Farmer Dave Cheer. /Cheer Farms Facebook photo
The community will rally this weekend to honour the late “Farmer Dave” Cheer of Brighton.
Robert David “Dave” Cheer was a lifelong figure in Brighton and loved by many in the community.
For many residents, they hear Cheer and think of his family-run legacy Cheer Farms, which has long been a jewel in Brighton. Cheer loved his family and time at the farm but also loved helping people, sports, and more.
Cheer passed away on Feb. 13, but his celebration of life is this Saturday, March 14 at the Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens in Trenton from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The family has confirmed speeches will take place around 1:30 to 2 p.m.
For his family, Cheer was described as “the man that kept our world going round.”
And the family certainly made Cheer Farms iconic – and a huge draw to the community.
“He was an amazing husband, father, father-in-law, son, brother, uncle, and so much more,” said the Cheer family, while initially sharing the news of his passing with “heavy hearts.”
He was also described as a world-class grandpa and his love for farming “next level.”
“He always wanted to plant more and more each season,” said the Cheers. “Everything Farmer Dave did was at 110 per cent – not for himself, but for everyone else.”
In honour of Cheer, Brighton has also said staff will lower all municipal flags this weekend as a tribute to his life and lasting impact on the community.
In his earlier years, he was grad of both Brighton Public School and ENSS before going on to graduate from Ridgetown College in the agricultural production management program.
“From there, he got his first job with the Grafton Co-op, and years later, was given the opportunity to manage the Picton Co-op,” reads his obituary.
Thirty-one years ago, he took on a new position with United Agri Products as a territorial salesman.
In his obituary, it states, if desired, memorial donations can be made to the Belleville General Hospital Foundation/oncology department or the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre – Odette Cancer Centre.
Cheer leaves behind his wife of 39 years Loraine Cheer (Beaudry), their two daughters Kimberly and Jennifer, his infant grandson “Cooper,” his parents Doug and Gracelyn (Cooper) Cheer and will also be deeply missed by his brother Roger Cheer and his larger extended family, as well as many loved ones, friends in the community and patrons of the farm.
Long-time Applefest organizers are also remembering Cheer.
“Cheer Farms has long been a cornerstone of the Brighton community and a beloved presence at Brighton Applefest, with Dave being one of the driving forces behind its success,” wrote organizers online.
He was always the first vendor on the street on Applefest morning, setting up with a flashlight well before dawn – a small but powerful reflection of his dedication and his work ethic, added volunteers.
