Loading...
The Rural Voice, 1993-08, Page 10MARQUARDT FARM DRAINAGE LTD. (ESTABLISHED 1968) .SPIiCIA LI/.LNG IN: • Farm Drainage • .Municipal Drainage * Excavator Work • Doter Work • Erosion Control • Milk House Waste Handling (Qualified Contractor For Land Stewardship ll) WE OFFER: • Personal evaluatan of your project • Detailed plans and design work • Slate -of the -an equipment • FREE ESTIMATES • Oualrlied and experienced personnel • Guaranteed workmanship 8 customer service For that personal touch, pride in workmanship, experience and FREE ESTIMATES call MARQUARDT FARM DRAINAGE LTD. (ESTABLISHED 1968) R R. f3, STEVE CRONSBERRY Palmerston, Ontario` (owner) "We install 1; gtf drainage tubing' OFFICE V ; HOME 343-3233 �" 338-2373 CANADIAN CO-OPERATIVE WOOL GROWERS LIMITED Now Available ADVANCE PAYMENTS t�.l • 5 ' Jtt �v . ,.V1rw'tl �,� r1Wa �� ..e Black Face 10¢ White Face 150 Skirted Fleeces • Well -Packed Sacks For more information contact: RIPLEY WOOL DEPOT John Farrell R.R. 3, Ripley, Ontario 519-395-5757 6 THE RURAL VOICE Adrian Vos Be a rebel: be ready for change The maxim "if it ain't broke don't fix it" is absurd. If the world should really adhere to that moronic advice we would still live in the conditions of the ape men. We should never be content with the present and constantly be on the look -out for improve- ments. True leaders are never satisfied with today's circum- stances. They always seek for ways to improve on what they do. Among them are the successful farmers and businessmen of today. There are, of course, some who fail in their efforts at improvement but they always get back on their feet with new ideas in fresh endeavours. Older people, and I mean older in the sense that some people's minds never age and that others' minds are old at birth, are more inclined to rest on previous accomplishments than younger ones. Older ones often form obstacles to renewal and are frequent- ly inclined to "not fix it". A piece of advice for young folks. If the older ones dig in their heels a- gainst change, listen, evaluate, but do not necessarily accept their advice. People with a long history should point out when new proposals have been tried before and failed. But even then they should not be rejected on that basis. Something that didn't work in the past may work now if circumstances have changed sufficiently. By all means, be a rebel. Canada has had its share of rebels and most of the time their rebellious ideas have been implemented, even when they, like Louis Riel, were hanged, or like Colonel Anthony van Egmond, died in prison. Don't forget that rebels are not hanged or imprisoned any more. What I am leading up to with the above philosophy is that farmers should not be afraid to fight for their dreams, but at the same time must recognize that dreams and reality can be different. By all means, dream that supply management is here to stay (if you own quota), but be prepared to accept that supply management is a temporary solution that will undoubtedly fade away and die, like any life on this planet. We see great changes in the marketing system of pork and more changes are urged. By all means, don't dig in your heels, but listen to see if changes are fair to all and are practical. Much has been said about the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) but little has been substantiated. The NDP and the labour unions bombard us almost daily with the claim that the FTA has cost Canada umpteen hundred thou- sand jobs. But the unions are liars. This is shown in their erection of late of gravestones for all plants that closed, they claim, because of the FTA. In the news clip was a stone with the name of Fleck manufactur- ing, formerly of Huron Park. Fleck, however, moved to Mexico (not to the USA) years before the FTA, because of a labour dispute. I spotted a stone with Goodyear that closed one plant in Kitchener. Uh, uh. That plant closed because of "restructuring" meaning replacement of people with robots. Remember the cries by the farm- ing community when the govemment had to compensate grape farmers for losing the market for labrusca grapes? Now, with the new vinifera grapes Ontario is finally producing wines that get worldwide recognition for quality and wineries employ more people than formerly worked with labrusca grapes and acidic wines. If a statement is repeated often enough one begins to believe that it is true, and on this the labour movement and the NDP are counting. Don't accept the status quo. Be a rebel.0 Adrian Vos, from Huron County has contributed to The Rural Voice since its inception in 1975. He is a writer and raises exotic birds on the farm where he raised pigs for many years.