The Rural Voice, 2004-09, Page 66BRUCE
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
Email: bruce@ofa.on.ca 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
website: www.ofa.on.ca/bruce
CountyFederation ofAgriculture NEWSLETTER The RBalrucVoe is
providedtoOFA
(� Members in Bruce County by the BCFA
Our society often measures wealth
by how much money a person has. In
my experience our lives are made
richer not by how much we have. but
by what we give.
In March of 2000 I had a barn fire.
The cows were saved and a
neighbour offered his barn, but we
had no feed. Then another neighbour
gave me all the haylage I could use.
He said he wanted to empty the silo
and start fresh with new feed. Maybe
it was an excuse to justify giving the
feed away, but it sure was
appreciated. At the time all I could
say was "Thank You".
• With my farm up and running
now, the same neighbour is
renovating his barn. Lending him my
skid steer was the least I could do.
It's good business and community
sense to lend equipment and help to
your neighbours and relatives. When
you loan a tractor, rake, etc. to
someone, you'll probably receive a
warm "Thank You" for the use of it.
What's the worst thing that can
happen — you get to know your
neighbour, before the Hydro goes out
or you meet them at the funeral
home. Sometime later when you need
a plow or help doing some work, it
will be much easier to ask for it.
Helping each other out makes our
community stronger and it sure is
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Monday,
September 27, 2004
8:00 PM,
Bruce County Administrative
Building, 30 Park Street,
Walkerton
MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
62 THE RURAL VOICE
Richer for it
cheaper than making payments on
equipment.
Being a parent is another way our
lives are made richer by giving to
someone else. How do you explain to
someone, who is not a parent, the
joys of raising kids. All you hear and
read about is the $110,000 it costs to
raise a child to the age of 18; the
sleepless nights when they don't
phone home to let you know they are
all right or they'll be sleeping over at
a friend's; and the rough times!
People have to remember that joy can
be found in watching them learn and
grow and seeing them try new things.
The excitement they experience when
they pick out a new family puppy,
give it a name, and play with their
new-found friend. Being able to see
the excitement when they get their
first job all on their own. When our
kids thank us, even if it's not too
often or much• much later. it more
than makes up for all the challenging
times.
When you help someone, you
don't always know how important
your help is. I'm a farmer involved
with the Canadian Food Grains Bank,
an organization that sends food to
needy countries. To us, it's just a
little corn. On a food study tour to
Mozambique and Malawi a woman
said, "Thank You for the food" and
helped me understand how much it
meant to her.
When I told her she was welcome.
she said, "NO. THANK. YOU! You
saved my life and the lives of my
family." Then she handed me a
chicken to show us how much they
appreciated the help. In their culture,
a chicken is one of the highest
honours you can receive.
A "Thank You" in the friendship
of a neighbour, the words of a child.
or in the form of a chicken means
much more than money in the bank.
We all want more! Giving something
away you don't need or use is an
investment. Some day you will
receive something you need. when
you least expect it.
No application. No money down.
Just give for the sake of giving.0
Submitted by —Lorne Underwood,
Carrick Township Director
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
63R0 ANNUAL MEETING AND BANQUET
AND OFA REGIONAL MEETING
Friday, October 29, 2004
Paisley Community Centre
Guest Speaker: To Be Confirmed
Social 6:30 pm. Dinner 7:00 pm.
NOTES:
1. OFA Regional Directors, Delegates, and Alternates for OFA
Convention, BCFA Presidents and Township Directors will be
elected at the meeting.
2. Changes to our Constitution and By -Laws will be presented at
the Annual Meeting