The Rural Voice, 1997-06, Page 71i
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RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 1C0
807-486-3622
' The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
RAINY RIVER VALLEY River Federation members by the RRFA
May /2,1997
Did you ever wonder why we get so
excited at the emerging of the first
dandelion, then cuss them for the entire
summer because they're all over the front
lawn?
The RRFA held their May 5 meeting at
OMAFRA. Attending were President Amos
Brielman, Rick Neilson, Judy McCoy,
Brent Miller, Stan Armstrong, Bill Darby,
Rudy Sinninghe, Shirley Morrish and guest
Doug Langtry from the Rainy River Valley
Safety Coalition. Doug gave a brief
presentation on the 1997 Safe Communities
Incentives Program that has been offered
through the Coalition. Its main focus is on
the young workers and small businesses,
such as farming. A pilot project was
launched in Alberta in 1995. Safe
Communities started in North Bay 12 years
ago and injuries have been reduced by
increasing awareness in the workplace,
police, school and fire. For more
information, call 1-800-668-4864.
Linda Armstrong remains as our
Director for the Northern Region and Rick
Neilson is our new Member Services
Representative.
It was reported that the Farm Progress
Building has about a dozen positive replies
for rental space at fair time in August. If
anyone has suggestions for new exhibitors,
contact Linda Armstrong or Kim Desserre.
RRFA is offering a bursary of $100 for
graduates of Fort Frances and Rainy River
High Schools, who are a son or daughter of
a RRFA member and who will be furthering
their education. Applications are available
at both schools. RRFA will sponsor an all -
candidates forum shortly. Rick Neilson will
organize and select time, place and helpers.
The annual Spring Dinner and Dance
was a huge success and to the sponsors who
donated several door prizes and did not see
them awarded. It was Tammy's idea to save
some for the annual fall meeting rather than
asking for donations again. Tammy
Hunsperger is our "Number One prize
fetcher".
Bill Darby is tallying the final results on
the member survey and it will be available
at the June meeting. We'll print it in The
Rural Voice for all members.
A "First -Aid For Farm Families" course
was held at Barwick on Friday, May 9 and
Saturday, May 10. About 12 participants
received certificates. This was the very first
course for Ontario of this kind. The course
comes from Alberta and the instructor for
our local class was Ed Carlson, who did a
terrific job of tearhing the program.
Grazing season for the Rainy River
District Community Pasture begins Sunday,
May 25. Let's hope for green pastures all
across the District and some warm sunshine.
We're so lucky to be high and dry, unlike
our Manitoba neighbours who have an
immense workload ahead of them. Rainy
River did have a close call, but with quick
action and someone watching over us, the
town was spared.
Debra Philip, an Investment Advisor
from Nesbitt Burns in Thunder Bay, gave
an informative talk to a few people at
Morley last month. RRFA supplied the
coffee.
Clover Valley Farmers' Market started
up for the season on Saturday, May 3. The
new manager is Ingrid Schaum.
Kristine Carpenter and Shirley Morrish
set up a display promoting maple syrup for
Ag Awareness at the Farmers' Market.
Brochures, pamphlets, recipes and
homemade maple squares were handed out
to visitors all day. Samples of equipment
were on display as well as sap from Mike
and Joanne Neilson's Manitoba maples.
Many people were surprised that sap can be
had, by tapping the right trees in our
district. It just takes a lot of time, patience
and the enthusiasm of two young boys.
Kristine and Shirley have material
available on a number of agricultural
products and as Advocates, can steer you in
the right direction. School children have
begun farm visits and a goat went to school
in Fort Frances on Monday. If you really
want to turn a few heads, try driving down
Scott street with a goat sitting next to you
on the truck seat — and I don't mean your
spouse. What we don't do to promote
agriculture!
The new regulations for fuel storage, to
replace elevated tanks to ground tanks has a
deadline date of June 1. Call your local
dealer for information on what is expected.
An abattoir committee has been formed
to start up a joint venture in the district.
Chairperson is Telford Advent.
Representing RRCA is Ralph Hunsperger.
Secretary is Jacquie Hunsperger. From
OMAFRA is Gary Sliworsky. Kim Cornell,
Wayne Flatt and Tom Morrish are also on
the committee. It is hoped that a facility will
be up and running before the annual Emo
Fair, so that the 4-H Steers can be processed
locally instead of sending them to
Manitoba.
The Manitoba Thresherman's Reunion
and Stampede takes place July 23 - 26.
Chrysler vehicles from previous to 1975,
will be featured. Stampede and Exhibitions
are July 17 - 20 at Morris.
Did you know that Winnie the Pooh is
70 years old this year? Now that shows you
that it pays to be hugged Tots.
Bill Darby, Rick Neilson and Rudy
Sinninghe are the "Bright Ideas" committee
and are coming up with some real
inspirations. Some of the gears have already
been put in motion.
To enter the Rainy River Valley Giant
Pumpkin contest, call Melanie Mathieson at
274-0183. Memberships are $3 and the
Festival is September 27 at Hannam Park in
Rainy River. Sheldon Mose of Emo was last
year's winner of the coveted "Golden Hoe"
with his pumpkin weighing 295.5 lbs. This
year, the grower of the heaviest pumpkin
will take home $1,000. Memberships can
also be obtained from the Village Green in
Rainy River and Village Variety in Emo.
Many other prizes will be awarded. This
activity is part of "Fun in the Sun".
Hundreds of deformed frogs, most of
them having missing, shortened or odd -
shaped legs, have been reported at more
than 180 locations in 54 of Minnesota's 87
counties. More reported abnormalities came
from Quebec, Wisconsin, Vermont, Oregon
and Lake Champlain, as well as the St.
Lawrence River Valley, south of Quebec.
Scientists are meeting at Shenandoah
National Park to begin a national effort to
find out more about this problem. Some
frogs have missing or displaced eyes. The
intriguing mystery about the cause of the
deformities may not be solved so easily. It
gives us son.ething to be concerned about,
I'd say.
Did you hear about the new technique to
tenderize beef? Cuts of meat in vacuum
sealed packages are placed in a round
stainless steel tank of water and a small
explosive charge is set off near the meat.
The shock wave passes through the water
and the meat, rupturing cell walls and parts,
making the meat easier to chew when it's
cooked. It's supposed to increase tendemess
in certain beef cuts by up to 72 per cent. A
demonstration was to take place at the
University of Guelph on May 8. Galloway
beef has this natural tenderness already.
Once again we can't stress enough, the
importance of safety on the farm and
workplace. With seeding underway and the
haying season to begin next, we have a
tendency to hurry, and forget to double
check and take a walk around the machinery
before we start up. Take time also to walk
around the farm with your children and set
rules. Take nothing for granted. Be a good
role model and live by your rules.
Lately I've been getting plenty of
exercise by jumping to conclusions, pushing
my luck and dodging deadlines. So the
other evening we did the Politician's Polka
— that's one step forward, two steps back,
then you sidestep the issue, open your
mouth and put your foot in it.
Have a safe and productive summer.°
– Shirley Morrish
JUNE 1997 67