The Rural Voice, 1978-06, Page 12a relief milker hasn't shown up for work and some cows have
gone all weekend without milking. So far it's just a bad dream.
The Pool knows this for sure because it calls the farmers involved
after each job to find out if they're happy with the work.
Mrs. Weber had little experience finding jobs for people or in
running an office when she got the job of running the Grey -Bruce
Pool. but she did have a knowledge of the problems involved in
farming. She grew up on a dairy farm in the Haldiman-Norfolk
area and was involved in 4-H and Junior Farmer work and was a
Dairy Princess. The area abounded in tobacco farms and apple
orchards too and her knowledge of the latter. through working in
the orchards. comes in handy in her present job because of the
large number of orchards around Georgian Bay. She also worked
in the R.O.P. testing program in the dairy industry and got a
chance to see close up the labour problems farmers had. She was
studying at the University of Guelph when the job opening came
but her husband had recently purchased a farm near Ayton so
she applied for the job. She quit school needing two credits to
complete her degree course in music in order to take the job.
She'll get the degree sometime. she says. but right now job.
farm, husband and child take up her time. Her husband works at
the University of Guelph and drives back and forth from the
farm.
One of the changes she's seen in recent years. Mrs. Weber
says. is a difference in attitude to working on farms, particularly
among students at the University of Guelph. There isn't the
stigma attached to working on a farm anymore. It used to be that
the students took a farm job only if they couldn't find something
else.
It's part of the feeling of more pride in agriculture today which
she feels may have something to do with the fact that farming is
now a big business with expensive land and equipment.
There's an increasing appreciation of the rural way of life too.
She tells of people who have given up jobs in Toronto at
$14-$15,000 a year to work on farms for perhaps $400 a month
because they want their children to grow up away from the city.
Still, the toughest problem the Pool faces is the lack of
qualified help. "If a farmer wants a herdsman he wants someone
who can walk right in," Mrs. Weber says. There's a lack of
herdsmen and farm managers and swine herdsmen, an area of
growing demand. The various Pools across the province work
closely together to try to find the right people for the right jobs.
There's a 10 -week dairy course at Kempville College of
Agricultural Technology which can provide trained personnel in
dairy and there are a whole raft of government -assisted on the
job training programs which farmers can take advantage of and
which the Pool staff will be happy to inform farmers about and
direct them to the proper agency.
Still, despite all the successes, there are some glaring failures
which keep the Pool staff from having swelled heads. One is the
chronic need for stone pickers of which they can never find
enough. The other is an almost never-ending search for a goat
herdsman to manage a 2000 -goat herd near Dundalk. Any
takers? D
Use
The
Rural Voice
Classified Ads
PG. 12. THE RURAL VOICE/JUNE 1978.
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TA AA A A
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P.T.O. DRIVES AVAILABLE.
-MANY OTHER NEW FEATURES -
SMT
Farmatic Automatic
Feeding Ltd.
Gorrie, Ontario
(519) 335-3542
W.J. HUGHES
REALTY LIMITED
38 EAST ST., GODERICH
524-8100 or 524-9131
Farm -400 acres. Set up for beef and cash crop. Modern
facilities. In 2700 heat unit area.
Commercial building completely renovated in 1975 %ith
modern living quarters above. Ideally situated for varlets
store centered in the farming community.
Retirement home 960 sq. ft. raised bungalow. In small
village.
Country living - 21/2 acres with large brick home. New l‘
renovated one year ago. Only 10 miles from Goderich.
Developers - Lots 10 miles from Goderich in pillage. Buildit.g
lots in one parcel in registered subdivision N ith septic tank
approval.
Large treed lot in Auburn with newly decorated 3 bedroom
house. New 200 amp. service. Priced to sell.
Don McCauley
RR 2, Goderich
524-4226
Cathy McDougall
Box 144, Londesboro
523-4594