Western Irrigation District Memories – Don and Dianne Brown

By John Godsman Times Contributor

The Brown family name originates from Ayrshire, in southwest Scotland, where the family farmed until coming to Canada in the early 1900s. Don’s maternal grandparents, the Sykes family, originated in Yorkshire. Don’s parents, Margaret and Hugh Brown, were married in 1936, and they had six children, including Don and his twin sister Rosemary, born on April 1, 1943. Hugh was unable to attend the birth, and when the doctor phoned with the news of the birth of the twins, Hugh thought it was an April Fool’s joke.
Dianne’s paternal grandparents, Jean Pierre (Joe) Paris and Elizabeth Lispomidaire, were born in the Pyrenees region of southern France, and were married after they came to Vancouver, separately, in the early 1900s.
They moved to the Langdon area where they farmed and had three children, one of whom was Dianne’s mother, Mary, who became a teacher. Her maternal grandparents were Richard Barlow, born in England, and Hanna Holland, born in Wales.
Don and Dianne were married on Nov. 10, 1973 establishing their farm north of Cluny, and have raised six children who have provided them with 19 grandchildren. They still farm some of the original land that was settled by Don’s paternal grandfather Reg Sykes in 1910.
In 2005, they opened the very popular Country Farmhouse restaurant where, to this day, reservations are required to dine.
Irrigation was first used by grandfather Reg Sykes in 1920 after a ditch was constructed to service his land in 1918. Initially, Hugh Brown was instructed in the use of flood irrigation by his father, which later gave way to hand move systems in the 1950s. Don and Dianne took over after Hugh’s retirement in 1975, and water efficiency improved through the introduction of wheel-moves in 1988. In the late 1990s, the Brown family again increased water efficiency by introducing pivot systems. The introduction of these systems was enabled by the construction of a hold-ing pond, large enough to store water for three days of use.
Don and Dianne have observed significant improvements in their access to water as replacement of canals with pipelines has eliminated challenges from weeds and lost water due to seepage and evaporation. Recent dry years have increased the interest in irrigation generally. Don and Dianne believe the use of new technology will further contribute to additional increases in use and water efficiency.