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PAGE A-6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2002.
Agriculture 2002
Federation president fights fo amily farm
Dedicated to agriculture
Huron County Federation of Agriculture President Charles Regele and his wife Carol Anne
are strong supporters of the family farm. Pictured with them is the Brown Swiss cow, Charles
said he has had with him longer than Carol Anne. (Bonnie Gropp photo)
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
Charles and Carol Anne Regele
believe in farm and family.
So much so that since their 1986
marriage they have not only suc-
ceeded in instilling in their four sons
an old-fashioned work ethic, but
have dedicated themselves in a vari-
ety of ways to improving the agricul-
tural way of life.
For Charles, who was born and
raised on the RR1, Dublin farm on
which he still resides, that has meant
a level of political activism. It began
almost as soon as the couple took
over the cream operation following
their marriage. His first experience
was with the Huron County Cream
Producers, during which he served
as chair 'for two years. In 1993 he
joined the Huron Federation of
Agriculture as director at large.
"I don't like to do two or three
things at once. I don't want to start
with something until I finish what
I'm doing. I want to do each job the
best way I can."
While he may enjoy some good-
natured joking about their sons'
influence on the family business,
referring to it as a "funny farm",
thanks to the infusion of chicken,
pigs and rabbits, the fact that they are
very much a part of it is not lost on
the Regeles. "We certainly found
that out when I. broke my leg last
year," says Charles.
Carol Anne said with the help of
Brian, 15; Chris, 13; Alex, eight and
Danny, five, they were able to hire a
minimal amount of outside labour to
keep things running smoothly at the
100 acre-property.
The reason is simple. The Regeles
have instilled in their sons what
some may view as an old-school
work ethic. While many of their age
might spend off-hours playing video
games or hanging out downtown the
four young Regeles have been
expected to help out. "Since they
were little, they've had chores to
do," says Carol Anne.
Charles says that ideal has been
generally accepted by the boys. "The
oldest once asked years ago, why we
had chores to do. But he went to a
friend's overnight and afterwards
remarked that it was boring. Now he
thinks having jobs to do is good."
Yet, while manual labour is impor-
tant it is secondary to school. "The
challenge is to have them put that
work ethic into school. When I was
young homework came first," says
Charles.
This way of farming, this way of
life is important to the Regeles. "I
have become involved politically in
part to help preserve the family
farm," says Charles, which he
describes as a understated practice.
"A lot of innovations have come out
of farmers' sheds."
. To that means, Regele hopes to see
changes regarding succession plan-
ning on farm transfers. "I think over
the next 10 years it's going to be a
major concern." -
It is his worries for the farming
industry coupled with a desire to
keep learning, that has prompted
Charles to become an agricultural
activist. "I like to think I'm not a
politician,. but I have to deal with it
Continued on A-7