Sugar For Success - Glenn Clarke On The Land For Four Generations

Living on the family farm was always on the cards for Glenn Clarke, a born and bred Proserpine local.

Now four generations on the Glen Isla, just west of Proserpine township, Glenn has been growing and harvesting sugar cane for coming on 40 years now, since taking over operations from his father.

“The family moved here around 1921, from Conway way,” he explained.

Since then, the family has acquired 130 hectares of cane farming land, with Glenn usually harvesting between nine and 10 tons of sugar cane each year.

“This year is shaping to be a good crop too,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say a bumper crop but definitely a good one. The rain we’re getting at the moment is welcome, but we can’t get too much.”

Over the years, Glenn’s farm has faced increased hardships, including being almost completely flattened during Cyclone Debbie in 2017.

Nurturing the crop back to good health, he has seen much harvest success in coming years, and fosters a nature to help other cane farmers in the region.

Acting as the Chairman for the Proserpine branch of CANEGROWERS Board of Directors, Glenn often communicates with local sugar mills, including Wilmar and ensures the best for CANEGROWERS members.

He initially took on the Chairman position 10 years ago and has been a member of CANEGROWERS for 23 years now, and he isn’t slowing down any time soon.

“We look out for our members. We’re elected on to the board by our members, so we have to look out for them, and make sure everything is pointing in the right direction.”

Glenn is joined with his wife, who is a real estate agent for Ray White Real Estate.

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Proserpine local sugar cane farmer, Glenn Clarke, has been in the business for 40 years now. Photo credit: Bronte Hodge