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The Citizen, 2009-06-25, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2009. PAGE 11. The area boasts the new CanadianJunior Plow Champion.Brandon McGavin competed atthe Canadian competition atWanham,Alberta. He had earned theright to compete by winning at the International Plowing match held at Teeswater last year. With parents Brian and Shelley, Brandon left on June 6 and flew to Edmonton. After enjoying some down time at the West EdmontonMall, they flew to Grand Prairie thendrove to Rycroft.McGavin’s tractor and plow hadbeen trucked to the west the weekbefore. He started his practice plowing on Tuesday and Wednesday. The official practice plowing was on Thursday and they were judged and told what they could improve on. McGavin plowed very well andwas first that day. The official plowing started onFriday, on stubble ground. Hissecond plow was on sod. Something called gumbo in the soil made things difficult but Brandon plowed very well. The banquet was held on Sunday and the winners were announced. McGavin had captured theChampionship. There were seven competitors inhis class. McGavin received a $4,325scholarship to the Olds Agricultural College, $200 cash and a trophy. The family flew home on Monday and had extended family there for a homecoming celebration party. Brandon McGavin Canada’s Junior plow champ The nice weather must have also brought out persons wandering in the night. The people of the Kerr Apartments were hit again by thieves. Their outside solar lights, bird baths and ornaments were stolen during the night. The thieves also stole many items from neighbour Harold’s shed. If you come across anything on your property that’s not yours, call the police. Returning from a fantastic 10 days away are Joe and Deb Seili. They flew to Seattle, then drove up to Vancouver to visit friends. They took the ferry over to Vancouver Island and visited Victoria. They returned to Seattle and with their friends from Lucknow, boarded the Westerdam Cruise Ship and headed north. They enjoyed seven days on the ship and headed to Alaska via the Inner Passage. They saw seals, otters, mini orcas, humpback whales and eagles. They even spent time watching a seal play with his freshly caught salmon for about 20 minutes before it was the seal’s lunch. Joe went on a fishing boat and caught a 28 lb. King salmon. Unfortunately, they could not bring it back. The absolute highlight of the trip was the glaciers. The magnificence of them, the quiet and sereneness of floating among them, and then the thundering noise made when a glacier is calving. A calving of a glacier is when a large piece of the glacier breaks away and falls into the water. The largest glacier they saw was one mile wide and 1,400 feet high. A gentleman they met on the ship, told them he had been on the same cruise in 1946 and the glaciers were much larger and even more awesome. They have changed and are much smaller. Experts say that within probably the next 10 years, most of the glaciers will disappear because of global warming. Congratulations to Ron and Pauline Bennett on celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. They had family in for a quiet celebration together. The Walton Women’s Institute met and went to the Huron Country Playhouse to see, Oliver. The ladies report it was a fantastic show. Attending were Helen Craig, Leona McDonald, Ruth Axtman, Marjorie Humphries, Brenda Perrie, Margaret McMahon, Marion Godkin and Margaret McInroy and guests MaryAnna Ryan, Lavern Godkin, Graeme Craig and Rick McInroy. George and Pat Langlois had a night-time visitor. A raccoon came in the cat door and had his cat food snack, then had trouble leaving, so he came upstairs to find his way out. His searching woke Pat and George, so with broom in hand, an open door and lights on, they showed him the way out. We have Walton folks home from the Canadian Plowing match held in Alberta. Neil and Marie McGavin left early and went to Vancouver. They had a visit with Neil McDonald and with Dorothy Robertson and Ed, a cousin of Neil’s. They then took the train to Whistler and met up with Neil McDonald again. He showed them around the Whistler area. Boarding the train, they were off to Quesnel and were met by Marie’s cousins Lloyd Peacock and Marilyn. They had a good visit before heading away again and by nightfall they were in Jasper,Alberta. Staying at the Jasper Park Lodge, they enjoyed watching deer grazing right outside on the Lodge lawn, a common occurrence. They rented a car and drove to the Columbia Ice Fields. They took the Jasper tram and went up the mountain. It was time to head to Rycroft, a short drive from Wanham, where they were staying and met up with the other Walton folks. A very interesting side trip that was arranged for them was a trip to a Hutterite colony. The colony was home to 80 residents and they farmed 18,000 acres, had 28,000 market hogs, 10,000 laying hens and a 450 head beef feedlot. They process their own meat as well as sell to outsiders. They have a 56 foot air seeder that can plant 700-800 acres a day and they have a versatile tractor. No one is paid any wages for their work, and all monies made, go back into the colony for improvements. They all have assigned jobs that do not vary or change. The women are assigned laundry, and cooking duties and sell baked goods and quilts to support the colony. Young ladies are given a sewing machine when they marry and a new one after 15 years. Everything they have is modern including commercial washing machines and a fully equipped community kitchen, where the meals are made for everyone. The children eat apart from the adults until they are 15. The plowing match began, the reason they were all there, to support and cheer on Brandon McGavin. The group had to wait until the Sunday night awards banquet to find out that Brandon had captured the Canadian Junior Plowman Championship. The group all celebrated after the evening awards. Brandon is the fourth generation McGavin to compete in plowing. Great grand father Gordon McGavin was a Senior Canadian Plowman. Graeme and Helen Craig and George and Ruth Townsend also made the trip to Wanham to attend the Championships. They flew to Edmonton, then Grande Prairie, then it was a one hour drive to Rycroft and another 20-minute drive to Wanham. They spent Saturday on a sightseeing trip to Dawson Creek, B.C. They have very short nights at this time of year and very long days. Congratulations to Joel Dalton who has graduated from Lambton College. He received his certificate for pre-service fireman program. The convocation was held at the college with Don and Pat attending. They then went to the fire training centre for demonstrations and a social time. Joel is intending to return in the fall for his certification certificate. Fred and Heidi McClure heard from son Adam this week. Adam is on a trip to Australia for six months. He is playing broomball for a team called the Australian Nationals. They played in a tournament last week and won a silver medal and Adam was chosen the Most Valuable Player for the tournament. Adam reports that he is having a great time and really likes it. There was party at the farm of Roelf and Diety Bos on the weekend. The party and celebration was two fold. The first reason was that the couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in December, but with uncertain weather, thought this was a nicer time of year. The second reason was they felt they wanted to say thank you to the many folks of the area who have made their settling in Canada, 7 1/2 years ago, a wonderful experience. They received so many helpful ideas, advice and information from everyone and felt the community made them feel very welcome. They had over 100 guests join them for dinner, music and a social evening. A surprise for them was the straw man and woman just outside the shed doors with a happy BRANDON MCGAVIN Continuing a family tradition Graduation We are proud to announce that on June 9, 2009, Jodi Semple graduated with a Masters of Social Work from the University of Toronto. In 2006 Jodi received her Bachelors in Criminal Justice & Public Policy from the University of Guelph. Jodi is currently employed with Family Services Perth Huron. Congratulations Jodi. Love, Mom & Dad, Darryl, Crystal, Chad & Kaleigh & Rob. By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570 PEOPLE AROUND WALTON Continued on page 19 The Ethel euchre was held on Monday, June 15 with eight tables in play. Winners were: share the wealth, Isabelle Bremner, Joyce Alexander; ladies’ high, Isabelle Bremner; men’s high, Judy Hahn; ladies’ low, Marguerite Beirnes; men’s low, Rex Whaley, Marion Harrison; lone hands, Hilda Holmes, Sharon Freeman, Lois McLean. Lucky tallies were: Neil Hatt, Joyce Beirnes, Keith Turnbull, Leona McDonald, Dorothy Martin, Kay Whaley, Murray Hoover and Viola Adams. The next euchre will be held on Monday, June 29 at 8 p.m. Ladies share the wealth at Ethel euchre