The Rural Voice, 2004-01, Page 54People in Agriculture
Brussels -area farmer named
NFU youth wing president
Brussels -area farmer Dave
Lewington was elected youth
president of the National Farmers
Union at the 34th annual convention
in Saskatoon, November 20-22.
"I'm looking forward to working
with the NFU on the many issues
confronting younger farmers,"
Lewington said. "Youth are an
important part of the NFU and they
guarantee everyone has their say."
The 26 -year-old Lewington has
been a member of the NFU for the
past three years and was named
Ontario youth advisor last year. A
full-time sheep and hog farmer, he
said he plans to focus on making it
easier for young farmers to begin
producing supply -managed
commodities such as milk, poultry
and eggs.
During the summer Lewington
hosted the annual NFU Youth
meeting with a tour of his farm and
area attractions. There were also
discussions on issues facing young
farmers such as asking universities to
seek independent funding for
research so they aren't dependent on
corporate funding, finding ways for
young farmers to know about land
for rent and creating a reference
manual for families transferring
farms from generation to
generation.0
Professor -planner honoured
at University of Guelph
Wayne Caldwell, who lives on a
farm at Nile, near Goderich, and
splits his time between the Huron
County Department Planning and
Development and the University of
Guelph's School of Rural Planning,
has been honoured by the university.
Caldwell was presented with the
Distinguished Professor Award at a
reception held at the university in
October. One such award is given at
each college of the university.
Caldwell, who developed an
expertise in nutrient management
through his Huron County work, was
named chair of the province's
Nutrient Management Advisory
committee earlier this year. His work
have given him experience in rural
land -use planning, the connection
between agriculture and rural
communities, planning regulations
and livestock facilities, conflict
resolution and public participation.
As a professor, Caldwell said his
philosophy in the classroom is to
develop a sense of respect between
students and provide a relaxed
atmosphere built on the principles of
adult education and learning through
experience. He uses field trips, role-
playing and guest speakers to help
students develop a personal
connection with the material.
"Teaching is much like customer
service," he said. "The students are
my clients and as a teacher I need to
be realizing and aiming to meet their
learning objectives."
One of the students who nominated
Caldwell for the award was Melanie
Williams, a graduate student. "I am
appreciative that he has given me a
strong foundation to work from," she
said. She credits his encouragement
for her becoming involved in the
Ontario Professional Planners
Institute, the institute that accredits
the school's planning program.
Another student wrote: "Wayne
seems to always go above and
beyond his duties as a professor. He
is flexible and makes time to hear
everyone's point of view and
continually seeks out new and
creative ways for us to learn. He puts
in a great deal of time organizing
field trips and gives us the hand -on
experience and increases our learning
curve. Overall Wayne deserves this
award more than any other professor
I have had in both my graduate and
undergraduate degrees here in
Guelph."0
Young Swiss farmer
trains on Ontario farm
Learning the trade of farming
can be tough for young farmers,
but imagine moving to a different
continent to do it.
Matt Jakob, 21. arrived from
Switzerland last April, to begin his
exciting apprenticeship program
with Ernst and Yolanda
Gubelmann of Walton.
The program is called the
International Youth Experience
Canada and Switzerland, Young
Working Exchange Program.
Students spend their time learning
how Canadians farm and
comparing the difference to Swiss
farming techniques.
When they return home their
knowledge of Canadian farming is
used to help improve their farms in
Switzerland.
Jakob was to return home in
December to his parents and two
sisters. He said he is going to miss
Canada and hopes to return some
day.
He wanted see Canada after his
father showed him pictures of his
experiences through the program
30 years ago.
A short time later, he found an
ad in a local newspaper inviting
students to apply to the program
and that is exactly what he did.
The ad was placed by
Gubelmann, a Brown Swiss dairy
farmer, originally from Switzer-
land, who has been involved with
the program for years. He has had
three apprentice students from
different parts of the world
including one from Brazil.
"I enjoy working with young
people and showing them how it
(farming) has been done. It is
interesting to see people from
different cultures and
understandings of farming," said
Gubelmann.
Jakob explained that the youth in
Switzerland will attend school
until Grade 9 and some wish to
further their education, so they
continue on. The rest become
farmers only after completing an
apprenticeship program and
farmer's college.0