The Rural Voice, 1992-09, Page 71RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
The RRFA held its August 6,
1992 meeting at the OMAF board-
room at Emo with Linda Arm-
strong, President; Kim Hunsperger,
secretary/treasurer; Gary Esselink,
Mike Zimmerman, Wayne Flatt,
Archie Wiersema, Rick Boersma,
Jack Elliott, Sue Boersma and
Shirley Morrish attending. The
weather was perfect for haying
which has been unusual for our
district, so some of our directors
were a bit late in arriving. Haying
is delayed and many of us are just
beginning our second cut of hay.
Let's hope for Indian Summer this
year.
Nuisance & Wildlife — Beaver are
still as major problem in our district.
They are ruining farm land and
messing up waterways. The advice
was to talk to your municipal people
first and in the case of crown land,
approach MNR.
Farm Progress — The Farm
Progress Building is preparing for
the annual Fall Fair and setting up
the backdrops for booth rentals at
7:00 p.m. on August 12.
Dismantling will be at 4:00 p.m.,
Saturday August 15. The RRFA
will be promoting "No Farmers —
No Food — No Future" in their
booth.
Future of the RRFA — Jack Elliott
reported on the Logo. He said that
Kate Bridger will do the final
design. Several ideas have been
turned in by school students. After
a meeting with his committee, Jack
will announce the proposal.
Membership — Archie Wiersema
will arrange visits in the area again
in September when Gerry Carey
arrives for a few days. As there is
no local Federation group in
Dryden, the membership committee
would like to arrange a visit there.
Ag. in the Classroom — Kris
Carpenter and Lisa Teeple will be
setting up the "Canadian Egg
Demonstration" assisted by local
kids at the Emo Fair. During Agri -
food week October 5 - 10, Pat
Clysdale-Cornell, R.O.S., will be
advising the group with radio and
newspaper trivia contests, with
producer prizes. Resource centers
will be provided with actual farm
supplies for learning.
Entertainment — The annual
meeting with a dinner and dance in
October will be held at Pinewood
this year. The theme is "Hard -
time". A president, secretary/ -
treasurer, and four zone members
are needed for the coming year. A
nominating committee has been
formed, so if Mike Zimmerman,
Archie Wiersema, or Jack Elliott
approach you on the subject, give it
some real positive thought.
Bursaries — The bursaries were
awarded equally to four students
furthering their education this year.
The recipients were Nikki
McDonald, Mark Elliott, Terri -Ann
Wiersema, and Tami Romyn. Their
parents are all members of the
RRFA.
Vet — Jack Elliott reported that he
has talked to Kim Comell from the
Farm Management Club conceming
well known Agricultural Consult-
ant, Roy Ferguson, who will be
visiting the Rainy River District on
September 2. The meetings will be
held at the Pinewood Hall from 10
to 3 and again at the Emo Inn from
7 to 10. Lunch will be served and a
nominal fee will be charged to
cover the cost of the lunch and hall
rentals. Meetings will be sponsored
by the Rainy River Farm Business
Management Association and the
Rainy River Federation of
Agriculture. Topics will be
different throughout the day and
evening to fit your schedule.
Arda Pasture — Mike Zimmerman
reported that some fencing had to be
done. A neighbouring long -horn
bull had visited.
Fair Board — A new name has
been chosen. Once known as the
Emo and District Agricultural
Society, it will now be the Rainy
River Valley Agricultural Society.
Fair Days are August 13 to 16.
Admission this year is $5.00 for
adults, and $2.50 for students.
Parking fee is $2.00. Annual
membership is $10.00. The Fair
Queen candidates this year are
Bobbi -Jo Carlson, Candace Hill,
Bobbi -Lynn Olsen, Tanya Scott,
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 1C0
807-486-3622
• The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
River Federation members by the RRFA.
Erine Oltsher, and Erin Advent.
The 1991 Fair Queen is Tammi
Romyn. This is the district's 92nd
annual fair.
Cattlemen— Posters and pamphlets
are out now for the upcoming sale
dates — August 29, October 3, and
October 24. Contact Gordie
Williams, sales manager, or Wade
Desserre, president, for further
details.
Red Meat — Ag. rep. Bruce Ward
announced that the Red Meat
program had been running for
about eight years now and as of
August 6, all grants, except for
capital facilities, have been
terminated. Letters of explanation
are in the mail. Bruce also gave a
reminder about the newsletter. If
your free subscription was not
renewed, you will not receive all
the info that comes out of the ag
office.
Seed Growers — Jack Elliott
received a letter from Government
Services stating that Government
buildings could not be used for
public meetings. This includes the
Emo Research Station. The seed
growers are asking for support on
this issue and feel that the
bureaucrats are getting just a bit too
pushy. There will be a meeting at
the Station on August 20.
Cattle Breeders — Kim Jo Bliss
will now be taking semen orders.
She is replacing Dr. Brenda Meyers.
The OSCIA Field Inspector, Karl
VanHeyst is doing Round 2 Ontario
Farm Ground Water Quality
Survey. They have chosen
approximately six to eight farms
where co-operating farm
landowners complete a
questionnaire and samples are
obtained from the household
drinking water. The same well
which was sampled in Round 1 will
be tested. The Inspector conducts
the actual water sampling and
forwards it to the Laboratory.
The next RRFA meeting will be
in Stratton on September 3. "Keep
smiling; your friends will like it,
and you'll worry the daylights out
of your enemies."0
Shirley Morrish
SEPTEMBER 1992 67