The Rural Voice, 2001-04, Page 78People
Grey couple in TESA award
James and Joan McKinlay of
Grey County were named 2001
winners of the prestigious
Environmental Stewardship Award
(TESA) at the annual meeting of the
Ontario Cattlemen's Association in
Toronto in February.
The McKinlays are owners of
Silver Springs Farms, a 465 -acre
farm near Ravenna where they have a
cow herd of 100 females. They were
nominated by the Grey County
Cattlemen's Association.
Each year for the past 27 years,
the McKinlays have initiated an
improvement project related to
conservation and resource
enhancement. In their application the
couple noted: "There is a financial
cost to these changes and innovations
but we view this as an investment in
the future. These investments in the
future bring us great satisfaction, •
today, as they are completed."
Projects in recent years have
included:
• Completion of an Environmental
Farm Plan Workbook which resulted
in them making a number of
improvements in areas of pesticide
and t'uel storage.
• Cattle have been fenced out of
wetlands, marsh areas, woodlots,
ponds and flowing water, improving
both water quality and livestock
health. The McKinlays have also
concentrated on developing
James and Joan McKinlay on their
Ravenna -area farm.
alternative water systems.
• Fencing and laneways have been
upgraded to minimize soil damage in
high traffic areas. More than 10,000
trees have been planted.
• Pastures have been subdivided so
cattle are in fields for a maximum of
three days before moving. This has
allowed them to pasture more cattle
while improving their pastureland.
• A partnership with the local
Sportsman's Club enabled them to
narrow the river channel, put in
settling ponds to filter the run-off and
introduce brown trout to the streams.
James is an executive member of
Beef Improvement Ontario and is a
director of the Grey County Soil and
Crop Improvement Association. Joan
worked as soil and crop specialist
with OMAFRA before resigning to
spend more time with their son and
their farming business.0
Listowel women judged top bakers
Two Listowel -area women were
among the top three bread makers in
the 15th annual provincial
championship bake -off held at the
convention of the Ontario
Association of Agricultural Societies
(OAAS).
From among the champions from
the 15 OAAS districts on hand to
produce loaves of 60 per cent whole
wheat bread, Marilyn Whaley of
R.R.2, Listowel, representing the
Palmerston fair, took home the Grand
Championship. Robina Alexander of
R.R.4, Listowel, representing the
Listowel fair, took home third place.
Taking second place was Carol
Crawford of Almonte in eastern
Ontario.
The loaves, all created from
scratch, were judged on appearance
(30 per cent), internal texture and
quality (30 per cent) and flavour and
aroma (40 per cent).
It's estimated that more than
1,000 bread makers took part in the
local fairs that led up to the
provincial bake -off. Whaley,
Alexander and the others had to win
at their own fair and at their district
level before being invited to take part
in the provincial competition.0
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a
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Busy year for
Perth Queen of
Furrow
It's been a busy year for Amy
Holmes. When she spoke to
county Queens of the Furrow at
the annual meeting of the Ontario
Plowmen's Association in
February (where Grey County was
awarded the 2004 International
Plowing Match) it was just one of
the many duties Holmes has
carried out as Ontario's Queen of
the Furrow.
The daughter of Jim and
Connie Holmes of Newton, Amy
comes from a family used to
taking part in competitions such as
the Queen of the Furrow. Her
sister Tricia Holmes -Storey was
Milverton Ambassador of the Fair
and her brother Donald was the
first, and only, male Ambassador
of the Fair. Amy herself was both
the Milverton Fair Ambassador
and Miss Paddyfest in Listowel.
But she admits he wasn't
expecting to win the Queen of the
Furrow title last year. Among the
31 competitors were several
competitors more experienced than
she. Because of her experience,
she could tell the contestants trying
to be her successor at September's
2001 IPM near Ottawa to relax.
"They should be themselves
and have fun. I didn't go expecting
to win but to have a new exper-
ience. It's an excellent opportunity
to meet people from all over the
province. I'm hoping they will see
my enjoyment in it, and see it as an
opportunity to take on extra
commitments."
Holmes was recently honoured
in her home county by the Perth
County Plowmen's Association.
She was presented with a Royal
Doulton figurine. As Queen of the
Furrow she has also received a
$500 bursary from Scotia Bank
and will receive a $2400 scholar-
ship from the OPA at the end of
the school year.0