We’ve teamed up with Whites Farm Supply, Case IH and James Wesley to ‘Thank a Farmer.' One farmer will win a $2500 White's Farm Supply gift certificate and a personal phone call from Wesley to 'Thank a Farmer. Today we recognize Mainecrest Farm in Waterville nominated by Gretchen Maine.  Here's their story:

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Welcome to Mainecrest Farm, Waterville, the home of Charlie and Gretchen Maine and their cattle, two dogs, way too many cats, and two miniature horses. We are third generation farmers and nearing a century farm. We have three girls (one who is a farmer), thirteen grandchildren (one who is a former Madison County Dairy Princess and one who is the current Madison County Dairy Princess), and a grandchild and great-grandson on the way. We are both former tractor pullers, and I am a former 4-H leader. We are tired, but not retired.

As a member of the Progressive Agriculture Organization and the National Family Farm Coalition, I have been to DC many times to meet with elected officials and their staffers to discuss farm policy and to try to convince them that dairy farmers need a new pricing formula that reflects a cost of production and doesn't just benefit the processors as the current system does. I have seen first hand the disrespect for farmers from DC as well as the hurtful messages left on the internet from people who don't understand farming. I think the major reason is people are too many generations away from the farm. It used to be everyone had a father, grandfather, uncle, or brother who farmed it. Not so much anymore.

Most farmers have an 18 hour day, 7 days a week job with no time off, no holidays, no sick time, and no vacations with very little financial gain. Most farm wives don't even get maternity leave!

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So many thanks to James Wesley for such an uplifting and awesome song. Some of us farmers actually cried the first time we heard it!

Thank you Maine family for what you do everyday. We’ll put you in grand prize drawing for a $2500 gift certifcate from White's Farm Supply and a phone call from James Wesley, so he can ‘Thank a Farmer.’

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