Celebrations are set to get underway for one of Creemore’s most active residents – both on and off the farm.
When Milton McArthur turns 80 on Sunday, October 6, friends and community members are invited to give him their best wishes at the Creemore Community Recreation Centre.
For McArthur, farming is “just a way of life.” In fact, he couldn’t imagine any other kind.
McArthur’s farming roots run deep. His parents farmed, his grandparents farmed and his great-grandparents farmed, he said.
Born in Stayner, McArthur grew up in Cashtown on the farm his father bought after he returned from World War I.
McArthur lived there with his parents (who were both born in the Creemore area) and two sisters.
In grade 10, McArthur left school for good. Why? Because he wanted to farm.
At 19, a trip to Ottawa for a debating tournament ended with a twist: meeting his wife-to-be, Marion, who was working at the parliament buildings for the local MP.
Marion was from Elmvale and she returned to the area to marry McArthur in 1956.
“She must have thought I was alright,” he said.
McArthur’s career on the land was varied: at different times he raised dairy and Simmental cattle, had a feed lot and grew cash crops including corn, canola and wheat.
But McArthur was active off the farm, too. He spent 12 years as the Reeve of Nottawasaga from 1963 to 1975. After the amalgamation of Creemore, Stayner, Sunnidale and Nottawasaga, he was elected the first deputy mayor of Clearview.
He was also active in Lion’s Club activities, helping organize the Santa Claus parade, among other events.
When it comes to commitment, McArthur sets the bar high. He has never missed a year at the Creemore Curling Club since he started curling when he was 18. He was President of the club in 1961-62, and you can still find him on the ice today.
A horse enthusiast, McArthur, bought his first horses in 1989, showing them at agricultural fairs. Today, he still has three.
The McArthurs had four children on the farm: Brenda, Cheryl, Robert and David.
One of their grandsons, Rusty, now runs the farm full-time. According to McArthur, he “doesn’t give Rusty too much advice about farming.”
Just over two years ago, McArthur and his wife moved into Creemore.
Does he miss living on the farm?
“Not really,” he said. “There are no horses to feed in town.”