The Rural Voice, 1987-05, Page 85PERTH COUNTY Pork Producers NEWSLETTER
by Clare Schlegel, Director
April Directors' Meeting
An interesting monthly meeting
held April 1 at the Mornington Town-
ship building attended by a number of
directors brought out much discussion.
Visitors and other pork producers
whom we, the directors, represent are
always welcome.
Pork producers or hog farmers?
The thought has been raised a
number of times that we as hog far-
mers should really consider ourselves
pork producers. That is to say, we
should be as concerned about the end
product, pork, as we are about the
production of the live product, pigs.
The better our end product, the higher
the demand for pork, the greater the
amount sold, and, it is hoped, the
stronger the price for hogs at the farm
gate. The price still may not be what
we need, but it should help.
The Perth County Pork Producers'
Association works on promoting pork
in many ways. This is one of our
main goals as a county organization.
Porkfest
This is an initiative of the Ontario
Pork Congress committee. This year,
however, it will be co-sponsored by
the PCPPA and the OPC. Arnold Van
Moorsel of the PCPPA is the chair-
man. The event will be held this year
in Stratford on September 12. About
10 local restaurants prepare various
pork dishes so that visitors can acquire
a taste for each. We encourage all
Garry Van Loon, R. R. 2, Dublin, Ontario NOK 1 EO
pork producers to invite many of their
city friends and relatives to this
unusual taste opportunity. In the past,
more than 1,000 people have attended.
Oktoberfest Parade
Did you see "Percy," the big Perth
County pig, and the little pigs on TV
last year in the Oktoberfest parade?
Even though our budget was small, I
believe this was a worthwhile initi-
ative to help make many, many city
people aware of pork and pork produc-
tion. Many thanks to directors Peter
Huitema, Ray Stock, Don Dietrich,
and all the others who put many hours
into making this initiative a success.
For 1987, we are looking at additional
suggestions.
Promotion Seminar
A number of our directors attended
a promotion seminar in Stratford on
March 31 and April 1 put on by the
OPPMB. Ideas on pork cutting and
pork promotion were gained. Through
such seminars, the OPPMB tries to
better equip county organizations and
local producers for promotion efforts.
Barbecue
Perth County pork producers have
for many years run a portable pork bar-
becue, usually barbecuing cured pork
chops. We are available and interested
in serving pork to your group. To
inquire about prices and availability,
please contact director Wayne Hartung,
chairman of the barbecue committee
(phone 291-4038). One of the events
we attend is the plowing match, and a
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number of other engagements have
been booked for the 1987 season.
Pork Products
The OPPMB and a number of the
packers/processors have put money in-
to the development of new pork pro-
ducts. Many of us have wondered why
these products are not available in the
grocery stores. Some are available to
the restaurant business and we have
them available to you. These products
include smoked pork chops, rib of
pork, pork steak, and pork -y -pines.
Again contact Wayne Hartung at 291-
4038. He can tell you the price and
arrange for pick-up or delivery.
OPIIP
The records needed to join this pro-
vincial government initiative are not
that extensive. You can still get the
$100 for 1986 by providing fourth-
quarter records. Bob Fraser, the repre-
sentative for Perth County, is friendly,
knowledgeable, and helpful. For more
information, give him a call at the
Stratford OMAF office, 271-0280.
Mornington Livestock Farms
Producers of the Year
We, the directors, chose from four
excellent candidates. We congratulate
Donald and Gordon Jack of R. R. 1,
Newton as Perth County's pork produ-
cers of the year. In next month's issue
of The Rural Voice, I will tell you
more about the Jacks.
Iowa Exchange
About 1 1/2 years ago, we decided
to become a sister organization with a
pork producers' group in the U.S. We
now communicate with Delaware
County pork producers from Iowa who
happen to produce about the same
number of hogs as we do in a year
(590,000). We invite all producers and
visitors to our next director's meeting
June 3 at the Stratford OMAF board-
room where we are planning to talk to
this county's executive by telephone.
We have much in common and can
learn much from each other. We are
hoping to visit these producers and
their county. If you have any interest,
please contact me, Clare Schlegel, at
655-2750.0