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The Citizen, 1998-10-28, Page 18We believe... in helping. Anyone. Anywhere. ( SKI-000 . OPEN HOUSE ) THIS HOUSE WILL BE ROCKIN, SO YOU BETTER BE KNOCKIN1 Join the party at our Ski-Doo Open House '99. The exciting new '99 Ski-Doo sleds will be here. And so will all the great Super Sellabration deals, like no money down and no payments or interest until January 1, 1999 or for 60 days.' There are also cash rebates of up to $450!' Sellabrate with us at sktiloo the Ski-Doo Open House! BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS BOMBARDIER OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, NOV. 7 10 AM TO 3 PM 519-527-0120 1 Mile N. of Seaforth 'Otters availabie from 8115/98 through 11/30/98 at participating dealers. Retail installment sake available through Bombardier Capital Ltd Offers exclude the Ma Z and Signature Series models. Offer apneas to available new 1999 models. Tax. tag and regnant= not included. My sales dung November 1998 will receive a rnmenum of 60 days Ono Merest, no payments. The rebate a offered against prereIng market price and subecl to dealers parlicapetion and contribution. Cash rebate on Sluodie WT LC model up to $20000. Financing offers cannot be combined and are subset to credit approval, applicable terrre and conditions for qualified applicants Some restnchorts apply. See your perhcipatng desk), fur details. M Canada, products ere dlabibuted by Bombardier Inc. 01998 Bombardier Inc. All rights reserved .'®Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. and/or affiliates PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1998. Huron Federation of Agriculture annual meeting Leaders work at keeping public educated By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot Special to The Citizen They tackled the subject with jokes but Huron County Federation of Agriculture leaders say keeping the public educated about farming is no laughing matter. "We're a tremendously important people," said Henry Boot in his farewell speech as outgoing president of the HCFA at the annual meeting held in Holmesville recently. "We produce food for the entire nation plus." He said farmers have to keep telling people about that because if they don't, they may get even more "cuts" as demonstrated by his opening joke about a parrot about to meet an untimely end. By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot Special to The Citizen Bill Wallace says he "cannot bear it" when people degrade farmers and don't give them their due. He got his "due" on Oct. 23 when he was presented with the annual Huron County award for his outstanding contribution to agriculture and community. "He's my age and when I look at all the things he's done, I wonder why I can't do as much as this guy did," joked HCFA Past President Steve Thompson, before presenting the huge trophy to Wallace. Wallace graduated from the University of Guelph, worked in Toronto for an agricultural business, graduated from the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program, served with the Seaforth Farmers' Co-operative, the Seaforth Agricultural Society, the Hensall District Co-op and the Huron County Milk Committee. He was president of some of those as was There was a mother and daughter who lived across the country from each other. One day, theN daughter decided to send her mother a parrot, a very linguistic parnit, to keep her company. A week after she arranged for the parrot to be delivered to her mother's hbuse, the daughter called her mother to ask how the parrot was. "Tough" the mother answered. "Tough!" the daughter exclaimed. "That parrot could speak five languages." "Well," the mother said. "He should have said something." Farmers have to speak up for themselves, said Boot. That directive was echoed by the guest speaker for the evening. Crystal MacKay, who also used humour to get her point across. One he president of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture in the early 1990s during which time he was also an active campaigner for stable funding. He, along with wife Rowena, are dairy farmers near Seaforth. They recently made a bold move when they switched all their Holsteins for Jerseys. The move coincided with his involvement in the Quality Jersey Products company in Seaforth which markets 'Jersey Tradition' cheeses. Wallace serves on the business 'management team. Wallace said, "I am very proud to have my parents and my wife and son here to share this award." His daughter, Melissa, was unable to attend because of university commitments. He was quick to point out that without the support of his wife and family, he couldn't do all he has done. Wallace added that he is "very proud of his occupation and proud that my family chose to be farmers." of her jibes was a list of things you will never hear a farmer say. Things like: "The weather couldn't be more perfect," "That was exactly the right time to sell," "Let's take a vacation," or "No thanks, I have enough hats." But when she talked about the need for farmers to show what they do, she was quite serious. "This is a whole new ball game for us," said MacKay, who is a motivational speaker and works as a communication specialist with Ontario Pork. Fifteen, or even 10 years ago, farmers never had to talk about themselves because everyone knew what they were doing. "But we'll never go back to the old days when everyone was somehow tied to agriculture," she said. These days, farms are almost exotic to people who live in cities, or- even small towns. MacKay likened it to the day she went to the zoo and got the opportunity to talk to the zookeeper about rhinoceroses. "I must have asked him a thousand questions," she said. To a child who doesn't grow up on a farm, cows, pigs or sheep would be just as fascinating," MacKay said. "The thing is, farmers need to give these children the opportunity to ask questions." MacKay said the number one thing farmers have to do is open the farm door. "You have to show what you do, then explain it and explain why." Then she challenged each person in the room to make at least one person in the next week more appreciative of where their food comes from. Tying in nicely with the idea of keeping the public informed about farming was a brief report on the success of the Huron Farm Hiker tour which over 900 people took part in this fall. The hiker tour is a perfect example of "opening the farm door" as yearly, host farmers let hundreds of strangers wander through their facilities and learn about modem farming practices. Charles Regele, who chaired the event this year, said that due to the overwhelming success of the event, the board has decided to put on a tour next year. Originally, because the InternatiOnal Plowing Match will be held in Huron County in 1999, it was decided to postpone the event. However, since the hiker tour is to be held in the northern part of the county, it was felt it shouldn't be cancelled. "We get so many people who have been to one, and decide to go on it again the next year. If we skip a year, we lose that continuity," said Pat Down. In other annual meeting business, association members passed a resolution urging the Ontario Federation of Agriculture to lobby the government to increase funding to the Ministry of the Environment so that it can adequately investigate those who repeatedly mismanage livestock manure. The motion also stresses that steeper fines be issued to repeat offenders. The key idea is that repeat offenders get hit hard with a fine that will hurt their business and act as a deterrent. It's these repeat offenders who mismanage livestock manure that give livestock producers a bad name, the resolution stated. The motion passed without comment from the members. Before the evening closed, the HCFA also had a new president when Down was elected to replace Henry Boot. Down and -her husband farm near Hensall. The new vim-president is Charles Regele while Neil Vincent was elected second vice-president. Directors for the upcoming year are Murton Brock for Usborne Twp., Tom Hayter for Stephen, Len Whaling for Hay, John Rodges for Goderich, Ian Scott for East Wawanosh, Wayne HamiltOn for Stanley, Dave Linton for Morris, Will Stafford for Howick and Brenda McIntosh for Tuckersmith. Fred Hem, Steve Thompson and Todd Baker are directors at large. Honoured Stephen Thompson, left, presents the Huron Federation of Agriculture award to Bill Wallace at the annual meeting. (Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot photo) Bill Wallace receives contributon award