Petron Farms
keeping the traditional small family farm alive

   Peter and Mary Lathron, owners of Petron Farms in Avon, say their 230- acre livestock and crop farm is considered small by today’s agricultural standards, but as far they are concerned, it’s plenty big enough to fill their days with work. It’s common knowledge that farming consists of long, hard days of caring for animals and working in the fields. It’s a substantial financial investment of time and money and with a relatively small return on profits. It’s a difficult way to make a living and some farmers are choosing to get out of farming altogether.

   Peter Lathron acknowledges that it is very hard to make a large profit at farming and he says, it’s even more difficult if you’re operating a small farm like his. Equipment costs require a large financial investment and for farmers who typically own several hundred acres of land, property taxes are a substantial drain on the bottom line profits. Then there is the issue of time. The eight-hour workday is unheard of in the farming world and there are no paid vacations.

   So why do so many families, like the Lathrons, continue to farm in Livingston County? The answer to that is written on Lathron’s face when he looks out over the pasture or at his two daughters, Valerie and Jackie as they bring in carts of vegetables from the field or pick up one of the newborn baby goats.

   "You have to love this life because you aren’t going to draw a paycheck from it every week. Your reward is looking out over your farm and knowing it’s your own," Lathron said.

   The Lathrons established Petron Farms in 1984 at the corner of Rochester Street and Honeoye Falls No. 6 Road. They raise about 60 head of beef cattle and about 80 goats at Petron Farms and also produce vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and squash. The fall brings a large harvest of pumpkins and gourds that along with the fresh vegetables, are sold at their produce stand. One can’t leave out the eight mules at the farm that are sometimes used for work but when they aren’t, they are affectionately considered farm friends.

   Peter Lathron was raised on a farm and taught the business aspects of farming by his late father. Now, his two daughters are actively involved in 4-H and showing their cattle and goats at the Hemlock Fair. Valerie, a junior at Avon High School, showed a steer that earned a Best of Show, Grand Champion Market Steer and Grand Master at Hemlock Fair. Exhibiting her art talent, no doubt inherited from her mother who is an art teacher at Cal-Mum Central School, Valerie entered a hand painted gourd at Hemlock Fair that won her first place and a spot at the NY State Fair. Jackie, an eighth grader at Avon Middle School, also showed a steer that won a Reserve Grand Champion. While Mom and Dad want their daughters to pursue whatever career interests they may have after high school, already Valerie is showing a keen interest in the business side of farming. She recently applied for and received a youth loan for $1,500, which she plans to use to purchase three steers. She’ll raise them for a time on the farm before selling them for what she hopes will be a reasonable profit.

   For Peter Lathron, this is a reward far greater than a large financial profit. It’s sharing with his children, a love and respect for one of the oldest careers known to man – farming.

   "The best part of all of this is watching my kids grow up on the farm. You can’t put a dollar figure on that," Lathron commented.