The Rural Voice, 2003-04, Page 71RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 1C0
807-486-3622
• The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
RAINY RIVER VALLEY River Federation members by the RRFA.
March 10, 2003
With Centennial celebrations
going on across the Rainy River
District, one can get very involved in
the histories of families and places
quite easily. It's great for all people
to know where they come from and
who their next of kin might be. There
are some wonderful surprises too.
The RRFA held their March
meeting at the Emo curling club.
Attending were Ken Fisher, Linda
Armstrong, Kristine Carpenter,
Shirley Morrish, James Gibson and
Jason Teeple. Ken chaired in
Bernie's absence. Our circle was
small due to freezing weather and
opportunities to go to warmer
climates.
Jason handed out tickets to each
director to sell for the upcoming
annual RRFA dinner to be held April
4 at Stratton. At this time the Bill
Gibson Award will be presented.
Nominations must be sent to Linda
before March 15.
Rainy River Community Pasture
is accepting cattle applications until
April 1. Wally Hunsperger is the
manager and is the one to contact
regarding rental space.
Ken figures that by May 15, we'll
have rain, and grass will be no
problem:
There could be a provincial
election coming up in June. A team
of revising agents may be visiting
your home. They'll be asking for
your co-operation to confirm or
obtain information about eligible
voters living at your address. They
have identification badges which will
say "Revising Agent".
Kristine is still exploring the use
of 911. There are a number of spaces
in the District that cannot reach the
number. We question how to test it if
we are unable to call unless there is
an emergency.
There are three kinds of people:
those who can count and those who
can't. — Anonymous.
United States is considering the
use of Cattle ID. They're thinking of
using the same type of standards as
Canadians use. Herd Identification is
the first step. Electronic Identity is
the final phase.
Rainy River Rural Safety will be
holding a meeting at Carol Angus'
home on Thursday, March 13 at 7:00
p.m.
National Farm Safety Week is
March 12-19, 2003.
Data suggests that Agriculture is
the fourth most dangerous industry in
Canada behind mining, logging and
forestry and construction. Farming is
a cherished way of life for over
200,000 Canadian farm families.
Close to 700 Canadians died of farm -
related accidents between 1990 and
1996. Most of these accidents could
have been prevented. Families must
work together and teach children
safety procedures inside and out of
the home. To start this year right,
why not check through the
medications in your medicine
cabinet. Clean out any old
prescriptions and out-of-date drugs
and take them to your pharmacist for
safe disposal. If in doubt about any
medications, call your local drug
store. Keep all medications out of
reach from small children and pets.
Rainy River Valley Agricultural
Society has a new slate of directors.
President is Joyce Myers; first vice-
president, Bill James; second vice-
president, James Gibson;
secretary/treasurer, Connie
VanDrunen; directors are Gary
Judson, Nicole Brumwell, Dawn
Morriseau, Steve Latimer, Julia
Paulson, Shirley Teeple, Allan
Teeple, Candy Greengrass, Cecil
Ogden, Kelly Teeple, Delores
Romyn, Marlin Carr, Jason Teeple,
Harold Kellar and Jan Halverson.
A good investment of time is to
take in as many agricultural seminars
as you can during fall and winter.
Your local Ag Rep puts a lot of effort
into organizing them. It gives an
opportunity to hear qualified
speakers who offer current
information. During coffee time, you
can always learn much from people
just by visiting. Socializing is good
for everyone.
Smithfield Foods, United States'
largest pork producer and leading
processor and marketer of fresh pork,
plans to build a $20 million facility
at the Circle Four Farm in Southwest
Utah. It will turn hog waste into
biodiesel, a renewable vehicle fuel.
Biodiesel, an alternative fuel can be
made from any fat, which includes
vegetable oil and used cooking oil.
Livestock waste can be a source of
clean, renewable vehicle fuel.
Anything is possible. Did you
know that in 1941, Henry Ford built
a plastic car made from hemp and
wheat straw? And that less than two
per cent of Canadians are farmers
and produce enough food to feed
several continents. If more money
and brainpower was spent on the
world's food suppliers instead of
fighting wars, what a wonderful
world it would be.
Winston Churchill. once said, "A
free press is the unsleeping guardian
of every other right that free men
prize. It is the most dangerous foe of
tyranny."
Here's another one. Dirty diapers
are being used to make products that
also can be manufactured using wood
fibres. They turn into wallpaper, roof
shingles, shoe insoles and much
more. A New York -based company
that specializes in recycling
absorbent hygiene products and turns
them into pulp and paper, is
managing this project. It's also being
experienced in Europe. In the
Netherlands, 35.000 tons of used
diapers are being processed annually
from old folks as well as babies.
What can WE think of and do next?
We need to diversify, recycle and
think about our children and the
children to come and their future in
this world.
"The best preparation for
tomorrow is the proper use of
today."0
— By Shirley Morrish
APRIL 2003 67