Huron Expositor, 2009-12-02, Page 2.w• h r e-. .. - • n -•, . 1 . - 11.11"..
2 The Huron Expositor • December 2, 2009
News
Don Dodds wins Seaforth citizenship award for civic service
Susan $unjertmark
Volunteering and contributing to
his community has always come as
naturally to Don Dodds as working
on his McKillop Century farm.
This year's civic service winner for
the Seaforth citizenship awards says
pitching in is what community mem-
bers do.
"I grew up here and if anything
happened or needed to happen, the
neighbours just all got together and
did it," he says, adding that he's sad
to see changes to society that keep
people too busy to know their neigh-.
bours the way they used to.
Dodds recently was honoured by
Huron County 4-H for 50 years as a
Don Dodds
4-H leader
and he and
his wife
Maja were
honoured
this year
as well by
the Huron
County
Federa-
tion of
Agricul-
ture as
recipients
of the ag-
riculture award, pointing to Don's
long-time membership of the 4-H
swine and sodbusters clubs, as well
as his years as a director of the Hu-
ron County Plowmen's Association.
"Don has always exhibited a genu-
ine interest and passion for working
with youth," says the nomination
letter for the citizenship awards by
Frank and Grace Dolmage.
"Don can still be seen actively sup-
porting the young people at the local
Seaforth Fair as he proudly oversees
the young members as they exhibit.
showmanship and compete with
each other as they parade in front of
judges," says the letter.
Dodds says he remembers the help
he received from 4-H leaders when
he was a young person learning the
business of farming, adding he's only
tried to return the favour.
"Somebody helped me and our kids
and I was told I
could come back
and help, so I did.
You can't give back
as much as you
get from the com-
munity," he says.
To Dodds,
helping out with
4-H means help-
ing future farmers
and helping young
The Hog Industry
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S, l
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Jlt J 7.
f
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a reasonable prospect of repaying the loan.
Eligible producers are individuals, partnerships, corporations and cooperatives
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to ensure access to government backed funding.
For more information:
Call 1-877-842-5601
Visit agr.gc.ca/HILLRP
IN Agriculture and Agriculture et Agri -Food Canada Agroalimentaire CanadaCanacrg.
people gain con-
fidence in them-
selves.
"I sometimes
wonder if anyone
realizes how im-
portant agricul-
ture is and I'm
quite concerned
about our future
in that respect,"
he says.
Dodds says
4-H is an excel-
lent program and
while he's disap-
pointed that it's
no longer funded
by the provincial
government, he
commends the
leaders, the 4-H
council, the par-
ents and the spon-
sors that keep it
going.
"The 4-H
motto is `Learn by
Doing,' and that
hasn't changed in
all these years," he
says, adding that
watching youth
grow and mature
through 4-11 is
very rewarding.
"That's why
you volunteer - to see those things
happen," he says.
Remembering his involvement as
a youth in 4-H and a plowing class
created at Seaforth's high school by
Gordon McGavin which resulted in
Neil McGavin and himself plowing
for the high school at an Interna-
tional Plowing Match, Dodds says
he took a short break from plowing
during his years at the University of
Guelph before getting involved again
when he returned home from univer-
sity.
"I got away from it for awhile but
when our children got started, I got
involved again," he says.
Attending judging school for plow-
ing was a way to learn how to help
his own children learn to plow better
and led tobecoming a judge at the
IPMs.
Two of his three children became
plowing champions - Lynn was On-
tario queen . of the furrow while Paul
was Canadian junior champion
twice.
He says a competition plow he
bought when Paul was getting in-
volved in his first plowing matches
during the early 1980s is still being
used by 4-H members as they com-
pete in plowing matches in the area.
"I think every kid in the county has
used it," says Maja.
Dodds has also spent countless
hours in all kinds of weather over-
seeing and judging plowing events,
holding positions of director and
chief steward of the Huron County
Plowman's Association.
"It's a great organization," he says.
Dodds says he and his wife have
made friends all over Ontario from
their involvement in plowing match-
es and 4-H.
He was also involved in the Sea -
forth Agricultural Society for many
years; helping out with the fall fair
and various other fundraisers and
serving as as director for 15 years.
"4-H got me involved with the Ag
Society.. A whole lot of youth come
to the Seaforth fair for achievement
days and showmanship and if the Ag
Society wasn't there, everyone would
lose and not only the farm commu-
nity. It's there for all residents," he
says.
A lifelong member of Cavan United
Church in Winthrop
Dodds has also served there as
Clerk of Session for over 30 years.
"Church and community go togeth-
er. You have to carry what you hear
on Sunday through the week," he
says.