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Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1989-04-05, Page 5Opinion Is is worth it? The other day while waiting in the tending their livestock and crops early in chiropractor's office, I overheard a con- the morning and late into the night. Trying versation between two farmers, probably r too raise a young family at the same time, both in their fifties. It went something like they rely. on the unpaid assistance of fami- this : "Well, I'm alone now... got more ly and friends. They scrimp on personal work than when I first started, now that items, do without recreation, worry over the boys are gone. payments that are due, argue with "Yeah, I know what you mean. My creditors, and face the constant threat of youngest left this fall. Can't blame him; 22 foreclosure. Some make it and some don't. years old and he'smaking$20,000 a year. I I admire them all but I can't help thinking can't afford to pay him that!" to myself: "Is it worth it? Where would "No, you can't expect them to farm... these people be if they applied the same they want weekends off and holidays in the energy and single-mindedness to being summer just like everyone else." non -farmers?" It was one of those exchanges that never I'm not saying that getting into farming reaches a satisfactory conclusion. The should be an easy ride; some sacrifice is final sentences just sort of hang irrthe air,, necessary and even beneficial. But the inviting an explanation yet forbidding the disillusionment felt by young people on to - participants to go any further..You have a day's farms is symptomatic of a situation sense that important questions have been that has become unreasonable. If the pro - raised, questions whose answers are too spects for new farmers do not improve, bewildering or too ominous to be spoken in then agriculture faces some dramatic a light-hearted, waiting room conversa- changes in the next few decades. As our. tion. There's a moment of uneasy, aging farm population leaves the industry, thoughtful silence and then someone mer- their farms are acquired by expanding eifully starts into a new topic, something neighbours or by investors who don't farm. less personal like the weather or hog Either transaction, projected far enough markets. into the future, spells the extinction of the The questions need to be asked. And family owned and operated farm. answered. The facts are fairly obvious. The value and irreplacability of this You don't need Goldfarb or Gallup to tell oldest food -producing enterprise is not in you that the number of young people star- question. No rural politician could ever get ting farming doesn't even come close to elected without vowing to protect it. -equalling-the-number-of- farmers-retiring—Preserving-it Is -the -mandate -of or going bankrupt. The sons and daughters leader. We all love it. We all want it to con - who, ac1ording to tradition, should be tak- tinue forever. With the exception of a few ing over are just not interested. Too much obscure economists we all think we need it. is demanded and too little promised in return. Since I started farming in 1977,.I have seen some remarkable examples of dedication and self-sacrifice by those who aspired to the title of "farmer". I know of young couples who both work off the farm, Talking about sacred trusts, the family farm banks right up there with motherhood. Isn't it strange how happily we preside over its disappearance? Respectfully submitted, Public Relations Committee Bruce County Federation of Agriculture REALLY KNOW ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE Can you answer these questions? What does your municipal Berk do? 2 When do you need a building permit? How can you make your views !mown to your council? 6 Who is your councillor? 1 Who is your school board 74 member? 8 What does a Committee of Adjustment adjust? How do11112 Where does your . zoning by-laws local government affect you? get its money? Who can vote m local government elections? 1 What happens if11 you don't pay your property taxes? Find the correct answers, and much more about the community you live in, - during LOCAL GOVERNMENT WEEK APRIL 10-15 It's the time to find out how your community works for you. Ministry of Municipal Affairs John Eakins, Minister Ontario • In support of your Local Government Week Celebrations. Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, April 5, 1989 =Page 5 MS Society plans campaign The Bruce County chapter of the Multi- ple Sclerosis Society held its monthly meeting on March 20 at the W.E. Thomp- son Public School in Kincardine. Vice President Jim Schaefer outlined the plans for the Carnation Campaign on May 11, 12, and 13. This annual fund- raising event involves many volunteers who help at booths offering fresh carna- tions, the symbol of the MS society. Raffle tickets will also be available for the lovely pink flowered quilt which several of our ladies helped make. Any members of the public who could spare a couple of hours on Thursday evening, Friday or Saturday to help man the booths are invited to call Margaret Bannerman at 396-8792 or Don Rathburn at 396-7086. Jeannie Hedley then presented the treasurers report. We also received a clarification on which geographical area our chapter serves. It includes most of Bruce County plus south Gray County. This includes Hanover and Durham but ex- cludes the Bruce Peninsula. A big thank you to Lyla Allen for donating a second quilt which we plan to use in a future quilt ourx KINLOSS by Ruth Buchmeier Sympathy is extended to Bob and June -Gilchrist-and family on -the death -of Bob's father, Fred Gilchrist. The community is glad to know that Murial MacKenzie is home again from the hospital and wishes her a'speedy recovery. Jammie and Dianne Graham and family of Janetville and Mike and Martha Segiun of Oakville spent Easter weekend with their parents Elsie and Allan Graham The Dickie family were Easter Sunday dinner guests with Ira and Elizabeth. Mary Downey has completed her course at Ontario Business College in Kitchener. draw. Sue Young, our Services Co-ordinator, told us about new tax regulations which allow a tax break for people who must modify their home to allow for wheelchair use. Sue also let us know she has a pam- phlet from the Ministry of Senior Citizens Affairs and the Office for Disabled Per- sons which describes a provincial grant for community facilities. If anyone is in- terested, call 1-800-387-4456 about the "AO - CESS" program. Disability Awareness week is June 5 to 9. This year we will concentrate on Kincar- dine. We are looking for ideas on how to let the man or woman on the street know how it feels to be disabled. Ideas so tar include a shopping or banking trip in a'wheelchair, racing the traffic lights in a walker, or tak- ing a walk downtown blindfolded. Since MS weakens nerve signals to the muscles, it frequently causes severe fatigue. If anyone can think of a good way to demonstrate this to others, let Sue know. Our next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. on April 17 at the Walkerton . Hospital Cafeteria. Everyone is welcome. Three months review O • from page 4 that I'm being replaced and our ad man just grows and grows on you, so - there you have it folks - an update on life at the Sentinel. My personal thanks to all who have so graciously complimented me on the paper and offered moral support over the .last three months; believe me there were, and probably will still be, many times I wondered if I had made the right decision. Have a great week ! Get started right now with great battery values! •BCU1 - Fits many Garden Tractors and Snowmobiles. 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