The Rural Voice, 1998-11, Page 47RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 1C0
4116
807-486-3622
The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
RAINY RIVER VALLEY River Federation members by the RRFA.
October 19, 1998
Once again, sorrow has struck our
district with the sudden passing of Fritz
Bujold of Devlin. Fritz was the
storekeeper, fire chief, gun safety
trainer, builder of Devlin Community
Hall and Church. He designed stained
glass windows and always had a shoulder
to offer, when someone was down. Both
Ethel and Fritz were supporters of the
RRFA and were ready with donations
whenever called upon. Fritz will not be
forgotten for all his many works and our
condolences go out to Ethel, Pam and
Murray, Buck and Gertie and their
families. "Life is so precious. don't waste
a day, Live life to the fullest in small
simple ways. Take time. smell the roses,
hear the song of a bird, Take time to say
1 love you' and watch your children
grow".
The RRFA held their October 5
meeting at the OMAFRA office with our
first rain in over two months, showering
down and soaking into the parched soil.
It hasn't stopped, and today snow tell in
places, cautioning us to batten down the
hatches and get winter survival gear in
the trunk of the car for all those meetings
to come. Attending were Kim Desserre,
Lucy Lahti, Don McCulloch, Betty
Salchert, James Gibson, Stanley
Armstrong, Rudy Sinninghe, Linda
Armstrong, Wayne Flatt and Shirley
Morrish.
Stan and Linda attended the
President's meeting and gave their
report. There's a communications
problem, so a committee has been set up.
The distance to travel to meetings is a
major problem, as always. It was
suggested to have the meetings at
Atikokan as it would be more central for
the members to have equal distances to
be on the road. Highway #I does not pass
through our District as some people
think. We are three hours south of it, and
five minutes to the American border.
Linda feels that she has maybe, "stirred
the pot" and will eventually make
Eastern Ontario realize where we
actually are located on the map.
Mailboxes are available, in two sizes;
Betty will try to have samples at the
annual Dinner and Dance on Saturday
evening.
Bill was unable to attend, but sent his
report that the sign is a go for the
highway. One will be placed on the Leon
DeGagne property near Fort Frances, and
the other on the Rudy Sinninghe Farm
property, at Rainy River. Peter Spuzak is
working on it now. and it is to be
unveiled at the annual meeting this
Saturday.
Kim announced that the "No Entry
Without Written Permission of Owner"
signs are being printed up and will be
available for $3 each.
Wayne reported for the Cattlemen's
Association. He felt that there was quite
a difference in prices between heifers and
steers at the last. sale at Stratton. It was
very successful and Russell Richards.
manager. did an excellent job. There
were new bidders and new consignors.
Wayne was pleased that the ownership of
the cattle was announced as they entered
the ring. Russ had even arranged hauling
services, and has done a lot of extra
footwork to make it such a favourable
sale.
Kim reported that the community
pasture management job will be
advertised for the new year. Wally
Hunsperger is taking on the duties for the
remainder of the season. The new panels
arrived and are being used for cattle
leaving.
Rudy reported on the meeting at
Geneva Park for the Milk Producers. He
mentioned that there are only 19 milk
producers left in the Rainy River District.
Betty made a report on Ag week. She
collected a number of agricultural prizes
to be awarded for daily contests on
CFOB radio.
I must mention here that Cornie and
Tammy Fehr have been married eight
years as of July 21, this year and still
very much in love. Mike and Betty
Zimmerman just celebrated 45 years of
wedded bliss. Quite an achievement in
this day and age.
The Rainy River Hereford
Association will be having their annual
meeting with a potluck supper at the
Devlin Community Centre at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, November 13. Meat will be
provided by the Association. Contact
Kim]o Calder for any details needed. Her
number is 807-482-2354.
Dan Wright, with the Rainy River
Futures Development Corporation, needs
a committee of four or five people to
help develop a trip•itinerary. This is to be
a bus trip to agricultural points of interest
and will happen possibly in February.
1999. Gary from OMAFRA is also on
the planning committee. Contact Dan at
852-3224 or 274-3276 if are
interested.
A Health and Safety Conference will
be held at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder
Bay on November 3 - 5.
National 4-H week is November 2 - 8
with "National Clover Day" being the
Monday, November 2. A 4-1-I skating
party will take place on Friday.
November 6. 7:00 p.m. at the Emu/
LaVallee Arena. Everyone is welcome.
4-H members can bring guests for a
loonie per person. Lunch is pros ided.
Our "Go for the Gold" contestants are
now heading for the Royal, November 7.
Good wishes go with the team members.
Stacey Angus. Rebecca Cornell, Angela
Teeple and Melissa Brant. The Royal
Agricultural Winter Fair is November 5 -
14 this year.
November Ag Days at the Keystone
Centre in Brandon is January 19 - 21.
1999.
There were 105 entries in the "Great
Pumpkin" contest and over 1,000 people
attended the festivities at Rainy River.
The coveted "Golden Hoe" was won by
Wayne Both of Barwick with his 742
pound pumpkin. Sheldon Mose came in
second with 738 pounds and Lee Johnson
was third with 609 pounds. It took two
weigh -ins to decide the final winner. This
is some valley for growing things!
Tom Morrish is still contacting
Nault's office concerning the Rainy
River/Baudette crossing for cattle. He
was told to get in touch with five
different truckers who would be using
the facility via the Baudette route. That
would mean from 7.000 - 9.0(X) head that
could be carried through Minnesota and
on to Manitoba. But, the government
keeps wanting to call it an "import
border" instead of a "corridor" that is
being asked for. Tom returned the
information to Nault's office and they
once again promised to keep working on
it. Tom is still frustrated and the phone
bill just gets bigger.
Take time to relax with cinnamon -
laced coffee on the back porch, and listen
to the haunting call of the Canadian
geese as they tly south over the colourful
horizon. It's been an unusual summer.
the essence of autumn is upon us and
winter will soon be here.
"A good memory is one that can
remember the day's blessings and target
the day's troubles".0
— Shirley Morrish
NOVEMBER 1998 43