The Rural Voice, 2004-09, Page 63RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
16
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 1C0
807-486-3622
• The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
RAINY RIVER VALLEY River Federation members by the RRFA.
August 7. 2004
Summer seemed a long time in
coming, but it finally did arrive. You
can see the results of the activities all
across the district. Centennial
celebrations. school reunions, family
reunions, and many 50th wedding
anniversaries, which shows that
couples in this area do stick together
through everything that has happened
in the past 50 years. It's been a great
summer so far, rekindling old
friendships and reminiscing the days of
our youth.
The hayfields look great and the
grainfields are gradually making
progress. It's a beautiful sight to see the
different shades of colour as you drive
around the district. There's lots of hay,
but there's lots of cattle to feed this
year too. Is there light at the end of the
tunnel?
The August RRFA meeting was
held at the Emo Curling rink with
Bernice Zimmerman presiding and
Linda Armstrong, Betty Salchert.
Angela Halvorsen, James Gibson,
KimJo Bliss. Kristine Carpenter and
Shirley Morrish attending.
Betty reporting for member services
said that drainage grants are phasing
out. Karen Roche is resigning and that
nomination papers for the new director
will be out sometime late August or
September.
Angela is busy organizing Barnyard
Olympics for the fair. RRFA has
agreed to sponsor some of the
activities.
Linda needs assistance in setup on
Monday the 16th and again with take-
down on Saturday. It is hoped that
anyond available can come out and give
a helping hand.
Our cool spring and recent hot
conditions have made the best
Saskatoon crop in years. They are
hanging like grapes in some places.
More jams and pies for the busy cooks.
Rick Cunningham who farms near
Fort Frances, has devised an automatic
waterer, inexpensively, from a 12 -volt
bilge pump, a 12 -volt motion detector
and a 50 -watt solar panel, that can
control water flow from a pond or well
for cattle or other farm animals. Call
Rick at 274-7841 for answers to your
questions on it. He'll be happy to
answer them.
Angela reported that the stalls have
arrived for the new barn at the
fairgrounds and everything will be
ready in time. She also mentioned the
three fun days for anyone who has
horses who would like to participate.
The event will take place at the
fairgrounds on September 25. October
16 and November 20. All horse
enthusiasts who just want to have fun
are invited to attend.
As everyone knows by now Dr.
Chris Cannon has left the district and
now resides near the west coast. Many
of his clients and friends wanted to give
him a memorable send-off in the way
of a party and gift. It is Dr. Chris'
wishes that no fuss is to be made and
that memories are the best thanks he
can receive.
The local vet committee will hold a
vet meeting after the fair and at this
time further plans concerning future
vets coming to the area. Also a bursary
is being presented to a student who will
be entering university to become a
future veterinarian.
Bernie reported that water testing
will be delayed for another year on
dairy farms. The dairy people will have
a booth set up at the fair again this year.
BSE has made differences everywhere.
The George Fox concert for the 15th
has been cancelled. When his planning
committee found out how far away our
district is, they cancelled. It is still
hoped that if he has a concert in
Winnipeg, he will travel the five hours
to perform here.
Clean-up at the 4-H food booth is
Monday. August 16 at 10:00 a.m. The
Steer Auction is set for 4:00 p.m. on
Saturday. August 21. Let's wish for
sunshine and happy faces.
RRFA has 185 members to date.
The annual meeting will be held
October 23 and Dryden will hold theirs
on October 22. The speaker will again
be a beef specialist from Alberta.
Little Evan and Keira Govier were
pictured recently in the Manitoba Co-
operator magazine. Parents of these
cuties are Come and Emma Govier and
their gramma is Jo Bragg, our RRCA
secretary/treasurer.
"One size fits all", isn't necessarily
true. A two -and -a -half -year-old girl
died after she wandered into the
family's dairy barn and was
accidentally run over by her mother
operating a Bobcat tractor. It definitely
shows there is a need for a safe place
on farms where children can play with
proper supervision. away from
vehicles, machinery. livestock. and
open water. CAISP. Canada
Agricultural Injury Surveillance
Program. found that 28 per cent of fatal
farm accidents involve children 14
years and younger. They are run over
by machinery as bystanders. Another
26 per cent died when they fell from
machinery and were then run over.
Our local Rural Safety Association
will be making a drive -tour of the area
and trying to get the message out on the
importance of safety. Several
incidences have been reported of
children riding in tractor cabs, on seats
that have been welded on tractor
fenders. children riding in lawn chairs
which have been tied to the back of a
tractor. children riding in the wheel
wells of tractors while the tractor is in
motion. and children as well as adults.
who should know better. riding in the
tractor buckets: The list goes on. but I
feel ill thinking about the stupidity of
some. Our children are so precious.
Life is so precious. What are these
people thinking. or do they think'.' Lack
of child care seems to be the reason:
what is your priority'?
"Common sense is the knack of
seeing things as they are. and doing
things as they ought to be done.-
- Josh Billings 11818-18851
Coffee latte, espresso. cappuccino
and other designer coffees are so
fashionable. trendsetters are drinking
theirs plain.
A bird has been reported in the
Kenora District with West Nile.
Residents are urged to protect
themselves from being bitten. People
with chronic diseases or weakened
immune systems are especially at risk.
West Nile can also be spread by blood -
to -blood contact with an infected
person. Symptoms are flu-like. with
fever, body aches and headache. Do not
touch any dead birds you find. Report
finds to the local health centre. Call 1-
800-816-7292 for more information.
When one who knows nothing about
any subject that no one knows anything
about. tries to explain it to someone
who knows nothing about anything —
that's economics.
"How is the world ruled and how do
wars start? Diplomats tell lies to
journalists and then believe what they
read." — Karl Kraus.0
— Submitted by Shirley Morrish
SEPTEMBER 2004 59