The Rural Voice, 1982-07, Page 9for Lynch's lawn and garden. (It should be
pointed out, perhaps, that Lynch does
have an edge over the engineer when it
comes to insect control).
But away from his lawn and garden. the
thirty -six-year-old Lynch spreads his
wisdom liberally through Perth and Huron
Counties. His territory encompasses
about 5,500 farmers and last year in
addressing seventy meetings he estimates
he talked to about 8,000 people. There
would be some duplication, of course, but
the lessons of Lynch appear to be
far-reaching.
He likes his job and he likes the people
he deals with. "They are truly interested
in agriculture," he says "There is no
urban encroachment. When things are
planned in this area everybody wonders
how the date is going to suit the farmers.
This area has the most concentrated
agriculture in Ontario; there are no other
counties with as few urban people. And a
city the size of Stratford is big enough for
the social things and there's a Y and
shopping malls. But in ten minutes you're
at work. This is the best. there's no doubt
about it. Even our muck soils in Perth
County are pretty good. In the whole
province of Nova Scotia they don't have
any No. 1 land. In this county there is little
that isn't No. 1, 2 or 3. We've got good
topsoil and we're situated close enough to
the lakes that we almost always get
enough rain. But we're high enough that it
drains away good, not like in eastern
Ontario."
The challenge for Lynch is changing
people's minds and attitudes. He says that
is an inbred challenge, something he
"can't get rid of". To that end he needs to
be a good communicator and he says he's
continually trying to improve. He's
working on his writing so he can turn out
better information sheets and press
releases, and he's practising his listening
skills because "selling is ninety per cent
listening."
Lynch prides himself on making de-
cisions and taking a stand because he
knows farmers can ill -afford wishy-washy
advisors. But that tack is going to annoy
some people and that's the part of his job
that Pat Lynch doesn't enjoy. At the same
time he realizes it's a fact of life. "I'm
constantly afraid of upsetting farmers
because 1 need their trust and respect,"
he says. Then he nods to a small plaque
hung squarely but unobtrusively above his
desk. On it are the words: "God grant me
to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can and
Wisdom to know the difference."
"That's what gets me through the
day." says Lynch. "It's all right there."
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THE RURAL VOICE/JULY 1982 PG 9