FOCUS - OCTOBER 2017 17 Irwin’s grandfather, George, pur- chased a 100-acre parcel of land in Scugog in 1913, moving to the site two years later when he married. “The property had a barn, a house, and some apple trees,” Irwin reports. “But my grandfather’s specialty was Holstein cattle.” Ironically, those apple trees – which George had considered only a secondary benefit in the purchase – would exert a lasting and, over the decades, an increasing influence on the property’s use. “He saw them as just a bonus. But in my time we grafted from one of those originals, and their bloodline is still going. One of the originals is still standing!” Early in its history, the Smith farm gained local noteriety. “Our property was the highest el- evation on the Whitby-Port Perry rail line. The railroad made it a stop, and it got known as ‘High Point.’” When George died in 1939, his son, Lloyd, shifted the farm’s focus somewhat. “My father had an interest in or- chard work, though he did maintain the farm’s reliance on cows. When I got involved as a young man, we ay what you like about good luck or good timing, but the truth is, you make your own breaks in life. As it is with talent, some people make life look easy, but behind the scenes they’ve worked hard to achieve a positive result. Irwin Smith has had multiple careers, every one of them successful, and each quite different from the next. As a young man, he bravely left behind a more obvious option to pursue his personal dream. That fulfilled, he circled back to his starting point, advancing and enhancing the existing business’ model. When he sensed the time was right, Irwin bowed out gracefully from his family’s century-old enterprise to devote himself to his pas- sion, which had remained constant, though secondary, throughout his working life. Good luck…? Good timing…? Yes, and hard work and sound judgement. Top to bottom: Irwin Smith – from apples to wine. Irwin shows a 2008 red merlot and a Pinot Gris. George Smith, Irwin’s Grandfather, bought the Ocala Farm at the age of 33. Irwin’s parents, Ruby and Lloyd Smith. Irwin and Alissa Smith opened the Ocala Winery on August 9, 1995. S ...................... Please turn to page 19 from Holsteins, to apples, to wine..... Smith Farm changes owners after 104 years