The Rural Voice, 1994-01, Page 52GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050
• The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
As I write this column, it is the
first of December and the drawing to
the close of 1993. The banquets,
annual meetings, fall fairs and
harvest have been put to rest for
another year. It, however, is not time
to relax and rest on our laurels.
The OFA Annual Convention
theme this year was "Partners In
Rural Prosperity". They say there are
three stages to maturity: dependent,
independent and interdependent.
What stage of business maturity is
your faun, commodity or
neighbourhood at?
Never before has agriculture been
The Beginning
in such need of maturity. With all the
pressures of trade deals, global
village and competitiveness, we must
rise to the challenge. Individuals will
have to be focused and goal oriented
and this enthusiasm drawn into
organizations and commodity groups
for the benefit of the whole agri-food
industry in Canada.
The place to start is to have a New
Year's resolution. It is going to take
strategic plans on the part of
everyone. Some organizations have
them finished, others starting and
others will need to see the benefits to
begin. But in no instance can we
afford to spend our resources in down
playing someone else's ideas.
The role of the Federation of
Agriculture has and always will be
"farmers working for farmers". This
role will be challenging to say the
least, if it ever was easy. But I can
safely say the Federation will be there
to facilitate the dialogue needed to
accomplish this plan for agriculture.
It has the will and it has the people.
May 1994 be safe and a new
beginning for you, your family and
your agricultural career.0
Ken Furlong
GCFA First Vice President
Euphrasia Township Federation of Agriculture `Agricultural Heritage Award'
Two life-long residents and
farmers in Euphrasia Township were
honoured recently at the township
Federation of Agriculture annual
dinner. 'Victor and Lillian Wiley,
who have farmed together cast of
Markdale for over half a century, are
this year's recipients of the
Agriculture Heritage Award.
The purpose of this award is to
recognize farmers who have
contributed to the agricultural
heritage of Euphrasia Township by
being stewards of the land for more
than 50 years. The recipients must
have lived and farmed in the
township for at least 50 years, and
have practised careful husbandry of
their farm. One award, in the form of
an engraved plaque, is presented each
year to an individual or partnership.
Victor and Lillian Wiley have
lived all of their 80 plus years in
Euphrasia Township and still live and
keep livestock on the Wiley
homestead in the once thriving
community of Wodehouse. Together
they have operated a successful
mixed farming operation of cattle,
hogs, poultry and sheep along with
their hay and grain crops. Their good
farming methods kept the barn full of
feed for the livestock, and many of
the proper farming practises they
52 THE RURAL VOICE
used are now being revived under the
name of soil conservation. The
burdocks and other weeds were
pulled by hand instead of using
herbicides, and they made good use
of the manure rather than rely on
commercial fertilizers. Victor always
said "Don't plow too deep", knowing
that the crops grew mainly in the top
few inches of soil. They did not
overwork the land and always rotated
the crops. Winter months were spent
cutting logs and firewood, and their
woodlot was well managed.
In years past the church and
school were focal points of the rural
communities, and the Wileys were
active members of the New England
United Church and gave their support
to the Wodehouse School where their
children attended. They are well
liked and respected in the community
and have always been willing to help
their neighbours. Like other farmers
of their generation, the Wileys have
seen tremendous changes take place
since the beginning of this century.
They have lived through the horse
and buggy era, have seen the coming
of automobiles and tractors, the
demise of the one -room schoolhouse,
the coming of the space age,
computers and today they are
witnessing technology that was
considered science fiction when they
were youngsters.
Driving along the 7th Line in
Euphrasia Township today it is hard
for most people to imagine the once
thriving farming community around
Wodehouse where 13 Wiley families
and others farmed, where the small
school was filled with young
students, and the stately church
attracted an active congregation.
Victor and Lillian Wiley are two of
the few pioneers still living on their
land in that area and it is their
dedication to farming that has helped
maintain a strong agricultural
community in Euphrasia Township.
As well, Victor and Lillian are living
testimony that "hard work never
killed anyone".0
Greg Brown
Director, Euphrasia Township
Federation of Agriculture
GREY COUNTY
FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
Directors' Meeting
Thursday, January 27, 1994
OMAF Boardroom, Markdale
1:15 p.m.
Members are welcome 10 attend