Poetry · Chapter
Father Ranney, the Cheese Pioneer explained
A poetic ode celebrating Father Ranney as the pioneering cheesemaker in Dereham, Ontario, who introduced cheese production from cow's milk, won prizes at provincial shows, and inspired neighboring dairymen.
What happens
A poetic ode celebrating Father Ranney as the pioneering cheesemaker in Dereham, Ontario, who introduced cheese production from cow's milk, won prizes at provincial shows, and inspired neighboring dairymen. The poem highlights the growth of the dairy industry, the prosperity it brought to farmers and their families, and the central role of Ingersoll as a cheese market.
Themes in this chapter
Agriculture and Rural Economy
The poem details the economic impact of cheese-making on farmers, including profits from milk, the purchase of supplies, and the enrichment of soil through dairy farming.
Community and Social Gatherings
The chorus calls for honoring Father Ranney, and the poem describes the collective effort and unity among dairymen, with Ingersoll serving as a central market for cheese buyers.
Characters to notice
- Father Ranney
Celebrated as the cheese pioneer who first settled in Dereham and established cheese-making, winning first prizes at provincial shows.
- James McIntyre
Author of the cheese ode, praising Father Ranney and the dairy industry.
Key passages
“He was the first there to squeeze / His cows’ milk into good cheese”
Father Ranney was the first person in the area to make cheese from cow's milk.
Highlights Ranney's pioneering role in local cheese production.
“The motto 'union is strength' / Is carried out at length”
The principle of cooperation is fully realized in the cheese factories.
Emphasizes the collaborative spirit among dairymen.