The Rural Voice, 2004-09, Page 70People in Agriculture
Clare Schlegel heads CPC
Perth County's Clare Schlegel,
past president of Ontario Pork, was
elected president of the Canadian
Pork Council at the organization's
annual meeting in Abbotsford, B.C.
in July.
The Tavistock -area hog producer
is joined on the executive committee
by past president Edouard Asnong
of Quebec, who served as president
for seven years who is also first vice-
president; Florian Possberg of
Saskatchewan, second vice-
president; Stanley Boudreau of Nova
Scotia; Jack Moerman of Alberta,
Jerry Gelderman of British
Columbia and Karl Kynoch of
Manitoba.
Schlegel expressed his gratitude
with being chosen to represent the
$3.4 billion pork sector. "The
Canadian hog industry is a vital
contributor to the country's
economy," he said. "I'm honoured to
have been chosen by my peers to
help shape the future of our industry.
and look forward to working with
them to address the many challenges
and opportunities we will meet over
the next year."
The CPC board discussed issues
such as promotion in Japan, the
recent countervail and anti-dumping
charges launched by the U.S.
National Pork Producers Council.
federal food safety regulations.
national traceability initiatives for the
swine sector, foreign animal disease
preparedness and emergency
planning, animal care, nutrition as
well as environmental initiatives such
as the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation
Trek to gather food for needy
Dale Snider will be going the are praying for rain.
extra miles this September to help
people who need foodbanks in
midwestern Ontario.
Snider, district manager at Farm
Credit Canada's Listowel office, will
be spending eight days on the road,
starting September 13, driving an
open -cab tractor pulling a wagon to
visit communities from Listowel to
Owen Sound to collect non-
perishable foods for Salvation Army
food banks in Listowel, Wingham,
Hanover and Owen Sound as part of
what he calls his "Drive away
hunger" campaign.
"You have to think big when
doing events like this," he told the
Listowel Banner.
During the trip, which includes
stops in such places as Wingham,
Walkerton and Hamilton, Snider will
spend his nights sleeping in the
wagon at the side of the road or in
parking lots. During the days he'll be
facing the elements on the open
tractor.
"He's sacrificing for the cause,"
said Sharon Fendley, team leader for
customer service at the FCC office.
"By telling people I would be
living on the tractor, I knew it would
draw sponsors," said Snider. "A lot
of people are saying (jokingly) they
Snider initially set a target for the
"Drive away hunger" campaign is to
collect 20,000 pounds of non-
perishable foods but is now hopeful
he can double that to 40,000 pounds.
Cash donations are also being
accepted and will be used to buy
food.
Snider came up with the idea in
January and in March flew to the
FCC head office in Regina where he
presented the idea. He won the
enthusiastic support of John Ryan,
president and CEO of FCC who
made Snider the poster boy for a
national FCC campaign aimed at
inspiring people to donate to their
local food bank. FCC is also
donating $10,000 to Snider's project.
Various businesses along the way
will be collecting non-perishable
foods to support the project. Some
large companies have encouraged
their staff to collect food, saying
they'll match whatever they collect.
There'll be a celebration when
Snider reaches Owen Sound with
Ryan expected to attend. From there
the tractor and wagon will travel to
the International Plowing Match at
Meaford where it will display a
banner naming all sponsors who
donated over 250 pounds of food.0
Grey, Middlesex
apple growers
named to new
marketing board
A Grey County apple producer
and one from Middlesex are
among 10 people named by Steve
Peters, Ontario Minister of
Agriculture and Food to the newly -
formed Ontario Apple Growers
Marketing Board, August 12.
Brian Gilroy of Meaford joins
Steve Versteegh of Ilderton on the
board. Others named include Keith
Wright of Essex, Marshall
Schuyler and Murray Porteous of
Norfolk, Bob Bell of Hamilton,
Art Moyer of Niagara. Jim
Richard of Durham and Steve
Koning of Prince Edward County.
There is a vacancy for one position
for District 3, the Georgian Bay
area.
The board was established by a
new regulation under the Farm
Products Marketing Act as a result
of a vote conducted in the spring
of 2003 by the Farm Products
Marketing Commission. In a vote
by 65 per cent of eligible growers,
almost 72 per cent voted in favour
of developing a new, regulated
marketing plan.
"Commercial apple growers
now have an effective organization
that allows them to speak with a
single voice, provide for the future
through research and education.
and increase markets," said Peters.
"We are committed to a
sustainable apple industry that has
the ability to compete and win in
the global marketplace."
"Apple growers of Ontario are
committed to working together,"
said board chair Rickard of
Bowmanville, "and the entire
board is committed to helping the
Ontario apple industry meet the
many challenges we face — at
home and internationally. It'll be
one of the keys to our future
success."0