TimesLeader.com

November 30, 2008
My Hometown

Player: Dustin Jeffrey

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Hometown: Sarnia/Courtright, Ontario

Type: Rural

Population: Approximately 1,200 (according to Jeffrey)

Dustin Jeffrey is the fourth generation of his family to grow up on their farm in rural Ontario. Although his hometown is listed as Sarnia, the farm is actually several miles away in Courtright – a place in the country that really doesn’t show up on many maps. But on the Jeffrey homestead, the farm is home to cows, chickens, turkeys and a hardworking family.

What did you do for fun in Courtright? “Well, Courtright is basically a stop sign in the country and we spent most our time on the farm. I really enjoyed growing up there and it was nice being out in the country having your own space. You get to do fun stuff that guys in the city don’t, like riding our quads and dune buggies. I also played a lot of soccer and baseball.”

How big was the farm? “When I grew up there, we had 150 acres, 16 cows and 500 chickens. Now, my dad and brother bought another one and they farm three other places, so it’s almost 300 acres. It’s a hobby farm.”

That sounds pretty big for a hobby farm: “My dad and brother have jobs other than the farm. If you want to be a full-time farmer in Canada, you would have a place with 2,100 to 3,000 acres.”

Did your family cut back the amount of farming they do when they took other jobs? “As we got busier and had less time from traveling with hockey, we got it down. Now we only have about 50 chickens and 50 turkeys.”

Thanksgiving in Canada takes place on the second Monday in October. Was that a busy time for your family considering they raise 50 turkeys? “Not really. Our busy time is Christmas. We get the turkeys slaughtered on Dec. 20 and hand them out to family and friends. It’s a hobby that we took over from my grandparents. My dad enjoys it.”

Where did you go to school? “For high school we went to Sarnia.”

Was it a long bus ride? “It was about 45 minutes. We had to get up at 6:30 a.m. to catch the bus, so it wasn’t bad.”

Did you ever go into town for fun? “I go to Sarnia every summer for Bayfest (three-day long concert event). I saw Kid Rock there, he was awesome. Toby Keith and Aerosmith were really good too. Even ZZ Top, which isn’t my generation, put on an unbelievable show.”

Do you get homesick? “No. I moved away when I was 16. I still have a great relationship with my family and talk to them all the time. They’ve always been behind me and supported me. It makes it easier being away because I know they will always be there. Plus, I go back every summer.”