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Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1985-10-30, Page 194 4 AWARD — Longtime cattleman Archie Etherington (centre) is presented with the Cattlemen Service Diploma by Keith Strang (left), second vice president of the Huron Cattlemen's Association and Bill Col- eman, past president of the Huron County Aksociation. Veteran Huron cattleman still hasn't lost optimism Longtime Usborne cattleman Ar- chie Etherington reminisced about his 25 years in the business after be- ing presented with a diploma by Bill Coleman, past president of the Huron Cattlemen's Association and Keith Strang, second vice president, to mark his years of service to the On- tario Cattlemen's Association to general, and the Huron Association in particular. Etherington's memories go back to the twenties, when low prices caused hardship and despair. He recalls an Exeter dealer who contracted to buy some cattle from Etherington's father Albert at 18t a pound. At delivery time, he offered them back at lot, but Etherington Sr. refused, and the deal went through. ---The buyer accompanied his cattle__ to England, where the price he obtain- ed didn't even cover the shipping costs. The man stood to lose everything he had. He jumped over- board on the homeward voyage. Etherington wasborn on the farm where he has lived for the past 50 years with his wife Alma. (The Ether- ingtons celebrate their golden wed- ding anniversary on November 2). He got into the feedlot business 25 years ago, after this sons grew up and found good jobs off the farm. He figured feeding heifers was something he and his wife could handle `without too much difficulty. Etherington joined the local Association 20 years ago, and was ap- pointed Huron County director to the provincial Association in 1967. He soon discovered that the main duties of the directors when they met three times a year was to ratify decisions the executive committee had made while meeting at least once a month. This was obviously where the action was. Etherington eventually was elected to the Ontario Cattlemen's Associa- tion executive. and from there work- ed his way up to president. He gives full credit to his wife for standing behind him, and taking over all the chores for the 90 days each year that he was away form home on Cat- tlemen's business. During Etherington's term on the Ontario executive, an innovative ser- vice was begun in Exeter to give cat- tlemen up -to -the minute market infor- mation. nformation. Cattlefacts operated from the office of Kongskitde for six months, with free use of that company's teletype, before an office was opened in Toronto, and a man hired to run it. For $100 per year, a subscriber could call at any time and receive the latest Toronto prices. A newsletter was also sent out weekly. A farmer who sold cattle was sup- posed to phone in the price he had received. Cattlefacts did not succeed, due partly to the reluctance of sellers to immediately divulge how much they had received for their _animals, - _ Now part of.tti voluntary check -off paid by cattlemen pays for the same information to come from the packers.. Etherington admitted cattlemen are notoriously independent, and hold v ery strong opinions. The battle bet - ORDER EARLY "If you're planning to give per- sonalized licence plates for Christmas gifts, order now, advised Ontario Transportation and Communications Minister Ed Fulton recently. The plates take six weeks to be delivered and cost $100 a set. "Last year we processed over 10,000 plates during the Christmas season and had a busy time trying to get them all out on time", said Fulton. "This year, we'd like to avoid the rush and ensure everyone gets their plates on time. So, we're encouraging peo- ple to place their orders by the first week in November if they plan to give personalized plates for Christmas presents." Personalized plates may have from two to six characters arranged in any combination of letters, or numerals and letters, except those combina- tions used on regular plates. Plates sporting only numerals may have from two to four characters arrang- ed in any combination. ween the tree enterprisers and those who want a marketing board has been raging for more than 20 years. "At a meeting, everyone thinks he knows everything and no one else knows anything", Etherington remarked wryly. Etherington also doubts the effec- • tiveness of the "Beef tastes good" ads that have appeared on TV in the last four years. "We're hiring people at large salaries who don't know a cow from a horse", he said. Etherington was pleased to see a fund established by the Ontario government to compensate cattlemen if they receive a bad cheque in return for selling to a dealer. What he had wanted for years finally became a _ reality after a spectacular bankrupt- cy left many people holding worthless paper. When asked what he would do to help the cattle industry if he were given dictatorial power, Etherington said he would run and hide, because "someone would shoot me". He zeros in on the drop in the annual per capita beef consumption from a former 112 pounds to the present 70 to 80 as the heart of the problems being ex- perienced in the beef industry. He believes the number of cattle should decrease to 80 percent of the current • number, but is not hopeful that will happen. "Everyone still wants to keep the same amount of cattle, or increase", he observed. Etherington recalls that just before he retired at 65, he could make more money on bank interest than he could on raising cattle. However, for those who are determined to stay in and wait for the better times that always follow the bad, he has encouragement. "You have to have faith", he em- phasized. "1974 was supposed to be a bad year,and it was one of my best. I paid 20t a pound delivered from the west, and sold in the 30s and 40s. There is opportunity all the time, even in bad years. I think 1985 is a year of opportunity too." 441W *Areognallillaw' vow (110 immrisimmi off" II SOYA BEAN dal and COR N producers when your crop is ready -we're ready! Contact our nearest location 161 a 6. / HENSALL CENTRALIA 262-2410 228-6661 ei / KIRKTON WALTON 229-8986 527-1540 Make COOK'S your marketing centre for all your crops! Remember! You can BANK on COOK'S --"where you can trade with confidence COOK'S DIVISION OF OERBRO INC. 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