Staff Writer
LITTLETON – The Maine Potato Board has announced that the Gregory Schools family of Littleton has been named the 2007 Farm Family of the Year.
The Schools Family Farm spans several generations. Thomas A. Schools moved from Milltown, New Brunswick to Littleton before the turn of the century. In 1904, he married Hannah Rugan and they purchased what was known at the time as the Mulberry Inn. They converted it into their family homestead, where they raised seven children. The youngest was Lawrence Michael, the father of Gregory Schools.
Lawrence Schools was born in 1917 and farmed with his father until Thomas’ death. In 1941, Lawrence married Ethel Rooney, and they continued to live on the family homestead and raised 10 children. All of the children worked on the farm as they grew up; however, only two went into farming as adults – Thomas (named after his grandfather), the eldest, was born in 1942, and Gregory, next to the youngest, was born in 1961.
Thomas farmed with his father until 1965 when he branched off on his own. In 1967, he married Gail Stairs. They raised two daughters, Debra and Heather. Tom continued to expand his operation. He also became well known as a potato broker while working for Eastern Potato Distributors in the early 1970s.
Greg Schools farmed with his father during high school. After graduation, he attended Maine Maritime Academy, graduating in 1983 with a bachelor of science degree in marine engineering. Greg then went to work with Digicon Geophysical Corp. of Houston. He sailed as a 3rd Engineer on the Digicon Explorer. The ship did oil exploration work off the coasts of Alaska and California, as well as in the Gulf of Mexico.
Greg returned to farming in 1985, working with his brother, Tom, on his farm, and they worked to grow the operation. In 1987, Greg married Leslie Holmes. Greg and Leslie have two daughters, Anna and Laura.
Leslie has since returned to her career after taking several years off to raise their two daughters when they were younger. She continues to maintain the farm books year round, as well as helping on the farm. During the harvest, she runs the potato house crew and coordinates hours for all of the temporary laborers. She is involved in many school functions, including Sports Boosters, Music Boosters, and Project Graduation.
Greg and Leslie’s daughter, Anna, recently graduated from Houlton High School. She has been accepted to several colleges, but is currently undecided. Throughout her childhood, she helped on the farm, and is now working at Houlton Farms Dairy Bar. Daughter Laura is a sophomore at Houlton High School. In addition to helping on the farm, she works part-time as an office assistant at Dunn Furniture Co. Both girls are active participants in many school-related extracurricular activities.
Greg is currently vice president of the Agricultural Bargaining Council, and has been on the board as a director for several years. He was recently voted onto the Maine Potato Board executive processing council from District 5. He is president of Littleton Potato Growers, Inc. He has previously been on the Farm Service Agency County Committee and the SAD 29 board of directors.
Leslie and Greg have helped or contributed to many community functions over the years.
Tom and Greg farmed together until Tom passed away in 1999.
“There were many changes in the business during our time together, but this was the greatest,” Greg said. “I would not be farming today if not for Tom and Gail. They encouraged, taught, helped, and believed in me. I try to emulate their standards in all I do. As a team, Tom and I strove to continually improve our quality for each market that we served. The most important lesson that Tom gave me was respect for change. He often told me that while everyone knows that change is inevitable, few are ready for it.”
Greg holds firmly to the belief that the only way to achieve success is to have the ability to adapt quickly. He says continual learning is integral to this ability, and classes, seminars, and interaction with fellow growers are all important.
“Success in farming can be fleeting. Until the end, the finish is always unknown,” said Greg. “I believe that hard work, dedication to your profession and community, as well as having the ability to adapt will lead to good things.”
Donald Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board, expressed the Board’s congratulations to the Farm Family of the Year.
“The Schools family has been a credit to the potato industry for generations,” Flannery said. “The family has faced many challenges, and continues to persevere. 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,” he said.
The Schools family will be honored at the Industry Dinner during the annual Maine Potato Blossom Festival in July.
