The Rural Voice, 1982-01, Page 29Grey County Federation of Agriculture
Newsletter
Taylor, Robertson,
Saunders and Schwegler
elected to executive
BY BESSIE SAUNDERS
There was a good attendance for the November meeting of
Grey County Federation of Agriculture. Elected to the executive
were Robert Taylor, Ray Robertson, Bruce Saunders and Clay
Schwegler.
Committees were chosen for the coming year and a committee
workshop will be held December 17 in the OMAF Board Room,
Markdale.
Bob Boyle of OFA and Bill Crawford. Huron County were
present to explain the procedure of hiring a field representative to
replace Bob Leslie who has accepted the position of chairman of
the OFA Properties Department.
The tribute to Grant Sweiger dinner was planned for December
10 in the Rocklyn Community Centre. Tickets are $25 per couple
and $10 of this is for the Award Fund. One award each year will be
given to a Junior Farmer member and a 4-H member, the award to
run for 20 years. Clay Schwegler, Don Hill and Ray Robertson will
draft the charter for the award.
The Finance Committee prepared a budget for the year.
Investments will be cashed to pay off the loan to Bruce County so
that the 3M photo copier could be paid off. A stencil cutter was
purchased by the Ontario Farm Machinery Agency and the Grey
and Bruce Federations. This machine will be the property of the
Federations.
Ralph Barrie had a kitchen meeting in Derby Township earlier
this year and will be in Artemesia and Osprey townships for their
annual meetings on Jan. 21, 1982. Ron Jones was the guest
speaker for the Meaford Thornbury Co -Op annual meeting in
Rocklyn. Ron White is the guest speaker for Euphrasia Townships
annual meeting on November 27. Grey County is fortunate to have
these 3 representatives of OFA visit our county.
Grey county sends 16 delegates
Grey County had 16 delegates at the OFA convention in
Toronto. Grant Wallace, who has been a popular guest speaker on
Insurance in our area, was present when we checked in Monday
but died quite suddenly Monday night. Grant worked very hard to
make the Insurance Plan a success.
Ralph Barrie, Ron White and Ron Jones were returned as
president 1st and 2nd Vice by the delegates.
As expected the membership fee was increased to S70.
Expenses at OFA increase just as farmers expenses do.
The Emergency Task Force presented their report and their
recommendations and answered many questions from the floor.
Hopefully their recommendations will be acted upon. All through
the convention, the financial problems of all ages of farmers keep
cropping up. The speakers at the banquet Wednesday night
succeeded in giving the delegates a chance to laugh and forget
their problems for a short while.
Many of the townships in Grey are having their annual
meetings and electing new directors. We will have some new
faces at the December and January directors' meeting.
Representatives will be visiting each township council within the
next two months hoping to get each township on the levy system.
Rural Voice has been going out to each ISM in Grey for the past
year. The rate has been increased greatly and we may not be able
to continue with this magazine.
Tribute to T.S. Cooper
Grey County people celebrated the life of T.S. Cooper,
long-time retired agricultural representative who passed away
Nov. 21st in Markdale, aged 92 years. Tommy Cooper was ag. rep
in Grey from 1920-1959. Short in height, but high in the esteem of
his people, we remember him as a man of immense energy,
enthusiasm, determination and dedication, a devoted servant of
the people of Grey County.
Many tales are told of Tommy swiftly driving from one part of
his large county to another, his car just touching the high spots in
the road as he sped on his way.
Many of his efforts were towards bringing about farm programs
taken for granted now-T.B. testing of cattle, brucellosis control,
farm drainage, etc. He was one of those instrumental in
establishing the Wiarton Cattle Sales.
Few people are aware that during World War 11, it was the
burdensome task of the agricultural representative to decide
which farm boys received deferrment from military service (in
order to assist on the home farm in the national food production
effort), and which did not. Tommy Cooper saw the need for strong
farm organization, and was a great backer of the Federation of
Agriculture.
Greatly concerned with the quality of rural life, as well as the
improvement of agriculture, Tommy Cooper was instrumental in
establishing the Owen Sound Kiwanis music festival, and the
Centre Grey Hospital at Markdale.
At his retirement in 1959, Mr. Cooper said "we have learned to
grow two and even three blades of grass where one used to grow;
now we must tackle the problem of marketing." Twenty years
later these prophetic remarks still hold true.
The tribute to 7'. Stewart Cooper was written by Grant Preston
a long time friend and an ISM from Proton Township.
THE RURAL VOICE/JANUARY 1982 PG. 27