The Rural Voice, 1989-01, Page 28SALES REPRESENTATIVE
JACK ALTON, Goderich Ontario
has joined Lynn Lowry Farm
Systems as regional Sales
Representative. For barn
equipment and material
handling requirements
call Jack at 519-524-4974
LYNN LOWRY
FARM SYSTEMS LTD.
Amberley (Hwy. 21 & 86)
395-2615 395-2616
FREY SQUEEZE CHUTE
We also handle
• Headgates • Calf Creeps • Hoof
Trimming Stalls & Tables
• Round Bale Feeders • Gates & Panels
• Paul Livestock Scale
Come see us at the
Canada Farm Show
February 7-10, Hall 2, Booth 257
A Division of J.K. Reid Manufacturing & Sales Ltd.
R.R. 1, Moorefield, Ont.
NOG 2K0 519-638-3551
Contact us for a dealer in your area
26 THE RURAL VOICE
PROFILE: Bessie Saunders
by Cathy Laird
L
ast year, the Ontario Ministry
of Agriculture and Food,
celebrating its 100th anni-
versary, presented 100 Centennial
Awards. More than 400 families and
individuals were nominated across the
province. One of the ten women
presented with an award was Bessie
Saunders of Euphrasia Township in
eastern Grey County.
Among Saunders' achievements
is being the first woman to have been
elected president of the Grey County
Federation of Agriculture. "It was
a bit of a challenge," she says. "But
after working with all men here at
home, I could go into any barn. It
didn't bother the other members and
it didn't bother me being the only
woman at a meeting." Bessie and her
husband Marshall have five sons.
Saunders is now setting another
record as the first female president of
the Rocklyn Agricultural Society. As
president, she also presides over the
Rocklyn Fall Fair Board. In addition,
she is the second vice-president of the
Rocklyn Women's Institute, having
served as president and secretary -
treasurer for the group.
"The hard thing about all this is
being called on to give a speech," she
comments. "It's a lot easier to know
ahead of time and to have something
ready. The best thing that happened
for me was a three-month Dale
Carnegie course that I took in Owen
Sound. It really helped me to stand
on my feet. They kept telling us, You
are a person!"
Saunders and her husband,
Marshall (who is reeve of Euphrasia
Township), farm 125 acres. When
their five sons were at home to help
with the work, they ran a dairy oper-
ation. After the boys left home, they
turned to beef. "All five boys are
working shorter hours and making
more money than we are," Saunders
adds.
The Saunders grow their own fced
crops for their Hereford-Simmental
herd of 75 head. The boys still come
back to help with the haying. The
market heifers and steers are usually
sold at the Keady Livestock Market.
"Women and farming" is a subject
on which Saunders is an expert. "I
would like to see more farms listed in
both the husband's and wife's names,"
she says. "Many women are working
away from the farm and putting
money into the farm business, or else
the woman runs the farm while the
man is away working, sometimes for
the entire week."
"Often, though, the farms just sit
nowadays, the house being used only
on the weekends."
"Young people and farming" is
also a concern. "The only way to
start farming is with family help. The
payments and operating costs are sky-
rocketing," she says. "Another dif-
ficulty is easy money now. Farmers
usually paid as they went until they
started to get big. Now, it's so easy to
borrow money."
Saunders is also active in the
Anglican Women's Guild, is secre-
tary -treasurer of St. James Anglican
Church in Fairmount, is a director on
Euphrasia Township's library board,
and is helping to raise funds for the
Meaford Hospital Expansion Fund.
Last year she and her husband co-
chaired the Rural Beautification and
Improvement Competition for the
International Plowing Match in Grey
County.
Saunders was nominated for the
Centennial Award by the Rocklyn
Agricultural Society.
Congratulations!0