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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1979-04-25, Page 1421 graduate from first swine worker training course The 21 students who graduated from Centralia College of Agricultural Technology's first swine farm worker training program may ha've felt like "guinea pigs" at times, but they were also "pioneers", according to Doug Jamieson, the program's administrator. The program, created to provide ex- perienced swine workers for farms in southwestern Ontario, was jointly funded by the Canada Employment Centres; the Canada Farm Labour Pool and the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities to provide a pool of trained people to work on farms. The program is unique because it is training students for jobs already known to be in existence. Doug Jamieson told the graduates that "I have never seen red tape fall by the wayside so fast" as in the creation of the program. Only seven months ago, Mr. Jamieson and Canada Manpower re- presentatives met to discuss the feasiblility of offering such a course. In mid-Noyember Doug McRae of R.R.1, Denfield was hired to co-ordinate the program arid' the students started classes in January. Twenty-one of the 25 students who started the 15 week program received their graduation diplomas at Friday's banquet. Mr.Jamieson said because students were ,"guinea pigs" they developed a special "esprit de corps" during their time together, made valuable contacts within the industry and rubbed shoulders with some of the leading pork production experts in the country. The guest speaker at the, banquet,;. Howard Malcolm of janetyple,', Chairman of the. Ontario 'Pork iRrirociOerS' Marketing'. Board, said he felt./14WOLVesclit It the program since ,he:.,an his sons were training farmers for three Of theStudents in the program. Not .00.Vt: Mr. Malcolm told thegraduate's .when he started farming the pork indtrstry "was :n't much" - just a barn with horses, cows and some pigs next to where you kept the turnips. The speakers said in those days, pigs were nicknamed "mortgage lifters." Over the years, Mr. Malcolm said the pork industry has certainly become more sophisticated. Ten years ago, when the index system started paying producers for the lean weight in a carcass, this meant the pigs being marketed now are much leaner than in the past. Feeds improved and marketing has become more sophisticated. Mr. Malcolm said there are now 45 assembly points across the province where producers can deliver their pigs and every county has a pork producers' association. Mr. Malcolm said the marketing.board is now spending $700,000 a year or 23 cents per hog on promoting pork in Ontario through television and newspaper advertising as well as the two pork restaurants opened in the Toronto area. Everyone in pork The speaker said now "it seems every- one is going into the pork business lately." He said there are now 17,000 producers in the province turning out 72,000 hogs per week. He said as pork producers expand their operations there is a "definite need for more help", since farmers don't want to work a seven day week. He said producers are now going into two or three man operations and herdsmen's salaries have increased up to as much as $350 per week. He said producers want workers who are dependable, prompt and observant enough to see what's happening in the barn. He told the students that one of the most important attributes was their attitude to the pigs-"do you like pigs?" he added. 'They (pigs) are very intelligent animals and very clean if given half a chance," he added. Mr. Malcolm concluded his remarks by saying the pork business is big business and "I think it's here to stay." He said as people eat less beef, then it should mean more pork will be eaten in the future. Doug McRae, co-ordinator of the program, told the students they were a wonderful group of people to work with and that some of the trainees brought as much practical information to the course as he had himself. He said the students were fortunate in. being the first class in the program since they will have the jump on everyone else in finding jobs. MAYER'S JEWELLERY Where Personal Service is still Important BRUSSELS Member B BA Everything you Perfect Day •Invitations *Wedding Announcements *Serviettes •Matches •Cake boxes *Thank You Cards We also lend out our Wedding book so you may choose your wedding accessories in the privacy of your own home. 'II need for the 14 — THE BRUSSELS POST, APRIL 25, 1979 Heavy supply at stockyard For Summer Fun Gas Barbecue $88.88 & up shelves, and rotisseries Double Habachi $7.49 &up Charcoal Barbecues Good selection Barbecue Accessories also available Watch for 1979 Oldfield Pro Hardware Spring catalogue. OLDFIELD C; Brussels HARDWARE 887-6851 The C.C.B. Bluewater Club for the blind held their opening meeting for the year, April 17, in the Orange Hall, Clinton. The members were glad to get together again after a long winter. The people came from Lucknow, Wingham, Blyth, Woodham, Exeter, Hensall and Clinton. There was a short business session. Then the president, Bert Sootheran, introduced Bernadette Scott, Project Manager of Recreation for THREE PHASE Electric "EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL" ?* ECONOMY * SERVICE QUALITY BARRY BUCHANAN eW —7374 GLENN McLEAN 887-9264 P.O. BOX 1136 CLINTON, 0Nr, • The market at Brussels Stockyards on Friday was very active with a heavy supply of cattle trading higher. Pigs sold easier. There were 1116 cattle and 2710 pigs on offer, Choice Steers - 84.00 to 86.00 with sales to 87.75. Good Steers - 82,00 to 84,00. A steer consigned by L & B Farms weighing 1200 lbs. sold for 87.85 with their 41 steers averaging 1190 lbs. selling for an overall price of 85.40. A steer consigned by Joe Raymard of Bluevale weighing 1180 lbs. sold for 87.50. Twenty steers consigned by Robert Grasby of Brussels averaging 1086 lbs. sold for 86.00. Five steers consigned by Wes Smith of Ripley averaging 1114 lbs. sold for 86.20 with his 17 steers averaging 1080 lbs. selling for an overall price of 85.64. Nine steers consigned by R.M. Scott of Seaforth averaging 1143 lbs. sold for 86.20 with his 28 steers averaging 1141 lbs. selling for an overall price of 85.20. Four steers consigned by Alvin Grainger of Wroxeter averaging 1227 lbs. sold for 86.60 with his lot of 14 steers averaging 1255 lbs. selling for 85.85. A steer consigned by J.S Robb of Ripley weighing 1240 lbs. sold for 86.75 with his lot of 14 steers averaging 1140 lbs. selling for 85.80. Twelve steers consigned by Len Sanderson of Wroxeter averaging 1180 lb. sold for the overall price of 85.40. Forty steers consigned by Bob Farrish of Lucknow averaging 1025 lbs. sold for 86.95. Five steers consigned by Jerry Kuntz of Formosa averaging 1286 lbs. sold for 86.60 with his lot Of 12 steers averaging 1265 lbs. selling for85.95. Special Needs. Mrs. Scott said there is an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a fitness room and a gymnasium The emphasis is on making the program enjoyable for all participants. Kenneth Johns of Exeter sang two solos, Open the Gates of the Temple and The End of the Road. Twenty-six steers con- signed by Maple Emblem Farms of Dungannon averaging 1215 lbs. sold for 85.10. Seven steers consigned by Jack McBurney of Wingham averaging 1132 lbs, sold for 85.35. Fifteen steers consigned by Emerson Mitchell of Walton averaging 1170 lbs. sold for 85.30. Fourteen steers consigned by Murray Powell of Wroxeter averaging 1019 lbs. sold for 86.50. Choice heifers - 81.00 to 84.00. Good Heifers - 78.00 to 81.00, Seven heifers consigned by Len Weishar of Mildmay averaging 1090 lbs. sold for 84.00. A heifer consigned by Graeme Craig of Walton weighing 1050 lbs. sold for 83,75. Eight heifers consgined by Jim Keeling of R.R.1, Grand Valley averaging 1000n lbs. sold for 83.20. A heifer consigned by Clarence Ritchie of Lucknow weiging 910 lbs. sold for 83.00 with his lot of 15 fancy light heifers averaging 857 lbs. sold for 81.40. A heifer consigned by Jim Scott of Ripley weighing 1060 lbs. sold for 82.25. Two heifers consigned by Jim Kraemer of Walkerton 8a2ve.oro g a , ing 1120 lbs. sold for Choice Cows - 65.00 to 68.00 with sales to 68,50. Good Cows - 62.00 to 65.00. Canners & Cutters - 56.00 to 62.00. Heavy Bulls traded to a high of 76.50, 30 to 40 lb. pigs traded to a high of 44.00 40 to 50 lb. pigs to a high of 51.250. 50 to 60 lb. pigs to a high of 58.0 60 to 70 lb. pigs to a high of 65.25. 70 to 80 lb. pigs to a high of 72.75. for planting Remember! It takes but a moment to place a Brussels Post Want Ad Dial Brussels 887-6641. Blind hear of recreation Dwarf APPLE TREES CRUNICAN BROS. 1 1/2 miles south of Elginfield If the address label on the front of your paper says Feb. 2-1-0-9 or Mar. 2-1-0-9 or Apr. 2-1-0-9 Your subscription is DUE NOW 1.1erilOntsr