The Rural Voice, 2000-01, Page 551
RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
416 R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 100
807-486-3622
• Alltintk
The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
RAINY RIVER VALLEY River Federation members by the RRFA.
December 8, 1999
Light snow is falling, making the festive
season so much merrier. We've had a
beautiful open fall and the animals are
thriving with all this year's great harvest
and plenty of firm ground to walk on.
As we go into the new millennium. one
wonders what is in store for each of us. As
long as we are willing to know that the only
good reason for our existence is not what
we are going to get out of life, but what we
are going to give to life — then we'll be
able to get into the next century enjoying
the things that truly make us happy and
deciding what's important to us; then
gracefully letting go of the things that
aren't.
Attending last evening's meeting with a
brand new executive on board were
President Linda Armstrong; Vice -President
Bernice Zimmerman; Secretary. Dianne
Vandenbrand: Treasurer, Kim Desserre:
Rural Voice writer. Shirley Morrish:
Kristine Carpenter, Jason Teeple, Reg Kaus
and Ralph Hunsperger, alternate, reporting
from the recent convention.
Ralph's report was good. He did feel
that the time was short with too much
crammed into their schedule. Of course it's
been 10 years since Ralph has taken part
and time changes a lot of things. Ralph
enjoyed Gordon Hill's recount of the
OFA's past 30 years. He was also able to
visit with a number of his old colleagues
from the organization, along with Ken
Kelly, who made a few visits to our district
in' the Great North-West at the end of
Yonge Street. as Linda always reminds her
fellow members.
Ralph also asked if it was known that
the pipeline that runs through this country
has different thickness' like 11.7 in the
rural areas to 19.2 in the larger centres.
Wellington County is having a Canada
Geese problem. Reg Kaus states that they
will eventually disappear as their habitat
ceases and all will correct itself. Reg has
been around for awhile and knows about
things like this.
Linda attended a leadership workshop
and found it to be compared your job as a
good parent. They are similar in structure
and performance. Linda and Ralph made
the annual sound like a busy one.
Betty was absent, but sent her report in.
Dryden now has 23 voting members; our
District has 160.
Kristine reported for our OAFE group.
She and 1 were two of the passengers on the
bus trip to Agribition at Regina. It was an
educational experience in more ways than
one. We were able to see how the western
groups promote Agriculture and we were
able to pick up may new ideas and
promotion material for our future ventures.
Our soil kits are ready and available for the
teachers using them. Next spring. we plan
on promoting dairy products and the
industry for Ag Awareness in the schools.
The Farm Beautification report was
given by Reg. He stated all the farms are
beautiful — they're still green!
The entertainment committee is
deciding on a date for the annual skating
party. It's always been a potluck meal with
ticket sales for draws during the afternoon,
and family skating. It will probably happen
in late January when an ice time can be
scheduled at the Emo/La Vallee
Community Centre.
Linda met with Howard Hampton
recently and gave him a number of
problems to think about. One was our local
move of the OMAFRA office and it being
so small and very dark when attending
evening meetings; but, maybe we should be
glad that we have one at all. since so many
others have been wiped out of existence
across the province. Health care and travel
grants are another problem. Linda had a lot
to discuss with Mr. Hampton and I'm sure
he'll do his best to solve them.
Angela Holvorson, the young lady who
made the front page of the "Country"
section in the Fon Frances Times and one
of the travellers to Regina, has been hired
to work out of the R.R. Business
Development. There have been many
cutbacks, but she is available to see what
farmers in the area need financially to get
them started. She is the contact person; a
meeting is set with an appointment at any
municipal office in the district. She will be
invited to the annual spring dinner and
dance to expldin how and what is available.
Case and New Holland have recently
merged and will be known as CNH Group
Nv. The colour of the equipment will
remain the same — red for Case and blue
for New Holland.
The Manitoba Farm Animal council
held their fifth annual meeting in
Niverville, November 19. Des Plewman
stated that Auction Mart Managers take
how the public perceives Mart's treatment
of animals seriously, and have adopted a
code of ethics on specific ways that animals
are treated at Marts. They don't want one
auction or one employee to blacken the eye
of them all, and want unacceptable
practices brought to their attention.
Livestock producers need to always bear in
mind that their practices can quickly come
under the glare of public scrutiny.
Farm Safety is reminding everyone to
change their batteries on smoke alarms and
carbon monoxide detectors. Remember to
check and replace. even if they seem okay.
Have two ways out of every room in your
house. Carbon monoxide is odourless.
invisible, tasteless and often referred to as
"the silent killer". It's produced from
natural gas. propane, gasoline, wood. coal,
kerosene and charcoal when they don't
burn properly. Symptoms are Ilu-like with
nausea, headaches. dizziness. burning eyes.
confusion. drowsiness and loss of
consciousness — but no fever. Severe cases
result in brain damage or death. The most
telling sign is that when you leave the
house. the effects disappear and you feel
better. Have repairs made and stay out of
the house until they are completed. For
more information. contact your local Farm
Safety Association.
The media doesn't tell people what to
think. but they do tell people what to think
about.
By the time you read this our Y2K
problems will either have happened or not.
It would be advisable to stock up on food.
water and survival kits for at least three
days and call I -800 -CANADA during the
date turnover to get Year 2000 update.
Now. if nothing drastic happens, at least
you'll have plenty of everything when
those unexpected guests arrive.
The NOERC (Northwestern Ontario Elk
Restoration Coalition) have announced that
Northwestern Ontario will receive 60 elk to
be released at the Cameron Lake site on
January 18-19. 2000. They will be kept in a
two -acre holding pen with feed and water.
checked daily for about 10 days and then
released into the wilds. Equipped with
radio collars for post release tracking. 10
calves, five bulls and 15 cows will be kept
track of and observed when possible. Years
ago, elk roamed the District and this is one
of the ways that the Coalition has found a
way to bring them hack again.
Manitoba Ag Days at Brandon are
January 1'8-20, 2000. Call Elaine Johnson
at 204-275-5960 for information.
There's a new high -protein substitute
fpr soybean paste – it's made of steak!
"We can see well into the past; we can
guess shrewdly into the future: but that
which is rolled up and muffled in
impenetrable folds is today." Ralph Waldo
Emerson (1803-82).
Happy New Millennium to everyone?
When you rise in the morning. form a
resolution to make the day a happy one for
a fellow creature.0
– Submitted by Shirley Morrish
JANUARY 2000 51