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Gather ’Round the Combine

Winners of the Massey Ferguson Next Generation Combine Sweepstakes, host friends and family for fun, food and fellowship … and to show off their latest piece of farm equipment.

By Richard Banks | Photos By Alain Lefort

The Frasers with staff from Equipments Seguin & Freres: (left to right) Sylvio Seguin, David Fraser, Michel Seguin, Rodney Fraser, Ben Lalonde, Mark Sequin, Jen Pierre Campeau

The Frasers with staff from Equipments Seguin & Freres: (left to right) Sylvio Seguin, David Fraser, Michel Seguin, Rodney Fraser, Ben Lalonde, Mark Sequin, Jen Pierre Campeau

“It was all around a great night,”says Rodney Fraser of his recent family reunion. Held the evening of July 28, 2012, on his family farm near Ste-Anne-de-Prescott, Ontario, the event included music from two different bands, lots of great food, about 150 friends and family members, and a certain spotlight-stealing piece of ag equipment.

“Our guests were taking photos of our new [Massey Ferguson] 9520 combine,” says Rodney, giving the gathering something of a county fair feel. The farmer, who also runs a custom farming operation—working with his dad, David, on both—says they were pretty excited about showing it off. “It’s brand new and we hadn’t had it in the field yet. Dad didn’t want to get it dirty before the party.”

The MF9520, which is one of several pieces of Massey Ferguson equipment the Frasers own, was not just the center of attention at the soiree, but the cause. When Rodney purchased the combine—in large part because of its excellent fuel efficiency and how easy it is to use—he was entered in the From our Family to Yours, Next Generation Combine Sweepstakes, in which the winner received an all-expenses paid reunion.

“When Ben told us we won,” says Rodney of Ben Lalonde, the salesman who worked with him on the purchase of the combine at Equipments Seguin & Freres Inc., “I was quite surprised. I hadn’t thought of a combine and a party together in the same sentence, really. But it was a great way to get friends and family together.”

Most of the attendees were from the area near the farm, but Rodney says two uncles did make the trip all the way from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, which is about 1,500 km (930 miles) to the east. Entertaining those who attended with a line up of mostly 1960s and ‘70s soft rock was the AM/FM band. Also, traditional Celtic sounds were provided by the Quigley Highlanders Pipes and Drums, for which Rodney’s wife Carol, plays snare drum.

“It was just nice to have everybody here,” reflects Rodney. “And it was fun to be able to share the good time.”