Gray--Natural Beef will be walking around Collyer
Brook Farm soon, 12,000-18,000 of them, as the Libra
Foundation announced the soon-to-be establishment
of a natural beef farm out in north Gray at Collyer
Brook Farm.
The Libra Foundation, though its real estate arm the
October Corporation, bought the property in 2003 with
the intention of starting a beef concern there, and
now that intention is becoming a reality, Libra Vice-President
Craig Denekas announced last Wednesday night. He had
come to give a presentation to the Community Economic
Development Committee, as he brought the Committee
up to speed on Libra's holdings and development objectives.
Mr. Denekas said that on that very day, October Corp.
had closed on the purchase of the New England Turf
Farm, the farm alongside the Maine Turnpike at the
Gray-New Gloucester border. New England Turf established
in 1983 by the late W. Berkley Carter, started as
a family owned and operated business. Two farm locations
service all of New England with several distributors
supplying sod to landscapers and homeowners. One of
those locations is in West Kingston, RI and the other
is in Gray, ME.
There are 280 acres on the turf farm, and "Grass
grows like crazy out there," said Mr. Denekas.
The company intends to grow hay and vegetables to
support their beef concern at Collyer Brook. The company
is already farming the Gillespie Farms, another 140
acres. "They are the nicest fields in the County,"
Mr. Denekas said. October Corporation has been very
active in acquiring property in the last eighteen
months. Mr. Denekas said the they currently own about
2,000 acres in Gray.
"We want the Collyer Brook Farm to be a model
beef and research development farm in the US,"
Mr. Denekas said. He reported that the company has
had leading nutritionists from Nebraska working with
them and they commented that the Gray farm's proximity
to New York and Boston markets are something that
Midwest beef farms cannot compete with. "This
is an example of something that can happen here and
it can happen in a big way and retain the agriculture
and rural aspect of Gray."
Mr. Denekas did not indicate where the beef would
be processed, on the Collyer Brook Farm or off site.
Pineland Farms, Inc. would be the overseeing company
involved with processing the beef. Pineland Farms
currently employs about 50 people full time and an
additional 25 during the summer, mostly in their New
Gloucester area agricultural concerns.
CEDC member Ralph Wink asked Mr. Denekas how long
October Corporation planned to keep the property as
an agricultural use. "Nothing lasts forever,
but as long as the farm is viable we plan to use it
for agricultural purposes," Mr. Denekas replied.
He asked the Committee to support he changes to the
zone that would allow for agritourism.
Councilor John Welch and CEDC Liaison reminded the
CEDC that the Ordinance Review committee was reviewing
changes to zones that would allow agritourism on parcels
of 50 acres or more. Mr. Welch said that he would
not like to see any new development or construction
that could be seen from the road.
Mr. Wink replied that he did not know of Mr. Welch
made that comment politically or sincerely, and he
would like to know which, but that it was an unreasonable
statement that was absurd and deserved not a moment
more of discussion.
Chair Julie Sheets thanked Mr. Denekas for coming
and Mr. Denekas said once again how Gray has good
agriculture and good features and good geography that
could complement further agricultural concerns.
