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The Rural Voice, 1979-11, Page 48Ezuce eaceatv edezatieut foryueuetate Frank Wall speaks at Bruce meetings Frank Wall, an executive director with the Ont. Federation of Agriculture, was the guest speaker at the annual meeting of the North and Central Bruce Regions held at Tara on October 15th. He outlined the history of farm organizations in Ontario. "This is the 10th anniversary of the I.S.M. (Individual Service Membership) program with the Federation", he said, "and it has been a great success." He went on to describe how the I.S.M. program has fostered individual participation and involvement by farmers at the grass roots level which has made the O.F.A. an organization controlled by farmers. He told the audience about a few of the accomplish ments of the O.F.A. over the years. "But there are many new problems challenging the Federation today," he explained. "One of these is maintaining our membership when farms are becoming larger and there are fewer farmers. Another problem is the severe effect of inflation on the farmers, which is going to mean that farmers are going to be taking greater risks in order to try to make a profit." Borden Fenton, R.R.3, Allenford, was re-elected as Regional Director for North Bruce and delegates to the O.F.A. convention will be: K.J. Cobean, R.R.2, Port Elgin Ken Kelly, R.R.5, Paisley Wayne Robertson, R.R.2, Port Elgin. Harold Poechman, R.R.2, Walkerton, was returned by acclamation as Regional Director for Central Bruce and delegates will be: Don Ahrens, R.R.2, Elmwood Milton Ahrens, R.R.2, Elmwood Eldon MacKinnon, R.R.3, Paisley are Allan Whytock, Evan Keith and Raymond Fisher. Bruce West convention delegates will be Mark McAuley and two more yet to be named. Frank Wall of the OFA executive was guest speaker at the meeting. Machinery care course BY GISELE IRELAND Due to a marked interest from both farmers and the Grey -Bruce Farm Labour Pool. there will he some instruction in the care and operation of farm machinery this fall. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food will hold a series of clinics at various dealers' premises throughout the county of Bruce the week of November 19th. They will consist of one day work shops and will cover initially all makes of tractors. If interest proves sufficient, future clinics will cover other types of farm equipment. These clinics will consist mainly of maintenance and operation of equipment. More information regarding these clinics will be published shortly. The real need of farmers who employ Directors for the OFA for 1980 and delegates to the November 26 OFA convention were elected October 16 at a Bruce Federation of Agriculture annual meeting at Holyrood School. Brian Ireland is the director for South Bruce and John McAuley for Bruce West. Convention delegates from South Bruce PG. 46 THE RURAL VOICE/NOVEMBER 1979 help in seasonal cropping periods getting employees with at least minimal machinery experience will not be met by this course which misses the summer work force by being scheduler' in November. Hopefully if this endeavour proves successful Bruce farmers can look forward to expansion of this program in the next year. Benefit Nov. 9 for tornado victims Compassion for the victims of the Woodstock Disaster won't go very far to rebuild what they have lost. Your donations will. The Bruce County Feder- ation of Agriculture is sponsoring a benefit dance on November 9th at the Knights of Columbus Hall between Walkerton and Mildmay on Hwy. #9. Music will be by Impression. Ladies please bring lunch. Dancing is from 9 until 1. Receipts will be issued for donations over $10 on request. Let's show Woodstock how compassionate Bruce County is with generous contri- butions. Dairy, swine jobs available for women BY GISELE IRELAND The Grey -Bruce Farm Labour Pool says it could place almost any woman applicant in dairy and swine operations if they could only find some. The summer seems to have an 80 percent women over men advantage in this area but once summer is over this picture drastically changes. Many farmers through experience prefer women to work with livestock. Many who have had women working for the summer months wish they could get a year round person of the same calibre. It is to be wondered what turns women away from this field of employment. Experience can easily be gained to a point by the excellent course in both swine and dairy held at Centralia for 12 weeks. Registration for these courses begins in January. Hopefully both courses will again have a full quota because last year's students were all assured of employment before they even graduated. The days seem to have passed when you can place a person for employment on the farm if he or she can't do anything else. Farmers have too much invested in equipment and livestock to be able to afford inexperienced help with little background in the basics of agriculture. All farmers are willing to train employees if they could only find some with a lasting and or real interest. So, it you are looking forward to a rewarding career with excellent opportunities for advancement and learning to work under your own initiative, perhaps you should investigate the courses offered at Centralia this winter and fill some of the vacancies the farming communites seem to be suffering from.