The Rural Voice, 2001-11, Page 45RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 1C0
807-486-3622
RAINY RiL IVER VALLEY River The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
River Federation members by the RRFA.
October 4, 2001
The leaves are changing to the
beautiful autumn colours of gold, orange
and reds, to mark another season upon
us. The days are filled with ploughing the
earth for next season's harvest and
rounding up the cattle to prepare for fall
sales, and making ready for the winter
months ahead. And the cycle goes on as
before. Life is moving so very quickly
and we're enjoying every minute of each
change.
The October RRFA meeting was held
at the Emo purling rink club room with
Bernie Zimmerman, Linda Armstrong,
Betty Salchert, Kristine Carpenter,
Angela Halvorsen, Kelly Teeple. Shirley
Morrish, Kimlo Calder, Ken Fisher,
Jason Teeple, Reg Kaus and Rudy
Sinninghe in attendance.
Betty, Member Services
Representative, will be attending the
President's meeting in Toronto for
October 17. President Bernie also plans
on being there. Betty also is organizing
the Agricultural Odyssey Group meeting
at Stratton School on October 5 with Ron
Bonnett from OFA, who will listen to the
groups' concerns on the future of
agriculture. I'm hoping after all this, that
a map of Ontario will be used from here
on and ever after, on the true size of the
Rainy River District and points north.
Just because the capital is east, does not
mean they are bigger or more important.
The annual Rainy River Federation of
Agriculture dinner and dance is coming
up Saturday, October 20 at the Stratton
Millennium Hall. The very first meeting
of RRFA was held in October of 1975.
Elections were held in June of 1975.
There were 58 names along with the
founding directors. Linda Armstrong has
been very busy gathering names of
members who have been involved for the
past 25 years and the ones who started
the organization in this district. It
promises to be an evening of good food,
entertainment by our local executive, and
live music by the Glen Hart band. The
founding members will also be
recognized and the theme is Country and
Western.
Bernie reported for the local milk
producers, the conference will be held
next week at Geneva Park. He will be
attending along with Arnold Kaemingh.
He also mentioned that all 18 dairy farms
in this district have been inspected and
are Grade A.
The Rainy River Vet Committee had
another meeting September 6. They have
been trying for months now to find some
way to get another yet tor the district.
Jean Riddell hasn't given too much
encouragement. They will try again at the
October 18 meeting at the research
station. Dr. Dan and Dr. Chris are in the
process of building a new clinic west of
Fort Frances within the town limits. and
they certainly have not ruled out a
loading ramp facility. The committee is
not giving up yet.
Rainy River Cattlemen's Association
will have their calf sale at Stratton on
Saturday. Oct. 6. Tom Morrish,
president, reports at least 1.200 head are
expected. There have been many
improvements and time will bring even
more.
Canadian Agricultural Safety Week
comes up March 13 - 20, 2002. Fire
Prevention Week was October 7 - 13.
You are reminded to check all smoke
detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Also, have an emergency plan prepared
for your loved ones when and if a
disaster should occur. Life is too precious
to be careless.
Consumers are being warned about
eating raw wieners. (Listeria) — the name
of the bacterium found in nature — can
contaminate food products even after
processing. It can grow on food in the
refrigerator, but can be killed by normal
cooking procedures. It is recommended
that hot dogs be completely cooked
before eating them. Young children. the
elderly, those with weakened immune
systems, and pregnant women, are the
ones at particular risk.
A reminder to our Gramma and
Grandpa farmers who are busy farming,
to always look in every direction before
moving the tractor, car, or piece of
machinery. There have been a few close
calls reported lately. Response systems
don't act as quickly as we grow older,
and there is a tendency to be thinking of
other things.
Manitoba Farm Women's Conference
is November 12 - 13. 2001 at Portage la
Prairie. It is their 15th annual. and
designed for all female farmers who are
active in the agricultural business.
Kristine and Shirley plan to attend.
representing their Ag Awareness
Committee and RRFA.
Manitoba Ag Days where you can
present your latest farm invention,
happens January 15 - 17, 2002.
Brandon's Fall Fair is November 1. 2,
3, 2001.
Canadian Western Agribition at
Regina, is November 18 - 25 this year. A
bus trip is planned to leave our district on
Wednesday. November 21 and return on
November 24. You have until November
7. to register with Angela at Rainy River
Futures Development Corporation, or
KimJo at the Research Station. It costs
$150, for your bus seat. per person. You
can also share a room with someone to
save on motel costs. It's a trip well worth
taking and a learning experience:
There are a large number of dead
animals on the roadways lately and it
seems to be a great length of time before
they are properly disposed of. It was
questioned of who's responsibility this is.
Is it MTO or MNR or TPWHI (The
Person Who Hit It)? Anyway. it's
someone's responsibility and Betty will
be looking into this matter.
Linda brought her BP (Blood Pressure
cuff) to the meeting as she always has
done at the first and last executive
meetings, just to record the differences a
year can make on an executive volunteer.
Everyone held up well; but. Ken Fisher's
is still high. Could it be more than that
extra cigarette?
Thanksgiving has just passed. but 1
think we should be thankful all year
round for so many things.
I'm thankful for:
• The mess to clean up after a party
because it means I have been surrounded
by friends.
• The taxes I pay because it means that
I'm employed.
• Clothes that fit a little too snug because
it means I have enough to eat.
• My shadow who watches me work
because it means I am out in the
sunshine.
• The spot 1 find at the far end of the
parking lot because it means I am
capable of walking.
• All the complaining I hear about our
government because it means we have
freedom of speech.
• That lady behind me in church who
sings off key because it means that 1 can
hear.
• The piles of laundry and ironing.
because it means my loved ones are
nearby.
• The lawn that needs mowing, wipdows
that need cleaning and gutters that need
fixing because'it means I have a home.
• My huge heating bill, because it means
I am warm.
• Weariness and aching muscles at the
end of the day because it means I have
been productive.
• The alarm that goes off in the early
morning hours because it means that I am
alive.0 — Submitted by Shirley Morrish
NOVEMBER 2001 43