From owning a small business in Sackville to operating a sheep farm in the region, Beth Barczyk knows how important it is to be hard-working, innovative and forward-thinking if you’re going to thrive in today’s economy.
And the Liberal candidate for the Tantramar riding says she will bring that experience and much more to the table if she is elected as the region’s new MLA on Sept. 27.
Barczyk, well-known throughout the riding having been involved in fishing, small business and agriculture, says she was approached earlier this spring by the Liberals and, after discussing the decision with family and friends, decided to run in the election.
“I’ve always liked to be involved,” says the mother of three, who has been an active volunteer over the years with day care boards, school committees, fundraising committees, sports teams and community activities.
Barczyk, who was owner and manager of Jacob’s Larder in Sackville for six years with her husband Arnd, says this entrepreneurial experience laid an excellent foundation for the large sheep farm she and her family now operate in Tantramar.
The self-taught producer said she had no previous experience or background in agriculture, but her willingness to learn and her hard work has paid off, earning her kudos from the industry. Barczyk presently has 120 breeding ewes on her farm, making her the largest sheep farmer this side of Quebec. She has been recognized many times for her successes, including being named Chignecto Soil and Crop Association’s farmer of the year in 2007.
Barczyk, president of the New Brunswick Sheep Breeders Association and a board member with the Canadian Sheep Federation, has opened her farm many times to school groups, future farmers, the general public, and farmers who are wishing to diversify and learn more about the sheep industry.
She attributes her success to aggressive marketing and keeping up-to-date with the industry.
“It was about keeping everyone involved and working together . . . and it’s amazing how well it all goes.”
She believes she can take the knowledge she has gained from her business experiences and put it to good use by helping others in the province bring their plans to fruition.
“There’s just so many great ideas that I would love to see come to the table,” she says. “And having done that with Jacob’s Larder and with the farm, it makes it much easier to go forward when you’ve got a helping hand.”
Barczyk says she is encouraged and excited by the Liberals’ forward-thinking platform.
“I like the vision. It’s just that’s simple. Having been in small business and now with the farm, you’ve always got to be thinking about what’s going to happen tomorrow,” she says.
“Everything is changing so quickly. And I like the fact that there’s a vision for down the road from now so that when down the road comes, we’re ready.”
And with the polls showing the Liberals had a slight edge over the Conservatives going into the election campaign, Barczyk thinks it would be extremely beneficial for Tantramar to have an MLA on the same side of government.
“Shawn (Graham) is committed to creating 20,000 jobs over the next four years, which some people would say is impossible but when you look at the 12,000 jobs (created) in the last four years when we were in an economic downturn, that in itself speaks to Shawn’s ability to find those or have those or create those jobs in the next four years.”
“So I want to be at that table to say don’t forget about Tantramar, don’t forget about Port Elgin, don’t forget about Murray Corner . . . and if there are jobs that we are certainly capable of having and doing in this area and we have the manpower to do it, then I want to be at that table to say we want them and insisting that we have them.”
She’s also pleased with the Liberals’ proposal for a made-in-New Brunswick 100-mile diet challenge to “basically put more New Brunswick foods on New Brunswick plates,” benefiting farmers in the province.
“Just like our population, our farmers are getting older. So if they could have a succession plan, it’s going to help them to plan for the future if they know it’s going to be easier for a young person to take over.”
