The Rural Voice, 2006-06, Page 55RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
RR 1, STRATTON, ON POW 1NO
807-487-2387
RAINY RIVER VALLEY ' The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
River Federation members by the RRFA
Looking ahead in Rainy River District
This spring there is an extra-
ordinary profusion of wild fruit in
bloom. Wild plum, pin cherry and
Saskatoon berry blossoms have
turned the understory of many
wooded areas white and fragrant.
With adequate moisture and the
danger of a killing frost past,
there could be a bumper crop of wild
fruit.
Wild berries were once an
important food source for RRD
families. Historical records show that
°agricultural reports on the condition
of crops in the area included wild
fruit. Local tree expert and forward
thinker — Mark Hyatt, suggests that
wild fruit and berries represent a
vastly unexplored resource both in
terms of the potential for
improvement through selection and
as a cash crop.
Congratulations to Linda,
Armstrong on her appointment as
Member Services Rep for The Rainy
River and Kenora/Dryden
Federations of Agriculture. As a
long-time nurse, farmer, and
municipal councillor, Linda is well
known throughout RRD. She has
served several terms on the board of
the RRFA and was the first female
president. As a director on the OFA
board for many years, Linda has long
made it known that Yonge Street
ends in RRD.
Always a strong advocate for the
North, Linda says that she is
particularly interested in promoting
communication and co-operation
amongst the three federations in the
Northwestern Region. She believes
that accountability is important and
she will, without breaking
confidentiality, ensure that the board
knows what she is doing as MSR.
She will continue as secretary for the
RRFA and manager of the Farm
Progress Building at the Emo Fair.
When asked why she is so involved,
Linda said simply, "Because I find it
interesting."
Born in Huron County, she has
been a RRD resident since the age of
six. Like so many rural kids, and
especially those who chose to remain
in agriculture, Linda was a member
of 4-H in her youth.
Local 4-H co-ordinator, Tracy
Hyatt, is hosting a 4-H Discovery
Day on June 23, 2006 and a 4-H
Youth Adventure Camp on June 24
and 25, both at Trail's End Lodge.
The Discovery Day is for youngsters
up to age 12 and the Adventure Camp
is for members age 12 to 14.
There is some flexibility regarding
ages. This promises to be a fun filled
weekend. Contact Tracy at 486-
3479.
With the wet weather holding up
planting at the Emo Agricultural
Research Station (EARS). Kim Jo
Bliss and crew have been assessing
the hybrid poplars. The results are
variable with some -trees doing very
well and others. not so well.
Rootstock trees (across from the
Emo cemetery) seem much
healthier than those from cuttings.
Visitors are always welcome at
EARS.
The Legion Ladies put on an
excellent meal at the RRFA Spring
Dinner on Saturday, April 27. Eric
Busch and Jarrod Gunn-McQuillon
took a fun and creative approach in
presenting their vision of food
localism and sustainability. Busch
and Gunn-McQuillon see the pristine
landscape and relative isolation of
RRD as opportunities..
Kim Jo Bliss announced that Ken
Fisher is this year's recipient of the
Bill Gibson Award. Ken has been
involved in agriculture his whole life
and is a very active member of the
community. He operated the Rainy
River Bull Test Station for many
years, is a long time school bus driver
and a councillor for the Municipality
of Emo. Congratulations to Ken on
an award well deserved.
Bill Darby, secretary of the Rainy
River Regional Abattoir (RRRA).
gave an update on the project. He
noted that membership dues are
payable and, as of May 15. only paid
members will be able to vote at
general meetings. Bill emphasized
how important the abattoir is to the
sustainability of the agricultural
community.
In its May 14 press release, the
RRRA announced that it has set June
2008 as the target date to have the
facility operational. To that end, three
stages have been identified:
Preliminary Planning, Business
Planning and Construction. The
committee toured two abattoirs in
Manitoba recently, one federally, and
one provincially inspected. The press
release emphasized how necessary
public support is to the success of this
project.
This is a time when the whole
community must pull together.
Positive goodwill has many benefits.
Even if we do not perceive ourselves
as being directly impacted by the
success of this enterprise, we
probably are. The abattoir has the
potential to both create and meet the
demands of the growing food
localism movement.
That movement may be about to
hit a snag with the Ontario Ministry
of Health's proposed food safety
guidelines. It appears that the
proposed guidelines will make it
almost impossible for some vendors
to continue at farmers' markets and
those who would choose to eat
natural local food, obtained directly
from the producer, will be saved from
themselves.
RRRSA reminds you to take time
to do it safely.0
— Submitted By Rick Nielson
JUNE 2006 51