The Rural Voice, 1995-01, Page 39RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 1C0
807-486-3622
• The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
River Federation members by the RRFA.
December 6, 1994
Winter has arrived this morning in the
Rainy River District, with temperatures well
below zero. We've had sunshine and soupy
barnyards up until today. Snowmobilers and
cross-country skiers are taking full advantage
of the fresh fall of snow that greeted us on
Sunday morning.
The RRFA held their December 1
meeting at Morley with President Linda
Armstrong, Vice-president Amos Brielman,
Secretary Joyce Witherspoon, Treasurer Kim
Desserre, Public Relations Shirley Morrish,
Mike Zimmerman, Karl VanHeyst, Jack
Vandenbrand, Stanley Armstrong, Gordon
Hoskins, Tammy Hunsperger and Ralph
Hunsperger, all in attendance.
Kristine Carpenter also attended on behalf
of Ag in the Classroom to give her report.
Kris stated that teachers are not paying
attention to what is being offered and that the
town kids are a real concern. There were 20
kits out last year to cover the schools. They
do their promotions through the annual Fall
Fair, with their display at the Farm Progress
Building, newspaper releases, and the local
Farmers' Market. They held a colouring
contest this year. It was printed up in the
newspaper and photocopied by the teachers,
so that all students could enter as they
wished. The prizes given were pumpkins,
that had been purchased locally for $5 apiece.
One project is in a local native school upon
request. The coming year stresses "The
Canadian Egg" focusing on art, poetry,
hatching, parenting and other activities. The
binders will again be placed in schools. Kris
Carpenter, Lisa Teeple and Shirley Morrish
will visit schools early in the school year to
get the message across. Kris was unable to
attend the conference this year. Kris, Lisa,
Shirley and Pat Clysdale-Cornell will attend a
meeting in January to plan the 1995 program.
Kim handed out the treasurer's report.
She said there are 125 members on the
mailing list and that there are 12 mailings per
year. She would like to double up mail -outs
to save on costs. She suggested sending out
Fact sheets, but it was decided to have them
available at all our local events and in the
OMAFRA office. Linda will check at
OMAFRA to see if Registered farmers are on
their mailing list.
Linda gave the Farm Progress Building
report: 640 yards of material will be ordered
for the new curtains as soon as a cost
comparison can be made.
Kim reported the latest with the "logo".
The Rainy River Farm Management Club
held a seminar on Agricultural Consumer
Trends November 30 with Donna Messer
(relative of Jubilee Don), Director of Food
and Agriculture, from the State of Illinois
Canadian Office in Etobicoke, Ont. She is an
expert on consumer trends and her office
introduces no less than 12 new products into
our market place each year. This is
accomplished through networking. Twenty-
seven people attended the seminar, 12 of
whom are now a committee to develop ideas
and a strategy on promoting, contacting and
selling local commodities. Kim will work
along with the group to promote the Logo.
Any inquiries at this time can be directed to
Bill Darby at 486-3409, who took notes and
special interest.
Memberships — Directors who have the
new metal signs from OFA to hang up on
your neighbour's gate, should try to get the
job completed before the year end. This is a
great opportunity to make a neighbourly
Christmas visit.
Soil & Crop — Amos reported
environmental issues are being discussed.
The annual meeting will take place
Wednesday, December 14, at the Stratton
hall. The agenda will include John Heard
from OMAFRA; Ben Kemphof,
Northwestern Ontario Regional Director;
Hon. Howard Hampton MPP, Rainy River
and Minister of Natural Resources; Darrel
McLeod, MNR; Ministry of the
Environment, Ron Dorscht; Ducks
Unlimited, Barney Maher; and
Environmental Farm Plan, KimJo Bliss,
program representative.
Milk Committee — Mike reported on the
dairy tour which took place last week. They
found it very interesting.
Cattlemen's report — Linda announced
that the annual meeting would be January 18,
1995.
Community Pasture report — Gordon
reminded that a Directors meeting will be
held Friday, December 9, 8:00 p.m. at
OMAFRA meeting room. Committee
members are John Vandenbrand, Ken
McKinnon, Tom Morrish, Ken Haw, Mark
Husser, Mike Zimmerman, Herb Govier and
Pasture manager, Frank Scheibler.
Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society —
Ralph reported the Grandstand roof is a
definite go-ahead for the winter months. The
barn replacement is still on hold.
Seed Growers — Amos reported that the
annual meeting will be in January, and that a
representative from a machinery company
will be in attendance to talk on combines and
fine seed production.
Farmers' Markets — Shirley reported that
both markets are closed for the season now,
but the Christmas Shop is now open at the
Clover Valley Farmers' Market on Mclrvine
Road in Fort Frances. It will stay open until
December 24.
The brainstorming session committee will
be Amos, Karl and Tammy, to come up with
some ideas on farming in the area. Amos
stated that people should be recognized for
the efforts they put into farming and it should
be announced publicly.
Amos is also upset that hunters are out
shooting the deer that he has been feeding all
year!
With snow machines all over the
countryside now, we should hear something
on accidents and liability. Joyce will ask her
associate, Laurie Walsh, from Gillon's
Insurance, to attend our next meeting.
Public Relations — Shirley reported that
our new Ag Rep Darryl Wells will begin
duties January 3, 1995. Darryl is an
experienced Ag Rep who has worked in the
Peace River and Vermilion Bay areas of
Alberta. His specialty areas are cow/calf
production, financial management, marketing
and forage seed production. Darryl and his
wife are originally from Ontario.
The annual meeting of the Partnership
Committee will take place Thursday
December 8, 8:00 p.m. at Morley Municipal
meeting room. Everyone is invited. Three
new representatives are to be appointed to
replace three outgoing members. Marilyn
McDonald from OMAFRA will represent
their office.
Stratton Meats now has one owner of the
Abattoir. Bill Roberts of Emo has taken over
full ownership as of November 1. He was
one of eight shareholders for almost three
years. Paul Peters will continue to be sausage
maker. Phil Fncsen will stay until the end of
December. A new manager will be trained,
and there will be a few changes.
Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society
will hold their annual meeting on Tuesday,
December 13 at 8:00 p.m. at the Emo Legion.
Whispering Pines Saddle Club will hold
their annual meeting, with an election of
officers, at Colleen Wieringa's home on
Wednesday January 18. For more
information, call Gary Beck at 274-3577 or
Colleen at 482-2730.
4-H clubs will be selling cassettes and
discs after January 1995. These are a new
release by George Fox, a Canadian country
music star and Alberta Hereford breeder and
a former 4-H member. The cassettes arc
$14.50, the CDs are $17.50 and the 4-H clubs
receive $2 on each unit sold.
July, 1995 marks the celebration of the
80th anniversary of 4-H in Ontario.
Rainy River District 441 Association has
hired their very own co-ordinator. Ellen
Carter of Fort Frances has accepted the
position and will begin her duties as of
January 1. She may be reached at 274-6063.
RRFA has an appreciation supper for
their directors each year to show how much
their volunteer time is valued. Guests will be
the past and present Executive. This year we
chose the Emo Inn, to socialize from 6.7,
then a Christmas buffet served at 7:00 on
Saturday, December 10. Thank you, fellow
dircctors.0
Shirley Morrish
Happy New Year 1995!
JANUARY 1995 35