If a person wanted to catch up with Billy Boerboom, to ask him how he felt about winning the Good Citizen/Volunteer of the Year Award, you could find yourself having to wait.
He might be misting seedlings in his greenhouse one moment and dashing off in response to a call from the Fire Hall the next. Upon his return there could be a semi-truck at his gate waiting to be unloaded.
“I’m constantly juggling. Lots of balls in the air,” said Boerboom. “There are always lots of things going on.”
Boerboom has been involved with farming for as long as he can remember.
“My momma has a picture of me in a garden when I was seven, so I’ve done this literally all of my life,” he explained.
His family came to Canada from Holland when he was nine. His parents taught him to work hard and to never quit.
Married with three children of his own, Boerboom operates the Windmill Garden Centre and the Apple Barn.
“This is my 25th year in the garden centre and I’ve farmed on the family farm now for 30 years,” he said. “I grow the fruit each year and see that it is picked, packed and marketed.” He was quick to add, “I’ve got a fantastic staff. I wouldn’t have got where I am without them.”
Approximately 13 years ago, when speaking to one of his sons teachers, Boerboom became aware that some children came to school hungry. His reaction to this problem was to start giving fruit to the schools in Summerland. He donates between four and five thousand pounds of fruit each year.
“I always think about those apples I donate and that kid that would otherwise not have a good snack,” said Boerboom. “Maybe one day that kid with that apple will become a farmer, a bridge builder, or even cure cancer.”
Not long ago Boerboom met a family who has a child with muscular dystrophy.
“It really saddened me and I needed to do something,” he said.
As a result of his desire to help, he is now selling 10-lb bags of apples through Nesters Market in Summerland. Each bag has the Apple Barn logo on it and inside each bag is a free game card for kids.
“Nesters are selling the bags of apples for $8.98. We split it three ways,” explained Boerboom. “One third of that sale goes to Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
Boerboom has also contributed to the community in other ways too. He has been a volunteer firefighter for the past 25 years. “
“I feel that need to help and you learn a lot. They’re a great group of guys,” he explained.
Although he was naturally a helpful child growing up, Boerboom attributes much of the way he is to the example his parents set for him.
“My parents played a huge role, in that they were always kind and considerate,” he said.
He has taught his own children to never under estimate what one person can accomplish.
“I always tell my boys, if you have a direction, a goal or a dream, remember you were born with a ladder so don’t ever stop climbing.”
Boerboom also believes that farmers in general, have a common goal. “They all want to provide for people and to do good,” he said.
Above all else, Boerboom explained that he has been able to do what he does in the community, because of his wife’s help. “I have a very supportive wife,” he said.
Because of his career choice, to be a farmer, Boerboom said he has missed out on some things too. He explained that the responsibilities that come with the farm, have kept him tied close to home.
He looks forward to a future time, when he will be able to pursue other interests and spend some time camping along Trout Creek.
As to how Billy Boerboom felt about being named Summerland’s Good Citizen/Volunteer of the year, he said this; “I’m very honoured. I’m very grateful for the award.”
If you know a positive story about someone in our community, contact Carla McLeod at carlamcleod@shaw.ca or contact the Summerland Review newsroom at 250-494-5406.