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PAGE A-2. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2001.
Brussels area farmer a young voice on area ag boards
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
Though just 23 years old Dave
Lewington, of RR2, Brussels, has
been a farmer at heart for as long as
he can remember. Having grown up
on a mixed operation owned by his
parents Ernie and Annette,
Lewington has known forever what
he wanted to do.
But with all the challenges agricul-
turists face today, he couldn't just go
quietly on about his business, not if
he wanted to have a voice in some of
the issues.
Lewington discovered early that
everyone does not share his passion
for farming. "You could say I was
encouraged to look at other options,
but I never really listened," he says.
A high school guidance counsellor,
when told of Lewington's career
choice, told him it was "essentially a
waste of marks to farm," said
Lewington. "In high school there
was quite a lot of pressure to look at
post-secondary education."
While opting not to pursue the four
years of university, Lewington took
a couple of independent study cours-
es from the University of Guelph
while becoming his ,father's herd
manager. "I have a lot of input into
what we do and do a lot of the day-
to-day things with the pigs," says the
younger Lewington. The operation
has 100 sows farrow to finish, 60
feeder cattle and 50 ewes. As well
they cash crop 350 acres of their own
land and rent 120 acres.
Young, intelligent, and deeply
committed to the family farm,
Lewington did not go unnoticed by
some of the industry's movers and
shakers. He was approached by cur-
rent Huron County Pork President
Dave Linton about serving on the
board, then later became involved in
the Independent Ontario Hog
Producers Association. In that capac-
ity he worked first as a volunteer
with the fledgling group doing a lot
of the groundwork to get things
rolling. He also did a lot of lobbying
with Ontario Pork.
Though a prolific reader of news,
particularly as it relates to agricul-
ture, Lewington found himself
deeply involved in gathering infor-
mation during the pork industry cri-
sis in 1998-1999.
The worst hopefully now behind
producers, Lewington has served the
past year as a director, promoting the
interest of the independent, family
scale producers. "I felt that voice
wasn't being heard, particularly dur-
ing the worst of the crisis."
It was that voice that also got him
on the Huron Federation of
Agriculture board with which he is
entering a second year as director.
"Henry (Boot) would be at our home
and hear me talking about how I felt
regarding some things and said, `So,
get involved. That's your way of
making a difference."'
Of his political experiences,
Lewington is mostly positive,
though he admits that the work with
the IOHPA could be frustrating at
times. While he has strong, occa-
sionally differing views on many
aspects of the business, Lewington
respects experience, however.
"Mostly I try to sit back, listen and
learn," he says, adding with a smile,
"But I do speak out_ if something
really bothers me."
In retrospect, Lewington admits
that he had never thought of becom-
ing involved in this aspect of the
industry. "I didn't think about
whether I could make a difference.
And I don't know if I am. But once
in awhile I see things come up that
for example the IOHPA had
expressed concerns with and I real-
ize I was there for that. I have been a
part of the differences that have been
made."
Currently his interest lies with
finding ways to develop a niche mar-
ket for hogs raised without the use of
antibiotics. Noting that he had
approached Ontario Pork about sell-
ing these hogs as premium, and that
they didn't "seem interested",
Lewington adds, "so I guess it's up
to me." He plans to start small sell-
ing to individuals, "then go from
there."
Admitting that the meetings and
paperwork take a good deal of time
away from the business of farming,
Lewington doubts he will stay as
involved as now for long. But he will
continue to push for the family farm.
Saying he doesn't 'want to see the
Ontario hog industry go the way of
the United States chicken industry
where there are very few actual own-
ers, Lewington says the farmer is
being reduced to little more than a
serf on his own farm. "There is no
independence left."
"I'd like to try to help shape the
groups so they might push the inter-
est of the family farm, because no
matter how well I do here, I don't
want to be surrounded by corporate
farms. I prefer to see more kids like
me, but the way it's headed unless
they have a father to help them get
started, it's not going to happen."
OATI offers
ag seminars
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
Winter is a time when farmers
have the opportunity to update skills,
learn new information and take part
in seminars.
The Ontario Agriculture Training
Institute (OATI) has been offering
such opportunities for eight years.
Though now late in the season and
with hopes of getting into the fields
before too many more weeks pass, a
few final courses for are still avail-
able for those looking to increase
their knowledge and improve their
skills.
A advanced course on understand-
ing the commodity markets will be
held at the Holmesville Township
Hall March 28, said Alison Lobb of
OATI. This level three course is a
technical analysis of the markets. It
is designed to enhance decision-
making skills to enable producers to
take advantage of current and future
market trends.
Consultant Bob Huckle will lead
the three-day seminar which runs
from 9 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m.
On March 20, also in Holmesville,
Lobb will lead a seminar Basic Farm
Income Tax. She stresses this not
Continued on A-3
Clinton Resource Centre
Box 159, 100 Don Street
Clinton, NOM 1L0
(519) 482-3333
Fax: (519) 482-5031
The new breed
Dave Lewington, RR2, Brussels has never wanted any-
thing more than to work on the family farm. However his
forward ideas are being presented as a member of area
agricultural boards and federations.
OMAFRA'S
TO foster competitive, economically diverse and
prosperous agriculture and food sectors and promote
economic development of rural communities.
How to Reach Us
visit our web site - www.gov.on.ca/omafra
Agricultural information contact centre:
1-877-424-1300
OMAFRA'S Resource Agents respond to farm,
commodity, agribusiness and rural business inquiries
by providing access to a variety of sources of
information regarding:
Technical and business references
.0 management decision considerations
.0 Assessment of advice from non-ministry sources
Email: ag.info@omafra.gov.on.ca
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs
"Bringing the Resources of the world to Rural Ontario"
CD Ontario