HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2003-12-03, Page 1010 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, DECEMBER 3, 2003
Correspondents
Brussels farmer named National
Farmers Union Youth president
By Sara Canpbell
Expositor Staff
A Brussels -area farmer has
been appointed to represent
youth from across Canada in
the National Farmers Union.
Dave Lewington was
elected by NFU members as
the new youth president at
their 34th annual convention
from Nov. 20 - 22 in
Saskatoon, Sask.
"I'm looking forward to
working with the NFU on the
many issues confronting
younger farmers," said
Lewington. "Youth are an
important part of the EFU
and they guarantee everyone
has their say."
NFU Youth are members of
the NFU who have
undertaken and are
undertaking many projects to
develop the potential of
young people and build their
awareness.
Projects of NFU Youth
include: National Farm Youth
Exchanges; Rural/Urban
placements; Youth Policy
Task Force — summarizing
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Dave Lewington, of Brussels,
was appointed last week
to represent youth in NFU
NFU policy for discussions
with young people;
participation in NFU news
conferences submissions to
government; and recreational
sports.
Lewington said he is not
sure how many NFU
members there are as any
farm youth, ages 14 - 21, are
automatically members under
they family's membership
but any youth, ages 14 - 25,
can become a member by
paying a membership fee.
"It's difficult to keep young
people in agriculture but it's
even harder to attract them to
agricultural politics," he said.
The 26 -year-old has been a
member of the NFU for the
past three years and was
named Ontario youth advisor
last year. He said he became
involved with the NFU from
working as director of both
the Ontario Independent Hog
Producers and the Huron
Federation of Agriculture.
"I was told that I had the
same views and opinions as
the EFU and that I should
become a member so I did,"
he said.
As president, Lewington
said he plans to focus on
making it easier for young
farmers to begin producing
supply -managed
commodities — milk, poultry
or eggs.
"I plan to investigate the
quota of the supply
management system which is
preventing young farmers
from getting established if
they can't meet the quota,"
he said.
The full-time hog and sheep
farmer said during the
summer he hosted the annual
NFU Youth meeting with a
tour of his farm and area
attractions as well as
discussions on issues facing
young farmers.
He said topics from the
discussion included: creating
a reference manual for
families transferring farms
from generation to
generation; advertisements in
the NFU newsletter for
young farmers looking for
land to rent; and asking
universities and colleges to
find independent funding for
agricultural research rather
than corporate funding as one
corporation reportedly
jeopardized research results.
"I think those issues and
others that come forward will
keep me busy over the next
year as president," he said.
Crafty shoppers
Donna McNulty and her son Riley, 7, of RR 1 Dublin, perused
the necklaces at the Seaforth Ag Society toy, sports cards,
teddy bear, doll, gift and craft show Saturday.
Susan Hundertmark photo
St. Columban soccer team returns from Ireland
The boys are back and
Ireland will never be the
'same. With the jet lag and
tiredness behind them, and
most settled back into their
family and work routine, the
Ireland experience for the
men of the St. Columban
Soccer Team has had time to
settle, with a lot of the men
saying they would like to go
back.
Their first days there were
spent at the Celtic Lodge
Guesthouse in Dublin where
they took a bus tour of the
city, and also the Guinness
Brewery, where there were
many free
samples.
They
took in a
St. Columban
Premier Division pro soccer
match between the home
team Dublin Bohemians and
the opposition Waterford,
which ended in a tie score.
The biggest impression of
the game was the quality of
play, and the constant,
unrelenting chanting of the
fans in the stands.
They played their own first
game against the Hot Press
MGB and were defeated by a
score of 2-1, with Kevin
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fkrveknpment Canada ra aorarces Mxnaines Canada
Canad"a
Murray
scoring the
S t
Columban
goal.
Travelling next to
Kilkenny, which was
described as beautiful like
,Seaforth and easy to get
around, they toured the
Kilkenny Brewery, and
visited the Delaney Pub. The
Delaney Pub is owned by
Seamus Delaney who also
sponsors a hurling team (the
other national sport in
Ireland).
Upon finding out that five
members of the soccer team
had a "Delaney Connection"
he ushered the whole team
into the back room full of
trophies and pictures. After
an enjoyable evening, he
presented the five "Delaney
Connection" lads with dark
green shirts.
Many of the lads attended
the mass at St. Mary's
Cathedral for Remembrance
Day. They were impressed at
the cathedral and its
architecture.
The vast grounds at
Kilkenny castle served as a
wonderful opportunity for a
necessary soccer practice
before the big game in
Limerick. As the team was
finishing up, a security guard
pointed out the "Keep off the
Grass" signs.
At Cork, they enjoyed the
dog races, watching the
hounds chase the rabbit.
Taking a day's tour, many of
the group climbed the 120
steps to the roof of Blarney
Castle and kissed the
Blarney Stone.
At Cobh (pronounced
cove) they were impressed
by the Lusitania and Titanic
monument. The Lusitania
sank in Cobh Harbour after
being torpedoed by a
German U-boat during WW
II, and Cobh Harbour was
the last berth for the Titanic
before its doomed maiden
voyage.
They also visited the Rock
of Cashel. At Limerick, the
St. Columban soccer team
played their second soccer
match of the tour against the
University of Limerick
where they were defeated 5-
0, playing in monsoon -like
weather.
After the game, they spent
a memorable evening at Leo
Morrison's Pub in the
Ballysimon area. Leo
Morrison is a friend of
Michael Hurley from
Hurley's Celtic Inn,
Seaforth. There they met
Michael Hurley's aunt, Sister
Anne Hurley. At the end of
the evening, she presented
each team member with a
tremendous souvenir, a
hurling stick.
One of the final highlights
of the trip was seeing the
spectacular Cliffs of Moher.
Rising more than 700 feet
above the wind swept
Atlantic Ocean, these shale
and sandstone cliffs stretch
for five miles, their ledges
making ideal nesting places
for the birds.
The team members spent a
quieter, easy night on their
last night, doing some local
sightseeing in Limerick
before flying home from
Shannon Airport.
Everywhere the lads went,
they were royally welcomed
and treated well.
The ultimate desire to
return someday has to be the
result of a fantdstic
experience of the openness,
friendliness and welcoming
hospitality of the people of
Ireland, and the tremendous
beauty of their country.
Many local people
mourned the death of
Raymond Murray of
Seaforth, a former McKillop
Township farmer and
parishioner of St. Columban
Church. Ray will be
remembered for his smile,
wise sayings, long visits,
quiet helping hands and
friendly way.
"Old stuff," including many
family photos, decorated the
St. Columban parish hall as
many family members,
relatives, neighbours and
friends, gathered to celebrate
with Bob Duffy, and his wife
Ruth, on the occasion of his
80th birthday.
Many of their children and
grandchildren were present
from near and far away
including: Randy and Debbie
Duffy from Spruce Grove,
Alberta; Jeanette Riegger
from Stoney Plain, Alberta;
Marion and Jim Finlayson,
Sarah and Andrea of
Seaforth; Melissa and Jason
Beuttenmiller of Guelph;
Cathy and Paul Hulley,
Jaclyn, Daryl, Breanne and
Brittany of Seaforth; Barb
Van Roessel, Stacey and
Scott of Staffa; Eileen and
Bob Nash, Jared and Rachel
of Stratford; Angela and
Geordie Barnett, Aurora and
Colm, of Orangeville; Esther
Rau, of Exeter; Rita Manley
of Stratford, Vera Murray of '
Seaforth, Rita Quick of
Chatham; Scotty and Nancy
Regier of Ripley; John
Regier, of London; Joe and
June Regier, of Crediton;
Philip Regier, of Exeter; and
Doug Murray, of Japan.
There were many generous
donations to the food bank
on Bob's behalf, and
everyone enjoyed the food,
fun and fellowship.
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