HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-03-19, Page 44PAGE A-24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1997.
Agriculture '97
Fraction of an inch changes farmer’s life
Adjusting to change
Taking time to consider his future was key to Neil
Stapleton's decision to remain on his RR2, Auburn farm
after a tragic farm accident 10 years ago. Months of
rehabilitation and support from family and friends allowed
the farmer to stay on his land.
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
A fraction of an inch, the width
of a penny, the narrowest of mar
gins.
The tiniest difference in the loca
tion in which Neil Stapleton of
RR2, Auburn, was positioned that
fateful February day, when a round
bale fell on him, could very well
have resulted in a very different
outcome.
Now, 10 years later, Stapleton
looks back at the changes required
in his life after his farm accident
and those aspects which made the
transition easier.
It was Feb. 3, 1987 and Stapleton
was doing the regular chores
around his slocker cattle and cash
crop farm. In a hurry, he was trying
to get the bedding in for a pen of
steers before dinner. Realizing the
spear on the loader of his tractor
had not gone all the way into the
round bale of straw, Stapleton tried
to push it on by dropping the bale
to the ground and forcing the trac
tor into it harder.
When the tractor spun in the
snow, he backed off, even though
the bale was drooping off the spike.
The warm February day had soft
ened the ground, causing the tractor
to continue to spin as he backed out
of the yard. In an effort to shift the
centre of gravity farther back on the
tractor to enable it to get over a
small ridge in the field, Stapleton
lifted the loader.
The bale now sat precariously
almost directly over his head. The
slushy conditions forced Stapleton
to do as anyone would do when a
vehicle is stuck. He began to rock it
back and forth from third to
reverse. In the midst of a shift, the
bale tumbled, striking Stapleton on
the back and neck with the full
force of its 1,000 pounds. His legs
and hips absorbed the force of the
hit and his torso was pushed for-
BPM
reflects
diversity
Continued from A-23
BPAV will reflect Ontario's diverse
farming community. "We're going
to see projects all over the map. I.
think we're going to see a fair
number of people looking at export
markets. As well, there are already
lots of small businesses being run
on farms, that mentality's already
there. And there are some
established farms and a lot of
people wanting to come back
home."
Pardoe says the program can
provide the first step toward
diversification in any of these
situations. And while farmers will
benefit from BPAV rural
communities are expected to enjoy
economic spin-offs as a result of
new ventures as well.
Administered by the Farm Credit
Corporation, the program can also
provide farmers with lists of related
government agencies, institutions
and sources of capital that may help
them in their new ventures.
ward with such an impact that the
steering wheel column twisted
when they collided.
The next minutes were critical as
family and neighbours rushed to
help him. Thankfully, no one
moved him, though he sat in ago
nizing pain.
Once the ambulance arrived, 30
minutes after the call, Stapleton
was immobilized with splints and
lift vertically off the tractor until
his legs cleared the machine. He
was then carefully loaded onto a
stretcher with little increase in pain,
he said.
The next several hours passed
slowly as doctors tried to determine
the extent of his injuries before
Continued on A-25
THE 1999 INTERNATIONAL PLOWING MATCH
WENEEDAffC wn SOME GOOD TO DAW U* IDEAS!
Entry Requirements... 1) open to all Huron County Residents
2) logo or slogan comprised of five words or less
3) intended to promote Huron County
4) one entry per category per participant
The 1999 International Plowing Match Committee
is sponsoring a contest in conjunction with
The International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Show
to be held in Huron County in 1999.
Categories... 1) Plowing Match Theme
2) Appropriate Slogan
3) Logo or Design
Please forward entries to: Diane Thiel, logo & chair
R.R. #2, Zurich, Ontario NOM 2T0
~ Deadline for Entries... March 27, 1997 -
Winning ideas will be announced in early April, 1997 and will be used in
whole or in part on the 1999 International Plowing Match and Farm
Machinery Show promotional items. The winner in each category
will receive transportation and accommodation at the 1998 conven
tion to be held February 1998 at Kingston, Ontario.
Helen Johns M.P.P. Huron
/ would like to commend the hardworking
agricultural community in Huron for their
dedication to the industry and their tremen
dous accomplishments.
Constituency Office
P.O. Box 520, 388 Main St.
Exeter, Ontario, N0M 1S6
1-800-668-9320
Fax (519) 235-4922
E-mail- helen.johns@odyssey.on.ca
Visit OMAFRA Website at http://www.gov.on.ca/omafra
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