The Rural Voice, 2002-08, Page 50Ag News
Hensall Co-op marks 65th anniversary
Hundreds filled the tents beside the elevators at Hensall Co-op. CEO Earl Wagner (right) was among the speakers.
Hundreds attended a family fun -
day that marked the 65th anniversary
of the Hensall District Co-operative,
July 10.
The events included tours of the
co-op's world-class edible bean and
soybean processing plants and the
new 1,000 bag per hour packaging
and palletizing operation.
Following a complimentary beef
and ham barbecue, presentations
were made by Co-op President Bill
Wallace, CEO Earl Wagner and Earl
Schilbe who was a director from
1967 to 1972 and president from
1971 to 1972.
Also attending were Helen Johns,
Ontario Minister of Agriculture and
Food and MPP for Huron -Bruce,
Paul Steckle, MP for Huron -Bruce
and Ben Van Diepenbeek, Huron
County warden.
The co-op began life in 1938 as
South Huron Farmers' Co-op with
William Pepper as manager. It
reorganized as Hensall District Co-op
in 1945 purchasing a lot off main
street m the town in 1946 for $900.
In 1940 the co-op's profit was
$208.84. Last year the profit was
$951,000 before taxes and
distribution to members. Sales last
year were $143 million. The
company invested $3.2 million in
upgrading facilities and equipment
last year.0
Huron's new tree bylaw passed
After months of debate Huron
County's Forest Conservation Bylaw
was officially passed by county
council July 4.
In presenting the bylaw agriculture,
public works and seniors committee
chair Bernie MacLellan said he
hoped the bylaw would finally be
acceptable. "I've spent more time on
the phone in the last week than my
teenage daughter," he joked. "I'm
ready to put this thing to rest."
The bylaw had been scheduled for
passing the previous month but
approval was delayed to allow one
last chance for critics to present their
case at the June meeting of the
committee. At that meeting 10
groups, had been present.
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There had been ongoing debate for
the two years the bylaw, a
replacement for the old tree bylaw,
has been under consideration. Debate
became more heated as the bylaw
moved toward approval.
Senior County Planner Tousaw
said tree cover in Huron ranges from
as high as 24 per cent of the land in
West Wawanosh to three or four per
cent in McKillop and southern
townships. "We'd be much healthier
to have 24 per cent like West
Wawanosh," he said, while admitting
that good farmland is not going to be
replanted to trees. Still, he said, a
look at McKillop showed if marginal
land was reforested it would double
or triple the number of forested acres.0
MORRIS SACHS
SILO
CONSTRUCTION
SILO ACCESSORIES
SILOS DISMANTLED,
REBUILT AND REPAIRS
R . #1
Elmwood, Ont.
363-3900 NOG 1 SO
AUGUST 2002 47