The Rural Voice, 2003-11, Page 54People in Agriculture
John and Betty Crowley accept the Perth County Federation of Agriculture's
Recognition Award from PCFA President Tim Shute (right) at the Feder-
ation's annual meeting in Mitchell, October 9. The couple is heavily involved
in the pork industry, farming organizations in general and in their community.
Couple's service recognized
Betty and John Crowley of
Gadshill were presented with the
Perth County Federation of
Agriculture's Recognition Award
when the Federation held its annual
meeting in Mitchell, October 9.
The award, given annually to
people who have shown leadership,
dedication and commitment to the
agricultural and rural community in
Perth County, honoured the couple
for their wide-ranging community -
building efforts.
John has served on the Perth
County Pork Producers Association
and as the county's representative to
the Ontario Pork Producers'
Marketing Board. He is currently
vice-president of the Ontario Pork
Congress. In his home community he
is a member of the choir and serves
on the building committee at St.
Joseph's Roman Catholic Church at
Kinkora.
Betty is a past 4-H leader and past
secretary of Perth County Farm
Safety Committee.
She served as a member of the
Perth Needs Committee of the
Ontario Agriculture Training Institute
and was involved in organizing the
Neighbours Being Neighbours
committee.
She has been heavily involved in
the Ontario Pork Congress moving
up the ranks from being a committee
member to committee chair to
executive member and Pork
Congress president. She remains
active with the organization.
She was a driving force behind
having the family's farm enrolled in
the pilot project in the Canadian
Quality Assurance Program.
"We are humbled yet honoured to
receive this award in front of our
friends and peers," said John
Crowley. "We do enjoy going to
meetings but we've always gotten
something out of them. We've
always taken something home and
hopefully we've put some input into
(the meetings)."
He congratulated the Federation
for its work and said his dream down
the road was to see one general farm
organization so that when farmers
went to government they'd go with
one message.
He also urged fanners to have
pride in their work and be involved.
"Remember, stand up, get
involved and be counted."0
Bert Johnson lauded
for Ad Week work
Everyone, including the man
who defeated him in the October 2
provincial election, was singing the
praises of former Perth Middlesex
MPP Bert Johnson at the Perth
County Federation of Agriculture's
annual meeting in Mitchell, October
9.
"The most fitting thing we can
do right now is to recognize the
father of Agriculture Week, Bert
Johnson," said John Wilkinson
who won the riding in the Liberal's
sweeping victory. Wilkinson's
statement brought a standing
ovation for Johnson.
Johnson managed to steer a
private members bill through the
provincial legislature to have the
second week of October named
Ontario Agriculture Week.
Though he is returning to private
life, Wilkinson assured Johnson that
"There will always be an
Agriculture Week as long as there is
a representative from Perth County
of any stripe."
Later in the evening Federation
President Tim Shute presented a
gift basket to Johnson in thanks for
his service. Shute recalled getting a
telephone call from Johnson the
evening the news broke of the case
of BSE being discovered in Alberta.
In his call the MPP offered to do
anything he could to help.
Johnson revealed he had made
about 20 calls that night to various
farm leaders.0
Steckle re-elected
chair of federal
ag. committee
Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle
has been unanimously re-elected as
chair of Parliament's Standing
Committee on Agriculture and
Agri -Food.
"The past six months have been
especially difficult for the
agriculture industry in Canada,"
Steckle said after being
congratulated by the committee's
vice -chairs.
"I thank you for your support
and I look forward to working with
each of you in the future.0