The Rural Voice, 2000-05, Page 64GREY
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
Email: grey@ofa.on.ca Website www.ofa.on.ca/grey 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
• The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
Who's doing who?
Outlook time into your life. Are you things.
farming your farm or is your farm Should the government be
being farmed by big business? Do you responsible for a guaranteed income for
have a guaranteed income for your farmers? What makes farming any
product? Do you know who consumes different than other business? For
your product? Do you know who your example, if you operate a ski hill or
neighbours are or who the minister is in own a snowmobile sales and repair
your local church? shop and due to lack of snow your
Maybe you prefer to just keep your business suffers, should you receive
head stuck in the sand. Maybe and yes, financial help? Some people will
just maybe, you want to know who the probably respond that people don't
big business is you are working for. It have to ski or snowmobile, but you
doesn't matter if you farm 50 acres or have to eat, so therefore farming is
5,000 acres you are probably working more important. That is true, but do we
for a big business. Do you have a loan? not have a surplus of food in this world
Well the big bank is getting your for those who can afford it anyway?
money. If you buy agricultural products Having said that, then would it not
then you have big business there too. be better to give a helping hand to the
Do you really think you are working poor, so that they can afford to buy a
for yourself and your family? I guess it quality product produced on a farm
just depends on the way you look at rather than a quantity product? This
Agricultural youth exchange comes to Durham
From the end of July 2000 until non -formal educational program.
early October, nine young people from Participants research and then present
across Canada, as well as nine young topics of local, as well as global
people from Thailand will be living and interest. Two days per week will be left
working on farms in the Durham area. for the participants to spend with their
In October, the youths will move to host families, relax, write letters to
Thailand, where they will live and friends, family, etc.
work on farms until January 2001. Ten host farm families are needed in
This exchange program is offered the Durham area for 18 participants,
by Canada World Youth (CWY), a between the ages 18 to 23, from across
non-profit organization which has Canada and from Thailand. Participants
offered a variety of international youth will be living and working on local
exchange programs since 1971. This is farms from the end of July 2000 until
the 16th year that CWY has sponsored early October. The program is
this particular exchange. sponsored by Canada World Youth
CWY programs create unique cross- (CWY), a non-profit organization that
cultural experiences for youth, with runs international exchanges. Funding
opportunities to develop leadership for the programs is provided by CIDA,
skills, gain practical training and work the Canadian International
experience, and become more involved Development Agency.
in international community Participants live in pairs, working
development issues. Funding is on the farm for four days per week.
provided by CIDA, the Canadian Once per week the participants get
International Development Agency. together to run an education program
Participants are between the ages of on topics of local, as well as global
18 to 21. Each Canadian is paired with interest.
a participant from Thailand and the two The program is run by a Thai and a
youths live together with a host family. Canadian Project Supervisor, who will
They spend four days per week doing be available in early May. In the
agricultural work, such as working on meantime, please contact Delia Pettit at
the family farm, or working in a local the provincial office of Canada World
agricultural office. Once per week, the Youth, at 1-888-421-9761 (ext. 15) for
18 participants get together to run a
60 THE RURAL VOICE
more information.0
would make us a smaller producer, but
receive a higher income by producing a
better product, and selling to a
wealthier consumer.
The consumer will have to be
educated on why and what makes your
product worthy of the extra charges.
But I don't see that as much as a
problem if you are producing and
marketing the product yourself. Your
reputation and farmstead as well as
your ethical and moral standards will
help your sales.
But if you still think that the open
market and government will come to
your rescue, I feel you might just as
well go to Casino Rama and blow the
wad, it's the quickest way to give the
government the money.
Don't think when you are really
down and out that the government's
going to help you either. All you have
to do is look at the people sleeping on
the subway vents in Toronto or maybe
even under a bridge in your community
or in your barn.
I believe it is time we started getting
action from our politicians instead of
studies and surveys and forms being
filled out.
So the next time your federal or
provincial member of parliament is at a
photo shoot, cutting a ribbon, or eating
free at a banquet, make them aware of
your viewpoint. After all they are
probably going to be collecting a lot
bigger pension than you likely will be
and probably a lot longer. So don't feel
too bad if you make them feel a little
uneasy, they're not in it for a long time
like us farmers are.
P.S. I do know who my neighbours.
are and what the minister's name is.0
- Submitted by Bob Rodger
GCFA Past President
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Thursday, May 25, 2000
8:00 p.m.
Location - to be arranged
(Please call our office at
1-800-275-9551 or 364-3050)
Members are welcome to attend.
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