The Rural Voice, 1979-02, Page 6nnre relaxed pace.
The minister said he fmds the attitude, common in rural
communities, that you have to be sick to take a rest " is the
Protestant work ethic carried to the extreme."
Trying to keep up with
the Joneses
Another stress in farming is certainly the financial one
farming is becoming a highly intensive industry and the old days
of barter and labour sharing between farms are dying out. We all
know the saying that money doesn't buy happiness, but farmers,
like most people, wouldn't mind a chance to test the saying
themselves.
In a recent study sponsored by Women of Unifarm, an Alberta
organization, 521 farm wives were interviewed about stress on
the farm.
Researchers found, not surprisingly, that finances were a
major, if not the major, cause of stress.
The financial stress resulted from rising operational and living
casts, low farm prices and the farm's inability to pay decent
family wages.
Also, as the rural population becomes more mobile and less
isolated, farm families were caught up in wanting the
advantages of urban living -in other words, they were trying to
keep up with the same Joneses you find in the city.
Finance -related stress also sometimes results when members
of a farm family work from dawn to dusk, seven days a week,
with little time for planned holidays.
The Rural Development Outreach Project (RDOP) team from
the University of Guelph, who conducted a survey in Turnberry
Township and Wingham, in 1977, found that farm families often
just don't take yearly vacations.
So, the old advice about a change being as good as a rest, just
doesn't have a chance to take effect.
IN THE FAMILY
Jack Hagarty, a farm management consultant with the Perth
OMAF office in Stratford, finds another stressful situation,
bound up with finances, can occur at the time of a father to son
farm transfer.
Mr. Hagarty said the stress comes from having to make
decisions about the future of the farm, when both a father and
son may be confused about where they want to go.
The father for example, may face the dilemma of knowing he
could sell the farm to an outsider for a good price, but at the
same time, he wants to keep the farm in the family. Also,
housing may be a problem -do the parents stay in their house on
the farm, or do they give up the house to the son and his family?
The son may also be wondering if he's getting a fair share of
the farm in the deal; there may be other family members which
oust be paid off or the son may wonder if he'll really be allowed
to make decisions about the farm's future.
Mr. Hagarty said one way to relieve some of the stress
PG. 6 THE RURAL VOICE/FEBRUARY 1979
AU11111111,
�''
STEWART ALUMINUM
and
INSULATION LIMITED
SHOP
207 Huron Rd., Goderich
PHONES: 524-8821
524-2094
41,
* Alcan Building Products
* Rapco Urea - Formaldehyde
insulation
* Rigid Urethane Foam Systems
* All Types protective coatings
* Blowen Fiber insulation
See Us For
REASONABLE
PRICES
When you are looking for
. BIG BALE FEEDERS
. FARM GATES . CALF STALLS
. STACK FEEDER PANEL
. CATTLE OILERS
Buy direct or contact
us for the name of your nearest dealer
HEI DELBERG
IRON WORKS
St. Jacobs (519) 664-2820