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E1, By Jerry Fallis ‘Local media people were in- Vited to view a special preview showing of an up» comimg television program entitled Season To Season - A Farmer's Story. Produced by CFPL-TV in London. the program focuses upon the life of an Ilderton farm family for a period of one year. Season To Season was broadcast on Jan 29. Reporter John Mack. in in- troducing the oneehour vpresentation. said the pur- pose of the film was to give an urban audience a more cOm- plete picture of the difficult struggle involved in main taining a farm operation. “We didn’t think that the oneâ€"andâ€" a-half minutes we did on farm stories during our news broadcasts did not give ade- quate coverage of farm life.” ‘he said. "So we decided to do ‘an in-depth program on local farming conditions aimed at city dwellers.” Middlcscx Family Hi hli hted The famiy c osen for the program is that of John and Mary Walls. who, along with their three children. live on a .100-acre farm just north of London. Typically. the Walls lmust rely upon a financial in; ‘stitution to get by from year to year -- and that situation lies at the heart of their dilem- -‘ma. Formng in the eighties. . . The broadcast attempts to bring out the frustration of the modem farmer. who must be an accountant, handyman and mechanic in addition to the traditional skills necessary to survive the business of agriculture, The poignancy of the film is enhanced through random commentary by family members. “I just can't see myself doing anything else." says Walls. He tries to remain op- timistic: but he also knows it is the end of the age of op timism. He knows he can longer be the sole determiâ€" nant of his future. Larger economic forces beyond his control menace that future. It is now Big Brother -- per- sonified by John's banker -- who will decide whether or not the family will fulfill its destiny on the land or be forc- ed to pursue a different ven- ture. “The Fun Has Gone Out Of It' “It's not really a way of life anymore." he surmises after reparing a year-end -cash ow statement. “T n‘ has gone out of it. It's just a business.” And not a particularly pro- fitable one at that, we learn. In 1985, John's net profit was $10,000 -- roughly what a part-time salaried employee would earn in an office or fac- tory. _ “City people think farming is just backbreaking work.‘ he goes on. “That we wear straw hats and overalls. Our image is all wrong." In fact, the introduction of heavy mechanized equi ment has taken much 0 the drudgery out of farming -- at least the kind of drudgery John's father or grandfather would have known. The real problems have become more psychological and emotional rather than physical ~ just as John's city cousins. John‘s son Greg may be the first generation that will seek another life away from farm- ing, even if his dad manages to hang on. “I don't want to push him into it if he doesn't want to farm." said John.f'l~le can find better opportunities elsewhere.” The Opportunities Are Off The Farm When John sells off some of his cattle at 81 cents a ound, we are told that it cost. In 85 cents a pound to raise the animals. When we learn that John grows corn at $300 per acre. only to sell it at $250 per acre, we understand why Greg is considering those other appnrmnities. 011'in has manag- ed c' 4 " the bank to keep hiiii in business for another year. five months 0 by before the money is ‘ y approved. Like many of his neighbours. he feels that government agricultural pro grams are a necessary ingrer dient v- helpful in the short run. but probably harmful if THE SUBJECT -- of a documentary on Varn‘ung in the 1980 5, John Walls of Hderlon appeared at a special prewew showtng at London‘s CFPLVTV TALKING TO REFORTERS -- Mary Walls and son Greg answer questions alter vuewmg a they become pennantly inr grained. For it is understood that a farmer has to have his price from the marketplace. as he has always done. He does not to be a iunior partner studio Seen here Jonnslone and reporter Jenn Mack ‘N Dresemed wrln a Named ‘amvl', photo "l’r's ius’r not fun anymore" in a ti-iumviraoL With bank and his governman As the film rhâ€"arl‘. m dicates. the farm v 'lUi Wm it used to be, it Just on 1 fun anymore his Min cameraman Rich television speCIal on the family's life on a local farm during the course of an entire year