The Rural Voice, 1978-06, Page 14Rural news in brief
Pork Congress expects
to be biggest ever
More than 10,000 people are expected to
attend the 1978 Ontario Pork Congress in
Stratford in June according to Jack
Underwood, Congress chairman.
Mr. Underwood said the Congress will
be bigger than ever this year. It will be
held at the Stratford Coliseum, June 20-22.
It's already the largest event of its kind on
the continent. Through its industrial
displays, educational consumer programs
and symposiums, it presents an interesting
look at the pork industry for everyone
involved from breeder and producer to
veterinarians and consumers.
Daily attractions include a feature
speaker program from 10 a.m. to noon, and
consumer education programs beginning
at 2 p.m. One of this year's highlights will
be a special symposium on manure
management on June 21 at 2 p.m. The
Ontario Pork Hostess competition, held
annually to select a representative for the
pork industry, is scheduled June 22 from 2
to 3:30 p.m.
Of special interest to producers is the
All -Ontario Show Day, June 20. About 120
purebred pigs will be judged. Organizers
expect to top last year's $63,000 sale total
at Sale Day, June 21. The sale will include
the top 10 carcasses from the Market Hog
Competition. Two hundred and ten pigs
have been on test since March 9th. They
will complete the test period June 1.
Feeder Pig Day will be held June 22 with
a morning show of weaners between 40 and
60 pounds. An auction will follow in the
afternoon. In conjunction with the shows
and sales, a junior program for young
people aged 12 to 19 is planned.
Farmers Markets
give farmers outlets
Farmers in the region will get a chance
to cut out the middleman on selling some of
their produce this summer.
Two farmers markets in Clinton and
Lucknow will serve Huron and Bruce
counties as well as the long-established
Stratford Farmers Market serving Perth
county farmers.
PG. 14. THE RURAL VOICE/JUNE 1978.
The newest addition to the markets is
one planned for Lucknow this year. It will
be held on the agricultural park, just east
of the Lucknow sales barn. The market
begins June 10 and will run each Saturday
until Oct. 28 except for the Saturdays of the
Lucknow Craft Show and the Fall Fair. It is
limited to farmers living in the village itself
and the townships of Ashfield. East and
West Wawanosh, Huron, Kinloss and
Culross.
Articles offered for sale will be those not
requiring refrigeration. Baked goods.
eggs, honey, maple syrup, sweets, flowers,
plants, shrubs, fruits, vegetables, refresh-
ments, firewood and other farm and
garden produce will be accepted along with
home -canned goods, home-made articles
and crafts.
Rates have been set as $2 as an
introductory offer the first morning a
vendor is present and $3 per day
thereafter.
A committee made up of Larry Cowan.
Lucknow, Jo -Ann Todd, R.R.2, Lucknow
and Tony McQuail, R.R.1, Lucknow
researched the idea, hoping to find a way
for small producers and gardeners with an
excess of produce to find a market for their
goods. They found that local food store
operators are often approached to sell
locally -grown produce but they have little
market for it because most of their own
customers have gardens of their own.
It is hoped the market will attract
tourists to the village and a promotion
program is planned.
Meantime, the Clinton Business Assoc-
iation which operated a farmers market in
that town last year has decided to continue
the market this year.
Last year the market was held near the
junction of Highways 4 and 8 but this year
it will be moved to the fairgrounds where
ample parking is available and vendors can
make use of the nearby grandstand on
foul -weather days.
Heather Ross, chairman of the associa-
tion said that the market will run from 8
a.m. to 1 p.m. from June 10 to Sept. 29.
Vendors will pay $5 a week for their booth
and can sell anything with the exception of
meat and dairy products.
The business group lost $1000 last year
in the operation of the market through such
expenses as paying a market clerk,
printing publicity materials and advertis-
ing. She said that while the association
doesn't plan on making money on the
market, it would like it to pay for itself.
"The public response has been
tremendous. It's finding vendors that's
difficult," she said.
In fact both markets are looking for
vendors. If you have produce that will
qualify you can contact Mrs. Ross for the
Clinton market at The Arbor, Gift Shop,
Clinton or one of the organizers of the
Lucknow market mentioned above.
PLETCH
ELECTRIC
WINGHAM
• Residential
• Farm
• Industrial
• Commercial
Phone Collect
357-1583
See us for your
custom cutting,
wrapping and
quick freezing.
BEEF FOR
YOUR FREEZER
Grade A
sides, fronts, hinds.
Groceries, fresh fruits,
fresh vegetables.
MITCHELL' S
FAMILY MARKET
LONDESBORO, ONTARIO
523-4478 -- 482-9951