The Huron Expositor, 1989-08-02, Page 3THE HURON EXPOSITOR, AUGUST 2, 1989 -- 3A
THE JUNIOR AG PROGRAM is in its 18th summer this year, and
Bob and Christa Eckert of RR 1 Seaforth have been involved with
it since 1977. Seen on the left is Greg Cornick of Brampton who is
working on the farm this summer, and on the right is Tony Simons
of Staffa who was the Eckert's first Junior Aggie. and now lives in
Ju for Agricuht
If you were a city kid and you'd never liv-
ed in the country, never spent time on a
farm, and never seen a cow up close, you
might be nervous about spending a summer
on a dairy operation. But Ontario's Junior
Agriculturalist program gives students
from an urban background the chance to
learn about agriculture and earn money
• over the summer by working on a farm.
Greg Cornick of Brampton is spending his
summer on the dairy and cash crop opera-
tion of Bob and Christa Eckert, a mile and a
quarter north of Seaforth.
Prior to. coming to the Eckert's Greg had
never seen a dairy farm, and as for seeing
cows: "never really up close. I was surpris-
ed how big they are."
But since his arrival on June 26 Greg has
become a regular part of the Eckert's farm-
ing operation. He is up at 7:30 each morning, •
helps with the milling of the herd of 150
twice a day, drives tractors, takes in crops,
puts up fences and does other regular farm
chores until 8 p.m. each evening.
The 17 -year-old learned of the Junior
Agriculturalist Program from • aster on
the wall at his Brampton school
"I've always wanted to know more about
farming," Greg says. He had no idea of
what to expect from the program, or what
living on a farm. would be like, but "just
wanted to experience it."
Mr. and Mrs.. Eckert have been involved
with Med unior Agriculturalist Program off
Staffa. Tony returned to the Eckert farm recently to do hoof trimm-
ing. The Junior Agriculturalist program is designed to take
students from urban backgrounds and give them a summer job on
a farm. Corbett photo. .
ralist sees new way
and on since taking their first student in
197, , That student, Tony Simons, who came
from Woodstock, liked farming so much he
ended up working for the Eckerts, then at-
tending Agricultural College. Today he lives
in Staffa and has a hoof trimming business.
"I think it's a good program. Some kids
dont have much of an idea of what farming
is about," says. Mrs. Eckert, "The reason
we got involved is, you need extra help, but
it's good experience for the, kids, and our
kids too."
"Most kids on the program are pretty
'keen," says Mrs. Eckert, adding that they
are willing to take student help on if the kids
are enthusiastic and eager to 'learn
something. And most of the kids can learn a
lot.
"It gives him a different perspective. He
sees us raise crops and feed them to cows
and he sees the food chain. It shows him
what's involved in getting food to the super-
market. And unless you live as part of the
family and, do what we do, if you just tour a
farm, you don't get the same perspective."
From what he has seen of agriculture
^,reg has an impression of the life of a
farmer. "Busy," he says simply. But he still
thinks he'd enjoy farming. I don't know
about a big .farm like this,. but maybe a mer. He could not say how much
smaller one." placements for the program have been cut
Greg earns , $35 per day on the Junior by, but he did say there are 125 participants
Agriculturalist .program which runs .from provinee-wide,this s �.
flife
cond weekend off. Of this the Ministry of
Skills Development pays him $18 per day
and his hosts pay $17 per day and provide
. room and board.
"We get some help and hopefully Greg
learns something in the process," says Mrs.
Eckert.
Greg adds that he hasn't found a place to
spend the money he is earning in the pro-
gram, and ettpects to finish the summer
with a healthier bank account.
The Junior Agriculturalist program has
declined somewhat over the years. Mrs.
Eckert says when the program initially
started there were several placements
across the county,. and events like picnics
would be held for the city kids to meet each
other and compare farming experiences.
But this year Greg says he was lucky to
have gotten his application in early, and be
placed on a farm, because there were a lot
of people who applied for the program but
didn't get jobs.
` I think I got one of the better farms," he
adds.
Brian McKinnon, the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food (OMAF) coordinator
for the Junior Agriculuturalist Program in
Huron, says this is the program's 18th sum-
-June 26 mini August 18 and-gete-ev e-- , McKinnon also �slioted-that program
JUNIOR AGRICULTURALIST Greg Cornick is working on the farm of Bob and Christa
Eckert north of Seaforth this year. Greg is from Brampton and had never been on a
dairy farm before this summer, but "has been learning how to drive tractors, milk cows,
and do farm chores. Corbett photo.
funding has been cut back over recent
years, as it has for other programs, The
Agricrew program, which provided sum-
mer farm work for students, was cut com-
pletely this year when the Ministry of Skills
Development dropped funding,
He .says the .Junior Agriculturalist Pro-
•...gramas,aLso being looked at
"This is an important year for the pro-
gram in terms of continuation."
"One of the objectives of the program is to
give the kids experiences they don't have,
give the farmers workers they need, and in
the process bridge the gap between two sec-
tions of society - ruralpeople and urban peo-
pie,'l said Mr. McKinnon. , . ,
SEVEC lets local students see Quebec, and French culture
French about
Seven local children are learning
local children are
the French people and things French this
summer, as they participate in the SEVEC
Exchange.
The exchange was organized through
Huron Centennial School in Brucefield. The
students involved are each introduced to a
student of similar age and interests from
Quebec, and then it is up to the parents of
the children to organize an exchange.
This year is the first the school has had a
100 per cent matching of twins and can-
didates. Andrea McGrath of Egmondville,
Janine Hayter of Varna, Peter Van Dorp of
Brucefield, Erinl(evanl Varna, u..., Martin
Brucefield, Keys of Kim Martin
of Wildwood, Daryl Haney of Tuckersmith,
and Ethan Wallace of Tuckersmith will each
be spending a week or two in Quebec, and
will be in return hosting a Quebec exchange
student in Ontario.
Ethan Wallace, 12 -year-old son of Bill and
Rowena Wallace, has already experienced
his two weeks in Quebec, and is now hosting
Simon Letendre of Amos, Quebec.
Ethan had a relaxing stay in Quebec and
saw what it's like to be part of a French
Canadian family. He didn't see a lot of
variation from an English speaking family.
"They're not much different, just some of
their expressions are different," noted
Ethan. "We did normal family stuff like
visiting friends, seeing relatives, we
camped, and I did some first time stuff like
motorbiking and waterskiing."
"I can speak more French than I could
before," says Ethan, "from being put in a
situation where you have to learn so you can
literally talk to people. I'm hoping to get bet-
ter marks in French this year."
During his first exchange in Ontario,
Simon has noticed differences in geography,
the types of trees, and even the people.
"Good girls in Seaforth," remarks Simon
with a thumbs up sign.
The Wallaces have taken Simon to Kit-
chener's Sportsworld,-and are hoping to go
to Canada's Wonderland and African Lion
Safari.
• But Simon also enjoys simpler things; like
life on the Wallace farm, and watching the
calves being bottle fed.
Is fun in morning to watch drink for the
baby cow," he explains.
Asked what they have learned about each
other's culture:
"They're polite, nice people. You get
along with them easily," says Ethan, "The
exchange is good, you learn a lot."
"Not just learn -friend," says Simon, lay-
ing a hand on Ethan's shoulder.
Mr. and Mrs. Wallace say they have also
enjoyed the SEVEC exchange, and manage
to communicate via what they remember
from Grade 12 French, French -English dic-
tionaries, and improvised sign language.
"We play charades a lot," says Mrs.
Wallace.
"I think it (the exchange) is a tremendous
idea," says Mr. Wallace. "I wish I bad paid
more attention to French in school. It's an
opportunity to learn another culture within
our own country and learn another language
in our country -our second language."
"TWINS" Simon Letendre and Ethan Wallace use pocket size French -English,
English -French dictionaries to help them communicate. Ethan is one of seven local
students who is hosting a SEVEC exchange student this summer. Corbett photo.
THE SEVEC EXCHANGE had seven local students twinned to
students from Quebec for a month of real french immersion this
summer, Several of the students on the exchange were hosting
their twins from Quebec this week, and they got together Thurs-
day afternoon for a swim at the home of Bill and Rowena Wallace
in Tuckeramith, Seen here are twins Simon Letendre and Ethan
Wallace, Peter Van Dorp and Jean Boucher, and Annie Drouin
and Erin Keys. Corbett photo.
August should be
conifortubly warm
1
.According to legend, folklore, and
Dorothy Williams of RRA Clinton, the
weather of the last Friday of the month is
supposed to govern the weather of the
following month. If that is -the ease, .the
month of August should be sunny, yet
comfortable.
Mrs..Wllliams also reports that on,Sun-
day last she heard the Cicadas singing,
which means six weeks until front, accor-
ding to Indians in the Muskoka area.
Cicadas are medium to large -size in-
sects that have two pairs of transparent
wings. They .are noted especially for the
loud buzzing sound the male makes by
vibrating membranes on his abdomen.
Several species of cicada have very long
cycles of development, and one species
found in North American, lives
underground as.a larva for 17 years before
becemingan.adtdt.
wed . , Aug. 2
<6:30,p.m. — Minor Soccer at Optimist Park
7:30•p.m. — Ladies' Soccer at Optimist Park
7:30,p.m. — Assessment Office, Goderich -
'Aegular meeting of Huron County Branch
-'Ontario Genealogical Society.
More Information - 622-1608.
1:30.4:00 p.m. — Seniors Shuffleboard at
7:30 p.m. — Sealorth Queen's Tavern vs.
'Walton -Brewers, et Lions Park
Thurs., Aug. 3
Men's 'Ballhookey.at S.D.C:C.
7:30 p.m. —:Seahawks.vs. ,Beachwood
8;30;p.m. —;Brewers vs. Topnotch
,9:30,p.m. — llgfleramith vs. -Hoge
Sat., Aug. 5
9:30 a.m. — Tigers vs. Cubs
19:45 a.m. — Expos va. Blue Jaya both at
Optimist Park
Tues . , Aug. 8
2:00 p.m. — SInger,&Partormer Ray Richards
at S.D:C:C. Open to the public.
7:00 p.m. — Ladles' Recreation Ball at Lions
Park
Wed., Aug. 9
6:30 p.m. — Minor $9Ccer at Optimist Pork -
7:30p.m. — Ladlas' Rosser at Optimist Park
1:30.4:00p.m.— Seniors -Shuffleboard ,at
f3:n�c:c.
4
1p