The Rural Voice, 2004-02, Page 55RAINY RIVER
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 100
807-486-3622
• Agriculture NEWSLETTER The Federationi Voice is provided to Rainy
Federation o
f (� RAINY RIVER VALLEY River members by the RRFA.
January 14, 2004
In my next life, I want to be a bear.
If you're a bear, you get to hibernate.
You do nothing but sleep for six
months. I could deal with that. Before
you hibernate, you're suppose to eat
yourself stupid. I could deal with that
too.
If you're a bear, you birth your
children (who are the size of walnuts)
while you're sleeping and wake to
partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I
could definitely deal with that.
If you're a mama bear, everyone
knows you mean business. You swat
anyone who bothers you or your cubs.
If your cubs get out of line, you swat
them too. I could deal with that.
If you're a bear, your mate expects
youto wake up growling. He expects
that you will have hairy legs and excess
body fat. Yup...gbnna be a bear.
The RRFA held their first meeting
of the New Year at Morley with Bernie
Zimmerman chairing, Linda Armstrong,
secretary and Rudy Sinninnghe, Marvin
Smith, Susan Boersma, Clayton Teeple,
Kristine Carpenter, Shirley Morrish and
KimJo Bliss attending. Member
Services Representative Betty Salchert
is keeping warm in sunny Arizona.
A budget meeting will be held this
month and all committees are preparing
for the upcoming year. Ag Days was in
the discussion. The only way it can
happen is if there is someone to
organize and volunteers to make it a
reality. A skating party and potluck will
also be in the works, teaming up with
our local 4-H Association.
We welcome our new veterinarian,
Dr. Wayne Etherington DVM MSc.
DACT at the NorWest Animal Clinic in
Fort Frances. Dr. Chris Cannon will be
leaving Fort Frances for the Western
Region come spring. Word has been
received that Dr. Wayne Cross will be
returning to the Thunder Bay District as
a Federal veterinarian.
Bernie reporting for the milk
committee will be attending the annual
meeting this month with Susan
Boersma and S. VanZwol. Plants
shutting down really affect the dairy
business. There has been an increase in
receipts on industrial milk. The dairy
farmers are just as interested in an
abattoir in the District as the beef
farmers are, at this point in time. Bernie
has attended a number of meetings,
enjoying the hospitality rooms. People
tend to say what they really mean at
these gatherings.
Property assessmept notices for the
2004 year are now out. They are based
on current value of property as of June
30, 2003. If owners disagree with the
assessment value, they can request
reconsideration. Forms are available at
municipal offices or by calling 1-866-
296-6722. Complaints must be filed by
March 31, 2004. Assessment Review
Board (ARB) can be reached at 416-
, 314-6900 or toll-free 1-800-263-3237.
The annual Soil and Crop
Improvement Association meeting will
take place in Niagara Falls February 3-
4, 2004.
Each year special awards are
presented to seniors in the community
who have done special activities to
better their neighbourhood. This year
Senior of the Year Award for LaVallee
Municipality went to Liz Donaldson,
and for Emo Municipality to Ella
Carruthers. Both ladies are retired
school teachers, and both are still very
active in community service. We're
proud of these people.
MNR at Fort Frances has a new trap
that is portable and easy to set up. It is
large enough to capture nuisance elk in
the Rainy River District and other
vagabonds who have lost their way.
Contact Tony Elders at 807-274-8628
on information to use this new trap.
Rainy River Cattlemen's
Association holds their annual meeting
on January 21 at Our Lady of the Way
School at Stratton at 7:00 p.m. OCA's
annual is February 25-26 at the
Doubletree International Plaza Hotel in
Toronto. It was formerly the
International Plaza Hotel and
Conference Centre.
BIO will hold their annual meeting
for Tuesday, February 24 prior to the
OCA's meeting at the same hotel.
In Manitoba, there will be an open
house and open heifer sale on March 13
at the Douglas Test Station.
On March 26, the Char-Sational Bull
Test Station Sale takes place at
Heartland Livestock Yards in Brandon.
Despite the BSE problem farmers and
ranchers must still plan for the future
and keep thinking positively. This may
last a long time, but it will not last
forever. Try not to get so focused on
compensation that you forget to enjoy
the creative process of what you do
each day. "Choice, not chance,
determines destiny."
Ian Tyson, rancher, singer and
songwriter from Longview, Alberta, has
received the prestigious Governor
General's Performing Arts Award, for
his life-long achievements in music.
Tyson is 70 years old.
Rainy River Rural Safety will hold
their annual meeting at the Emo Inn, the
evening of February 4 at 7:00 p.m:
Everyone is welcome.
The Rainy River District annual 4-H
Awards Banquet is January 30 at the
Stratton Millennium Hall at 7:00 p.m.
There will be a silent auction and
donations are very welcome. The 4-H
Leaders' Association will have their
annual meeting at the Stratton Seniors'
Centre. It will be potluck on February 6
at 7:00 p.m.
Remember that Jones fellow, who
went over Niagara Falls, and survived?
Now he's trying to lose about 30
pounds, so that he can fit into a cannon
ball gun and be shot out. There's got to
be an easier way to go.
As of January 1, 2004, all sheep and
Iambs must carry an approved CSIP ear
tag, similar to the one being used on
beef cattle. They must have the ear tag
in place before they leave their farm of
origin, even temporarily such as for
exhibitions, community pastures, vet
clinics or the neighbour's ram.
Producers are responsible for tagging
and keeping track of all sheep and
lambs 18 months or older, leaving the
farm. Tags cannot be removed or
tampered with. For further information,
call the Canadian Sheep Federation at
1-888-684-7739.
During these short winter days,
some people exhibit a type of
depression characterized by
oversleeping, overeating, irritability and
poor communication. The condition is
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and
usually disappears when the days
become longer. Using light therapy
each morning for about half an hour can
relieve these symptoms. Just get
outdoors and try cross-country skiing or
some snowshoeing with the kids.
Bob Knowles, co-founder of the
Canadian Farm Writers Federation,
died in Ottawa, November 5. He was
born in Rutland, Saskatchewan in 1920.
He was the farm broadcaster for CBC
in Canada and established rural radio
networks in developing countries. He
was a member of the Agricultural
Institute of Canada throughout his
career, and was inducted into the
Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame in
1990.
Well, the U.S. has landed their
equipment on Mars. There is a
company that is selling land there for
$7 an acre. Some are wondering why
President George Bush is in such a big
rush to get people on Mars. Do you
think maybe that he may need a place to
hide out?
"The ultimate measure of man is not
where he stands in moments of comfort
and convenience, but where he stands at
times of challenge and controversy". —
Martin Luther King Jr.0
— By Shirley Morrish
FEBRUARY 2004 51