Times-Advocate, 1986-10-29, Page 1Str•uhilftikIag a about arm stress
petted to serve the community.
That situation was absurd and
teachers are now rewarded relative-
ly well, he commented.
Wilkinson also rebuked a sugges-
tion that the agricultural community
would be better served by eliminating
family farms and moving to cor-
porate operations.
"We don't need a city of five million
people in this province, we need a
population spread around the
country."
Huron CoUnty elenef$ary school ' Huron rec cente to regain his
teachers had pojgnant evidence of the composure.
stress being experienced by some of
their rural students and their famines
when they met in Exeter, Friday, for
a professional development day.
Theme of the event was
"agriculture in the classroom" and
the . morning session's keynote
speaker was Jaek Wilkinson, second
vice-president of the Ontario Federa-
tion of Agriculture.
Near the outset of his address,
while explaining how the stress being
experienced on some farms is affec-
ting children, Wilkinson became ex-
temely emotional, and following a
long pause in which he wiped away
some tears, he had to walk off the
platform and went outside the South
DISCUSS FARMING — Ross Daily of CFPL TV was one of the
speakers at a professional development day in Exeter on Friday and
is shown chatting with a couple of teachersfollowing his address
which encouraged discussion of agricultural topics in the classroom.
Says farmers have
lost most of friends
Farmers don't Nave a lot of friends
today, CFPL TV farm broadcaster
Ross Daily noted at the teachers' pro-
fessional development day in Exeter
this week and went on to explain that
teachers can play an important role
in helping students understand the
history of agriculture as well as ex-
ploring the future of that industry.
Saying that agriculture "is in no in-
significant amount of trouble," Dai-
ly told his audience of Huron elemen-
tary teachers that over the past 70
years farmers have dwindled in
numbers and lost most of their friends
because they no longer carry much
political clout.
Today's young people understand
nothing about agriculture, he con-
tinued, suggesting they were harmed
by that because they are fed process-
ed food and have little idea of where
food comes from.
He backed up that opinion by
quoting a consumer who said he
didn't care how much farmers receiv-
ed for their produce, because he
bought all his food at a supermarket
and not from farmers.
Daily noted that a tremendous gulf
has developed between rural and non -
rural residents and many children,
and even adults, don't know where
milk comes from. The problem is
even aggravated in rural areas
because of specialization and
youngsters raised on hog farms may
not know how milk or eggs are
produced.
He listed several reasons why
teachers should educate students
about agriculture, among them being
the heritage because it teaches what
society has been and how important
agriculture once was when one in two
people were engaged in it.
Teachers should also advise
students that food is essential to life
and they should be taught the dif-
ference between natural and process-
ed food as many people now think
nothing of spending $5 a pound for
foods that have no nutritive value and
won't pay $3.50 a pound for a steak.
The farm broadcaster also sug-
gested students should have
knowledge of animals and how food
is produced.
He said his experience has shown
that children enjoy discussions on the
concept of food production, chemical
use in agriculture, land conservation,
genetics, breeding, free trade, futures
markets, Marketing; chsfribtltton and
the quality of rural life.
The teachers were told that many
of those topics were prime moral and
social issues that will impact on the
future generations.
He challenged teachers to break the
myth that farmers are millionaires,
explaining that while many farm
operations deal in large sums of
money, those operations are not own-
ed by many of the farmers. "Being
surrounded by wealth doesn't mean
it is wealth you control," he
explained.
Daily said students were quick
learners and could explore many
facets of agriculture in their
classrooms, but they are currently be-
ing kept away from it.
He concludLJ by noting that the
teachers had an opportunity to make
students aware of agriculture and the
challenges it faces.
"You are the guys who can do it. 1
hope you will consider it."
"I think this speaks for itself," com-
mented co-chairman Brenda McIn-
tosh, as she went to the microphone
to speak to the hushed audience.
The Huron Federation of
Agriculture member, obviously mov-
ed as well by Wilkinson's emotional
display, said in a choking voice, "I
think you know what's going on out in
the country."
She said many farm situations are
totally deteriorating.
Wilkinson then re-entered the hall
and continued his talk, telling the
teachers they have to help farm
families who are facing many finan-
cial and emotional problems.
Explaining that the situation is
causing many children from troubl-
ed farm homes to behave in un-
characteristic fashion, he said
teachers have an opportunity to
detect those changes.
Wilkinson suggested there were
some incredible pressures" on
children as they experienced the wor-
ries of losing their farms, their homes
and even their families.
Acknowledging that similar
pressures were experienced by those
who faced the loss .of their jobs, he
said it was heightened for farm
families because many had no trade
to fall back onto to seek employment
elsewhere.
"It's important for you to detect
that stress," he continued, advising
the teachers they should enlist the aid
of other farmers and professionals in
the community to get stressed
families into counselling sessions.
It was noted that many families ex-
periencing problems do not like to air
them in public and there are hundreds
who still refuse to admit they have
problems.
"Do something as quickly as you
can so it doesn't destroy the educa-
tional potential of the children," he
said. "It is up to you to ensure that
doesn't happen."
In opening his address, Wilkinson
had highlighted one recent stressful
situation in Oxford County where 20
RCMP had marched down a farm
lane with guns on their shoulders to
aid in a foreclosure.
"Farmer after farmer is going
broke," he advised, adding that while
people appeared to know how to treat
the symptoms of the stress, "not too
damn many people are worried about
solving the problem."
The teachers were told that on
farms where income was over $50,000
a year, over half that came from off -
farm income and the average farm
income in Hurdn was $5,500 and $7,434
in Oxford.
"I bet you people make more,")ie
commented. "It's not big mopey Old
it causes a lot of strew."
Ne also noted that the debt crisis
has increased "horrendously" for/
farmers and there is no relief yet in
sight.
During.a question and answer ses-
sion, Wilkinson answered the "yeah,
but they don't have to pay any taxes"
comment that is often aimed at
farmers.
He explained that the percentage of
hidden taxes paid by farmers is high
and in fact they pay a tremendous
amount of taxes in the system and
those operating on farm sales of
$100,000 to $200,000 probably pay more
than 90 percent of what people who
work on salaries pay.
The Lambton farmer also noted
that there has never been a time
where there has been such a spread
in net farm incomes and it has
created two classes, one consisting of
those who have established
marketing structures and those, such
as eash croppers, who currently sell
products at less than production
casts.
He said cash crop farmers who ex-
panded and bought $3,000 per acre
land and have now seen it drop to $800
"are technically bankrupt".
The audience was advised that
changes can't be undertaken without
spending money or changing the
market structure.
Wilkinson said it was "nuts" that a
box of cornflakes can cost $3 while
•
the farmer receives four cents for the
corn that goes .into the product.
"Farmers are going broke produc-
ing food for you," he -said after ex-
plaining that Canadians spend only 16
cents of every dollar for food, while
in Europe and other countries the cost
is about 30 cents.
He then likened the farmers' cur-
rent plight to that experienced by
teachers some decades ago when they
were paid " a couple of hundred
bucks" for their services and were ex-
VINSIISTANNAM
Imes
Serving South Huron, North huddlese
�7F'S.x. .o< s, s,.l X, ' ,<•7 j3Lt'A^•
dvocate
& North lambton Since 1573
EXETER. ONTARIO. October 29, 1986 •
TEACHERS GATHER — Huron elementary teachers gathered in Exeter, Friday, for a PD day program
on agriculture in the classroom. Examining some puppets provided'for classroom use by area Women's
Institute members are, from the left: Shirley Cooper, WI member who coordinated the puppet project;
Brenda McIntosh, Federation of Agriculture member who was co-chairman of the event; Jack Wilkin-
son, second vice-president of the Ontario F of A, one of the speakers; Mary Moffatt, and Doug Yeo
of the Huron Teachers' Federations; and Maxine Miller, co-chairman of the program.
Osborne cites concern
fr. economic impact
Usborne council members have
, their voice to area
municipalities expressing concern f6r
farmers in view of the heavy crop
losses due to inordinate rainfall.
At their October meeting, council
hosted a delegation of Ted and Frank
Soudant, Dave Kints and John Vander
Burgt of the Huron County Vegetable
Growers' Disaster Committee.
They pointed out that the local
economy will suffer as a result of the
loss of farm revenue and also explain-
ed that their concern about the inade-
quacies of the crop insurance
program.
Council were asked to declare all or
parts of Usborne a disaster area, or
as an alternative, to forward a letter
to minister of agriculture Jack Rid-
dell supporting the concern of the
committee.
A motion was passed that a letter
be sent to Riddell stating council's
concern about the disastrous effect
the recent,' heavy rainfalls has had,
and will have, on the local economy.
In other business, council:
Learned that the deeds for the
Kirkton-Woodham community centre
have been sent to the solicitors to be
incorporated into one deed which will
show both Blanshard and Usborne as
joint owners.
Concurred with a written sugges-
tion from Deputy -Reeve Margaret
Hern that the present policy of charg-
ing interest on overdue taxes must be
maintained and that no exceptions
should be made.
Learned from Councillor Ross
Ballantyne that Ontario Hydro has
been asked to investigate• and identify
the problem that has Mused an in-
crease in energy costs at the Kirkton-
Woodham -swimming pool. He also
noted that Kymm Wettlaufer is the
new representative for Usborne on
the committee and Mrs. Tom Bickell
is the new rep from Blanshard.
Decided that all township roads
*would be keptopen this winter after
reviewing a proposal that some roads
could be closed.
Please turn to page 2
Four people hurt
in area collisions
Four people were injured in the
three collisions investigated this week
by the Exeter OPP. None of the in-
juries was serious.
Daniel Gower, RR 1 Centralia, suf-
fered minor injuries in one of two col-
lisions on Saturday. His vehicle skidd-
ed on loose gravel on concession 6-7
of Usborne, north of sideroad 6-7,
went into a ditch and struck a pole.
Damage to the vehicle was listed at
$3,000.
The other Saturday mishap was on
concession 2-3 of Usborne, south of
sideroad 30, when a vehicle driven by
William Sweitzer, Exeter, went out of
control and struck a tree after going
over onto its side. The driver escaped
injury and damage was set at $500.
The other three injuries resulted
from a collision at the intersection of
Highway 4 and the Mt. Carmel Road
on Sunday.
A vehicle operated by Lori Bran-
don, RR 4 Clinton was attempting to
pass two vehicles on Highway 4 while
Allan MacDonnell, London, was at the
intersection attempting to turn south
onto the highway.
The Brandon vehicle went into the
west ditch to avoid a collision.
The Clinton driver and her two
passengers, Michelle Butt, RR 4
Seaforth, and Tanja Grillmayer,
Brucefield, sustained minor injuries.
During the week, the detachment
officers laid 45 charges under the
Highway Traffic Act, 16 under the Li-
quor Licence Act, seven under the
Criminal Code and one under the Nar-
cotic Control Act.
The personnel remind drivers to
take extra caution while driving on
Hallowe'en, especially in the urban
centres when the children are trick
and treating:
A man's 10 -speed bicycle has been
found on Highway 81 near Grand
Bend and the owner may claim same
at the detachment office by properly
identifying it.
SPECIAL GUEST -- When Huron's elementary teachers gathered in Exeter this week for a PD day on
"agriculture in the classroom" a special guest at noon was agriculture minister Jack Riddell. He's shown
with Brenda McIntosh, of the Huron Federation of Agriculture, superintendent Arn Mothers and Brucl!
Whitmore.
Riddell says there is
a future in agriculture
Agriculture minister Jack Riddell
was a noon hour guest at the Huron
County elementfry school teachers'
professional development day in Ex-
eter, Friday. Earlier in the program
one speaker had suggested that he
would soon be known as the minister
of agricultural bankruptcies and food
banks.
"I don't shar that view," Riddell
said, noting that he would not be a
purveyor of doom and gloom.
"Wive gone through this before,"
the Huron -Middlesex MPP com-
mented in reference to some of the
problems being experienced in
agriculture.
1
"Sometimes we should count our
blessings," he told the teachers and
went on to say that the last thing they
should do is discourage young people
from considering careers in
agriculture. •
"There is a future in this business,
he said, but quick!), noted'he did not
have time to explain his basis for that
opinion.
"Give (students) some encourag-
ment and not spread doom and
gloom," he advised.
The teachers were told that
whoever eats food is a part of the food
chain and in Ontario there is a boun-
tiful supply of the most nutritious and
safe food in the world and at the
lowest price, as Canadians pay only
16 percent of their income for•food
while in some countries it is as much
as 40 to 50 percent.
Riddell described Ontario farmers
as the most efficient in the world and
they earn $5 billion for their products
and another e billion is generated in
other aspects of agriculture.
Ile said he was glad to see teachers
taking a day to discuss ways of in-
structing students on agriculture,
noting that there is a problem in com-
municating the story.
He concluded by noting the day
could help instil a new sense of the im-
portance of agriculture in the pro-
vince. "1 look forward to the results."
CUT THE CAKE
Saturday were,
Pfaff.
— Cutting the special 35th anniversary cake at the Exeter Letjion Auxiliary banquet,
from the left: Barb Hearn, Annie Lawson, Esther Hillman, Marion Frayne and Dorothy