the farm converted from commercial potato growers to small fruit and vegetable growers operating it as a small family farm operation.”
The Christmas tree crop was ready to harvest in 1989 and Gloria made a few wreaths to sell. That grew into a mail order and local wreath production of over 600 wreaths. To go along with the Christmas theme, she raised a few poinsettias in the greenhouse.
The development of the granary into a retail outlet and dairy bar where Goughan manufactures and sells the homemade ice cream was significant. The purchase of the machines and deep freezer represented a substantial expansion to the family farm.
The farm later started raising a couple acres of pumpkins for wholesale and retail, and now raise about five acres. Gloria hand painted many pumpkins that were sold. This grew into a family event, and was the start of many hundreds of fall season school tours to come.
From the early 1990s-2000, Goughan became the Caribou FFA floral culture team coach. Two of her daughters — Kelli and Kristi — belonged to the organization. The team won a few local contests and in 1999 won first in states in which Kristi was in, so they went to Louisville, Ky. for the national competition. The Goughans also have a daughter Katie.
At this time, Goughan was asked to start a perennial gardening class for the adult education department at Caribou High School, which she did for two years.
Around 2002, the Maine Department of Agriculture started a program called the Senior FarmShare program where senior citizens receive a certain dollar value worth of produce through the summer months. Goughan started with 150 people and now about 450 seniors participate in the program.
Goughan Farms did its first corn maze in 2004, and has done one every year since. She developed the many signs, games and problem-solving puzzles needed to navigate the maze. This has added to the school groups and visitations to the farm.
Goughan is currently working on her cookbook, renovating the many amusement rides, and tending to the three grandchildren that like to run around the farm.
“Gloria has helped maintain the motivation of the family through the years, to capture the agricultural tradition of Aroostook County while providing family fun in a safe, worry-free, clean and affordable atmosphere for all to enjoy,” said Buck. “We are pleased to honor Gloria Goughan as our 2011 Maine Agri-Woman of the Year.”
For more information on Goughan Farms, call 496-1731.
