HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-Agriculture 2000, 2000-03-15, Page 41Huron Jr. Farmers re-form, Perth marks 50th
Making the 4-H connection
Listowel Jr. Farmers were proud of the Learn to Dance 4-H
club led by their members. Learning to jive and square
dance were, in back, from left: Michael Albers, Shawn
Terpstra, Joe Van de Gevel and Jason Van de Gevel. In
front, from left: Karen Terpstra, Monique Huitema, Margriet
Mosterman and Joanne Van Loo.
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
From the ashes of a defunct organ
ization, a new exuberant and “awe
some” Junior Farmers has risen.
While the Huron County chapter
of the organization died in 1995, an
energetic group of young adults
agreed last fall there was again a
place for Jr. Farmers in the county.
Becky Campbell of Seaforth, pres
ident of the fledgling club, says
another interested party came to her
last year with the idea of re-forming
the group.
“We both come from agricultural
backgrounds and were looking for
that sense of good clean fun, tradi
tional values in a social setting.”
After receiving input and guidance
from Rural Youth Co-ordinator
Murray Needham on the policies and
procedures for Jr. Farmers, Campbell
and others began to draw in friends
and acquaintances who would be
interested in joining.
With the inaugural meeting held in
October of last year, the club boasts
25-30 signed and participating mem
bers, says Campbell. Some are new
members while others are former Jr.
Farmers who joined Perth County
clubs when Huron’s disappeared five
years ago.
The new club is a county-wide
organization, with members between
the ages of 15 and 29.
There are people from most parts
of the county, says Campbell, but
they are striving to bring in more,
particularly from the southern
region.
There is an annual fee, set at $20
for new members.
Campbell says joining the Jr.
Farmers is a great way to get out,
socialize and meet new people. “It is
particularly good for those returning
to farming after being away for col
lege.”
“You have contact with people of
the same age and same interests.
They can relate to the work and
industry of agriculture.”
Following the motto of Jr.
Farmers, ‘I do it because it feels
good’, Campbell says involvement
in the group provides members with
opportunities for self-betterment as
well as benefitting the community
through projects.
Jr. Farmers have many chances to
participate in sporting events with
other clubs, take advantage of travel
possibilities and earn scholarships.
“There are a lot of workshops
offered to encourage us to live up to
our potential,” says Campbell.
She is also very excited about the
group of young people which has
helped to form this new alliance.
“It is a really awesome group.
They are enthusiastic, intelligent and
they want to present a good image of
youth in the county. They want to
bring out the finer side of country
living. There is a lot of optimism
about the future of agriculture.”
Only five-months-old, the Huron
County Jr. Farmers have several
things in the works for this year to
begin serving the community.
Aside from attending several local
fairs and the two county rodeos to
promote the group and get involved,
Campbell says a very special event is
being held Sept. 16 in conjunction
with the Seaforth Fall Fair.
The Seaforth Agricultural Society
is donating the use of its complex to
the Jr. Farmers, allowing them to
host a fundraising dance. All the
monies will go to 4-H.
Campbell says support from busi
nesses, industries, manufacturers,
organizations and all others they
have had contact with has been phe
nomenal.
The club is looking forward to the
opportunity to take pride in them
selves and what they do.
“What one person does may be
small, but when you look at the col
lection (of deeds) of the whole group
over the whole year, it is great,” adds
Campbell.
Listowel Jr. Farmers
While the Huron County Jr.
Farmers have only recently reorgan
ized, the Listowel chapter of the
Perth County organization celebrat
ed its 50th anniversary last
December.
Since its inception in 1949, the
Listowel group’s membership has
ebbed and flowed with the changing
trends in rural Ontario.
Though there have been low spots,
Jr. Farmer Elizabeth Johnston says
the club is growing again, having
registered about 40 members during
the recent membership drive.
“Participation is increasing across
the province,” she says. “Things are
looking positive with a number of
county (clubs) starting up again.”
To explain Listowel’s longevity,
Johnston says the club has always
been very strong and involved.
“We are active in a lot of commu
nity betterment projects, we donate
to charities in the community and
area and we provide physical help to
groups such as the agricultural
society with work at the fair
grounds.”
The range of projects undertaken
by the club is diverse. They donated
approximately $4,000 by growing
soybeans through the Food Grains
Bank program. They host bingo in
town every other week, participate in
roadside maintenance, undertake
education programs in schools and
are currently in the process of help
ing the agricultural society build a
new food booth and washrooms at
the fairgrounds. The club helped
build bleachers in the past.
One of their recent achievements
was leading 4-H projects, including
a dance club. One club was complet
ed by 40 children, the biggest 4-H
club in Perth County in 1999, says
Johnston.
Johnston believes making the con
nection to the 4-H members is a very
important part of what Jr. Farmers
do. “Some of them (4-Hers) are now
(Jr. Farmer) members.”
The tremendous success of the
Listowel club can be attributed to the
ability of the members to get along,
says Johnston. “That is the big rea
son we have been here 50 years. Our
members are dedicated and commit
ted.”
And although Listowel is urban,
the surrounding farmlands provide
more than 50 per cent of the partici
pants while the provincial numbers
show a fairly even split between
rural and urban Jr. Farmers.
Johnston agrees with Campbell’s
philosophy on the benefits of being a
Jr. Farmer. Not only is there the
social aspect of being involved with
young people with similar goals and
interest, but there is the opportunity
to give something back to the com
munity, to make a difference and
have fun while doing it.
Making contact
The Huron County meetings are
held on the second Sunday of each
month at rotating locations due to the
large area covered by the member
ship. Anyone interested in joining
the Huron County Jr. Farmers may
call Becky Campbell at 519-527-
2434.
More information about the
Listowel Jr. Farmers can be obtained
through Elizabeth Johnston at 519-
291-2888.
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