The Rural Voice, 2002-06, Page 63RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
4114
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 1C0
807-486-3622
Aimmbh.
RAINY RIVER VALLEY - The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
River Federation members by the RRFA.
May 15, 2002
With snow falling a couple of times
each week since the first of May, we
are very happy to see the pesky
dandelions. It does signal the hope of
warmer weather and the chance to work
the soil and plant those seeds for
another season of growth in the Rainy
River District.
The May RRFA meeting was held at
Morley with President Bernie
Zimmerman a bit late at his dairy barn,
so vice-president Ken Fisher took the
chair. Also attending were Kelly
Teeple, KimJo Calder, Jason Teeple,
Reg Kaus, Kristine Carpenter, Shirley
Morrish, James Gibson, Rudy
Sinninghe, and Angela Halvorsen.
Members Services Rep Betty
Salchert was away at the WHO
Conference, but did request a longer
break during the winter months in the
south, where she and Wayne spend
quality time. It was agreed that she
could do this, but has to fill that time
during the remaining nine months of
the year.
Notices are now out for the Farm
Beautification contest promoted by the
Rainy River Valley Ag Society and
Rainy River 4-H Association. It's open
to everyone in the district.
The Ag Society (Fair board) has
their entertainment chosen and the prize
books are in the mail. Kelly reports that
a "Quest for the Best" will be this
year's highlight for ages 19 and under.
The Rainy River Cattlemen had
their first sale of the season and all
went well. Over 300 head were sold.
There was an excellent consignment of
bulls and those that sold brought decent
prices. It was felt that the "break" was
timed at an inconvenient part in the sale
and could probably be changed the next
time.
A new organization has been started
up. It's called the Breeder Finance
Program similar to the Feeder Finance
Program, but for cattle people who
wish to purchase cows/calves for
breeding. It's set up for those interested
in just beginning or for the cattle
owners who wish to expand. The
committee is being chaired by Kim
Cornell.
Ken Fisher reports that the Rainy
River Community Pasture is full and
this year's manager is Wally
Hunsperger.
Bernie reported the Milk Producers
now have a "blue book" called the
Dairy Statistical Handbook 2000-2001.
It's filled with information. He also
mentioned that milk commercials come
second only to McDonald's.
4-H is going well in the district. The
beef clubs have begun: The fishing club
will have their wrap-up and a new
dairy club has been formed with Laura
Zimmerman leading. Looks like a very
exciting summer for the 4-H members.
If anyone has a problem with phone
scams soliciting call Phone Busters 1-
888-495-8501.
Rainy River Futures Development
Corporation will hold their 20th
Anniversary with a general annual
meeting on Tuesday, May 28 at 7:00
p.m. at WARP 9 in Fort Frances.
Memberships must be purchased by
May 17, 4:30 p.m. in order to vote.
Membership is $5 for one year.
NorWest Animal Clinic with Dr.
Chris Cannon and Dave Keeley from
Pfizer Animal Health, held a forum at
the Emo Inn on April 25. It was
attended by over 30 farm people. It was
informative with a good concept on
disease management and very helpful
for the future of farming.
Clover Valley Farmers' Market
in Fort Frances, is now open for
the season. They run from 8 - 2
each Saturday until October. Managers
for this year are Deb Cornell and
Pat Clysdale-Cornell. The market has
been in operation for 18 years now.
OAFE (Ag Awareness) were at
the Farmers' Market this past Saturday
with a display featuring the "Chicken
and the Egg". Kristine and Shirley
were kept busy handing out
information, recipes, answering
questions and teaching kids how to
grade eggs. It was an educational
experience for everyone.
Agribition at Regina, Saskatchewan
is November 25-30 this year. Ethanol is
their theme. Angela says if anyone is
interested in a bus trip that way, give
your name to her as soon as possible
and plans can be arranged in time for a
group to travel together.
The Fort Frances Sportsmen's Club
have been busy planting grass seed
along logging roads to help prevent
erosion. This year parts of Manomirre,
McDonald, Bear Pass, Phinney, Graves
and Cedar Narrows Roads are being
seeded. They spread the seeds from the
back of a four -wheeler with a broadcast
seeder. As Martha Stewart says, "This
is a good thing".
Earth Day was April 22. Rainy
River Field Naturalists conducted their
third annual clean up. Last year they
cleaned the riverbank under the "Adopt
a River" program. This year, the group,
headed by Bill Morgenstern, cleaned up
a stretch of Hwy. 11 from the second
island on the north side of the
Causeway and eastwards. They were
very upset about the way people throw
garbage along roadways and leave their
personal refuse after fishing or
travelling in the countryside. It makes
one wonder what their homes are like
when they can throw garbage out the
car window.
Rainy River First Nations also
celebrated Earth Day with many
different activities. They cleaned up
garbage, painted trees and made bird
feeders from recyclables.
WHO, the World Health
Organization Conference was here in
the Rainy River District May 7, 8, 9
and what a celebration it was! This was
the 1lth International and the fifth
national. Volunteers from all across the
district worked together to organize the
events. Agriculture was represented
with a display in the arena at Fort
Frances. Rick Neilson created a barn
front along with a split -rail fence for
the backdrop theme. The positive
comments on the completed project
made it all worthwhile and Rick would
like to thank his committee of Allen
and Shirley Teeple, Jim and Alwine
Teeple, KimJo Calder, Shirley Morrish,
Carol Angus, Laura Zimmerman,
Wayne and Betty Salchert and Linda
Neilson for all their help to get the
display looking just right. It was
another accomplishment for our rural
volunteers.
M&Ms are adding purple, pink and
aqua to the red, green, blue, yellow,
brown and orange candies already in
the bags. The original colours were red,
yellow, green, brown, orange and violet
in 1941. In 1949, tan colour replaced
violet and then in 1995, blue replaced
the tan colour. The new colours will be
in by August.
"Don't expect to find life worth
living — make it that way."0
— Submitted by Shirley Morrish
JUNE 2002 59