The Rural Voice, 2002-07, Page 55RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 1C0
807-486-3622
At.••••Al
RAINY RIVER VALLEY - The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
River Federation members by the RRFA.
June 18, 2002
There's the "lull before the storm,"
and there is now a "lull after the
storm".
The storm hit the Rainy River
District in full force with torrential
rainfall and winds that came too
quickly to even get prepared. People
are still in distress over the mess it left
in its path. We survived last year's
tornado, we'll survive this disaster as
well. Thankfully nobody was lost in
all of it. Once again the District
people came together to help and aid
neighbours in the clean-up.
1 do have to mention this little
human interest story. Young Clayton
Teeple had a full day's work done,
arrived home, heard that they needed
extra hands at sandbagging at Rainy
River, and headed that way to give
assistance. On the way, he picked up
the neighbours Laura and Linda
Zimmerman. The three of them did
what they could to help the
community an hour's drive away. We
have some great young people in this
District coming from some great
families who are always there to help
their fellow man.
The RRFA meeting for June 4 was
held at Emo with Bernie Zimmerman.
Ken Fisher, Kimio Calder, Angela
Halvorsen, Jason Teeple, Reg Kaus,
Kelly Teeple, Shirley Morrish, Rudy
Sinninghe, Betty Salchert and Susan
Boersma attending.
Betty, reporting for the Member
Services Board stated that the World
Health Organization Conference went
very well, despite the weather. The
Country Tour for the guests had very
few travellers, again because of
weather conditions. She did note that
the flags in Fort Frances streets were
hung backwards. Maybe nobody else
noticed in the rain. There are lots of
questions on the fuel storage issue and
word is out that within five years
furnaces will have to be inspected.
Betty would also like to start a RRFA
cook book if there's enough interest.
Feeder finance has a new secretary
— another very busy person, Candy
Greengrass.
OFA welcomes Ontario's new
Minister of Agriculture and Food, the
Honourable Helen Johns, MPP for
Huron -Bruce Counties.
Ken reported for the Community
Pasture. There are 30 stockers and 150
cow/calf pairs on the grass there.
Also, fencing is underway with the
manager, Wally Hunsperger in charge.
Bernice, reporting for the Milk
Producers Committee, says that his
pilot project has been completed. He
has re -done his milkhouse and sounds
like another very active producer,
always on the run.
KimJo reported that the Farm
Beautification forms are available. If
there are not enough entries, the
contest just may be cancelled. There
are some beautiful prizes, but people
seem to be shy when it comes to
showing off their homesteads.
Kelly said that there will be stock
car racing on the Thursday and Friday
of the Emo Fall Fair in August. Any
spot can be rented on the grounds for
$275. The talent show will be the
highlight of the weekend.
The army worms have been spotted
in the district. We really thought the
storm might have taken care of most
of them. I guess there's a reason for
them as well.
In 4-H news, the next leader's
association meeting will be held at
Barwick on Monday, June 24. Plans
for the fair will be underway. A
members' conference takes place in
Thunder Bay, July 12-14. Also, if
anyone is interested in attending the
Morris Manitoba Stampede July 19,
20, 21, call the organizers Wanda
Heyens at 483-5885 or Tracy Hyatt at
486-3479.
School was out for the holidays on
Wednesday, June 19. Congratulations
to all our grads and may you all have a
safe and happy summer.
Rainy River Farm Safety is
reminding everyone to be prepared for
the seasonal thunder storms. Don't
carry or stand near anything that is an
electrical conductor, like steel bars,
umbrellas, machinery, electric fences
and golf clubs. Lightning can strike
several kilometres from the prime
thunderstorm cloud centre. Just head
for shelter and avoid anything that
might attract lightning.
Keep a fire extinguisher in the farm
workshop and know how to use it.
Remember to have it checked and
recharged regularly. Have a safe 2002
farm season. Farm Safety is
everyone's business.
Feedlots are telling buyers not to
buy untagged cattle. ID tags must be
on all cattle sold after July 1 of this
year. Fines will range from $200 to
$500 per offence. Tags cannot be
removed or replaced with other tags.
First there was green ketchup, then
came chicken fingers when chickens
don't have any, then there's buffalo
wings and they can't even fly; then
fish sticks when fish don't have sticks,
now, it's crustless bread. Sara Lee is
launching a new line of white bread,
the same size, but without a crust for
those balky kids who won't eat their
crusts. The crust removing machine is
in Paris, Texas and the leftovers will
be made into crumbs and animal feed.
A loaf will cost $2.59 to $3.39 U.S.
What comes next?
The U.S. government has ordered
that in two years time, retailers must
state the country of origin of fresh and
frozen meats sold in restaurants and
supermarkets. Country of origin
labelling, also known as COOL,
means bad news for the meat industry
here in Canada. The handling and
labelling is going to be a big hassle for
the U.S. retailers, so they probably
won't be buying very much of our
Canadian beef or pork.
Rainy River Future Development
Corporation held their 20th
anniversary annual general meeting
May 28 at Warp 9, and what a fine
meeting it was. Members were treated
like royalty. Ken thinks that all
meetings should take place at the new
Warp 9 building, once known as the
Royal Theatre,. where we watched the
magic of movies and make-believe.
"1'd like to see a man proud of the
place in which he lives.
1'd like to see a man live so that his
place will be proud of him."
— Abraham Lincoln December 1, 1862.
—Submitted by Shirley Morrish
JULY 2002 51