The Rural Voice, 1991-12, Page 60RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
Box 416, Emo, Ontario POW 1 E0
807-482-2051
• The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy River
Federation members by the RRFA.
On November 5, 6, and 7, a bus trip was
taken from Rainy River to Minnesota. The
following is a report from Shirley Morrish.
Tuesday morning November 5 at 6:00
a.m. we boarded the chartered bus for a very
well-planned trip to the state of Minnesota.
We crossed the border at Rainy River
Baudette after all 38 passengers had boarded
at designated stops along Highway 11. We
arrived at Long Prairie, Minnesota at lunch
time, and were served a nutritious lunch by
the ladies at the Moose Hall.
After lunch, we toured Long Prairie
Packers, where over 700 head of bulls and
cull cows are slaughtered per day. From
there, we travelled to St. Cloud to visit a
spanking clean dairy farm, and were able to
see old and new methods of milking cows.
After checking into our accommoda-
tions in St. Paul (an old, renovated railway
roundhouse), and "totally dry" except for a
terrific pool area with sauna and hot tub, we
were served supper, and then listened to a
presentation on Expert Products, and heard
lots of politics. A question and answer
period followed, with a lively discussion.
On day two, Wednesday, November 6,
we boarded the bus for a tour of Land -O -
Lakes Dairy. That was a place to see. Over
100 antique butter dishes were on display
along with other dairy utensils from years
gone by. We learned much about this 70 -
year -old company that markets 3.9 billion
pounds of milk per year, that make up the 600
products in the dairy food group.
A tour of the agricultural facilities was
next at the St. Paul campus of the Minnesota
State University where students work di-
rectly with animals and crops as part of their
studies. A quick cafeteria lunch was held
with the group, except for Tom Morrish, who
got a free lunch because they refused to
accept his Canadian five dollar bill. He even
asked them to take it as a souvenir, and they
turned him down. Their loss — Tom's gain.
In the afternoon, we arrived at the Miller
Manufacturing Company, which produces
agriculture and pet products such as feeders,
buckets, tubs, stable cleaners, pet hutches,
and the like. All were made at the location
from several different coloured rubber, plas-
tic, and metal materials. They have been in
business for over 50 years. We discovered
that they are using a by-product of the tire
making process to produce black rubber
pails and tubs. We later visited a beef feedlot
where the producer grew all his own grain
and hay, and purchased only needed concen-
trates. It was dark by then, so our bus group
returned to the hotel for an interesting night.
On the third day, Thursday, November 7,
we boarded the bus at 7:30 a.m. to leave the
Southwood Inn on Bandana Boulevard for a
visit to the south St. Paul stockyards, where
they sold slaughter and feeder cattle. This
auction mart handles mainly dairy cattle,
because they are in the centre of the largest
dairy area in the U.S.
Following this, we had an enjoyable
walk and visit of acow/calf and sheep/pheas-
ant operation at the Kelly Land and Cattle
Company. We were served a box lunch in
the beautiful lodge the hunting guests use.
We all learned from this agricultural bus
trip. It is an adventure each of us should try
to take, to learn more about our American
cousins. We appreciate the organizing skills
of Mike Neilson, farm management special-
ist for the Rainy River-Kenora District; Dan
Wright, economic development commis-
sioner; and Pat Clysdale-Cornell, rural or-
ganization specialist. We hope these educa-
tional bus trips become a regular event. It is
always difficult to take the time away from
farming, but we should all stop once in a
while to enjoy the laughter, compassion, and
nostalgia, and try to figure out the common
thread that binds us all together.
Federation meeting
The Rainy River Federation of Agricul-
ture met Thursday, November 7, in the Our
Lady of the Way Separate School in Stratton
at 7:30 p.m. Directors present were: Linda
Armstrong, Wayne Flatt, Jack Van-
denBrand, Marc Husser, Jack Elliott, and
Kim Hunsperger.
Jack Elliott brought to the attention of the
meeting that OMAF is looking for a group to
do the paperwork for the Winter Farmers
Program. The first meeting will be Novem-
ber 26, and the rest in January. The funding
will be through NODP, and the Rainy River
Federation of Agriculture will be the vehicle
for it. Kim will contact Bruce about it.
Jack also said that he had Howard Hamp-
ton, MPP, look at the nuisance and wildlife
resolution, and the bear damage in crops, and
we have had a letter back from him on it.
Jack also gave Howie copies of the resolu-
tions we are sending to the annual conven-
tion. Angus Hyatt has reported that bear
damage is insurable under crop insurance,
but will only pay up to 80 per cent of yield.
The Wildlife Compensation bill is being
overhauled at this time. Agricultural groups
want to have bear damage removed from
crop insurance, and covered instead under
wildlife compensation. Wildlife belong to
the public. If they cause a problem, the pub-
lic should pay. Farmers are 2 1/2 per cent of
the population, so we'll pay our 2 1/2 per
cent. The public should pay the rest.
Jack then showed a paper called "Look-
ing Ahead — A Wildlife Strategy for On-
tario" started by the previous Liberal gover-
nment. This study wants to declare all wild-
life public ownership. Jack feels there are
serious ramifications for the agricultural
community. He will be attending a meeting
to discuss the paper on November 19 in Fort
Frances, and would like some support.
It was decided to keep the meeting night
the same: the first Thursday of the month at
7:30 p.m., alternating between the OMAF
office in Emo and the Our Lady of the Way
Separate School in Stratton. There'll be no
meeting in July.
Congratulations to Jack Elliott on his
election to the OFA provincial board of di-
rectors. Jack has expressed the wish to step
down as director at large locally, and have
another member come and help us on the
board. If you would like to serve, please give
your name to a board member, and maybe
even show up at the next meeting on Decem-
ber 5 at the OMAF office in Emo at 7:30 p.m.
The January meeting will be on January
9 in the Our Lady of the Way Separate
School, as the school will be closed on Janu-
ary 2. Kim will notify the Ag Office of our
meeting dates for the master calendar.
The senior Hunspergers have another
two weeks of therapy and are getting more
range of motion in the offended limbs.
We send you all the wish for a very
Merry Christmas and a Peaceful and Pros-
perous 1992.0
Merry Christmas, Jacquelyn
DOOR PRIZE WINNERS AND DONORS
During the recent annual meeting of the RRFA, door prizes were drawn. The thanks of the
board of directors goes to the contributors, and our congratulations to the winners.
Totally Tropical Interiors, flowers, Todd Weir; Nor West Animal Clinic, Ivomec, Theo
Gouliquer; De Gagne Equipment, cap, Ken Haw, cap, Wayne Salchert; Baduik Equipment,
sweatshirt, Archie Wiersema; Van den Brand Equipment, Case IH cap, Anne Zuchiatti, jacket,
Linda Armstrong, funnel, Jim Schneider, funnel, Delores Romyn, funnel, Josephine Van den
Brand, funnel, Christine Hartry; Farm Safety Association, Go Slow sign, Howard Haw, Go
Slow sign, Adrienne McCulloch, mug, Cindy Neilson, cap, Doris Ward; T.J. Kaemingh Esso,
Case grease cartridges, Kim Hunsperger; Kim Hunsperger, wreath, Marilyn Flatt; Northland
Fertilizer, Rain Gauge, Sheila Medwechuk; Rainy River Preserves, Jambrosia, Frank; Rainy
Lake Realty, T-shirt, John Van den Brand Sr., T-shirt, Georgette Gouliquer; Standard
Insurance, smoke alarm, Mary Neilson, smoke alarm, Shirley Morrish; M acleod's Rainy River,
chicken roaster, Kim Cornell, vegetable chopper, Kerry Zuchiatti, tea pot, Shirley Van den
Brand; Seven Bends Honey Farm, honey, Mary Ann Haw; Stratton Community Store, five
blocks white salt, John Van den Brand Jr.; Ripplinger Tire, five Uniroyal caps, Blake
Vandersnitch, Jeanine Cornell, Nancy Cain, Wayne Flatt, Pat Clysdale-Cornell; American
Breeders Service, $20 off next semen order, Marilyn McKinnon.
DECEMBER 1991 57