Read this article to begin exploring the rich history of farming in the New Tecumseth region and the role it has played in shaping the local economy and community. Learn how businesses like McGoey Insurance Brokerage have supported and protected that legacy.

🌾 From Frontier Clearing to Flourishing Farms

Farming in the New Tecumseth area began with early settlers clearing dense forests in the early to mid‑1800s to establish crop and livestock farms on roughly 100‑acre lots. In these early years, families worked together to cultivate grains, hay, and manage livestock using simple tools and community‐supported agricultural fairs and societies to share knowledge and improve practices.

By mid‑19th century, the region saw the introduction of improved machinery—ploughs, reapers, harrows—and formation of agricultural societies that encouraged better livestock and crop quality.

🌱Community Growth: Alliston, Beeton & Tottenham

• Alliston grew around a mill on the Boyne River in 1847, later serving as a key commercial hub for potato‐growing farms. The town’s population surged as railways arrived after 1877, driving growth into the early 20th century.
• Beeton, formerly Clarksville, flourished as a manufacturing and agricultural hub by the late 1800s, credited to D. A. Jones’s honey‑producing entrepreneurship and the arrival of the railway bringing over 77 businesses by 1886.
• Tottenham, first settled in the 1820s and incorporated in 1884, grew thanks to railway access and industries like the Coleman Fare‑Box Company. The village remains anchored by agriculture and community hubs like the Tottenham Conservation Area and annual Bluegrass Festival.

🥔Agriculture Economy: The Potato Belt & Diversification

Fertile soils around Alliston and south Simcoe County became renowned for potato production—famously celebrated today in the annual Alliston Potato Festival. This dominance extended into the mid‑20th century when farmers increasingly adopted monoculture techniques and relied heavily on crops like potatoes and tobacco. From 1960s to 1980s, growing acreage and monocropping led to soil degradation, erosion, and disease problems. A broader shift in the 1980s and 1990s toward sustainable practices and crop rotation enabled farmers to transition back to more balanced, soil-restorative farming models that included diverse crops, livestock, and responsible stewardship of the land.

💰The Broader Impact on Community & Local Economy

Farming shaped the region’s identity: schools, social life, fairs (like Beeton’s fall fair dating from the 1840s), and shared economic resilience revolved around agriculture Agricultural fairs and societies fostered innovation, cooperation, and a shared sense of belonging—critical in a historically rural and sometimes isolated area.

Even as urban pressure grows—Ontario is losing farmland daily to development—the region maintains a strong agricultural heritage, balancing growth with preservation.

🔐Safeguarding a Farming Future: McGoey Insurance Brokerage

Nestled in Tottenham and serving all of New Tecumseth, McGoey Insurance Brokerage has long offered Farm Insurance tailored to the needs of local growers and agribusinesses.

Our deep local knowledge—many team members grew up right here—and long‑term roots in the community position them as trusted advisors and advocates for area farmers. From covering equipment breakdowns to liability, crop loss, livestock emergencies, and property damage, McGoey supports both large and small farm operations with personalized service rooted in empathy and expertise.

They frequently communicate about critical issues like flood risks affecting farm operations in recent years—highlighting the importance of tailored coverage for a business intrinsically tied to natural conditions.

🚜MCGOEY INSURANCE, FARMING, AND THE FUTURE

The farms of New Tecumseth—the rolling potato fields of Alliston, the diversified small farms of Beeton, the agricultural traditions of Tottenham—tell a story of pioneering settlement, adaptation, and resilience. What began with families clearing forest and struggling with soil and tools in the 19th century evolved into a dynamic agricultural economy that shaped towns, traditions, and identities.

Today, the community benefits not only from the economic foundation those farmers built, but also from vital support services like McGoey Insurance, which helps ensure farming legacies endure. By protecting farms through personalized coverage and local understanding, McGoey plays a pivotal role in preserving the agriculture that remains central to New Tecumseth’s heart and heritage.