The Rural Voice, 2005-03, Page 55J
RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
411*
PO Box 416, EMO, ON POW 1E0
807-482-2051
The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
AIMIIIIIIIIk.
RAINY RIVER VALLEY River Federation members by the RRFA
Rainy River Federation makes plans
As I sit here and look out the
window, I wonder where the sun that
the weather forecast promised last
night has disappeared. It looks rather
gray to me.
Sunday was the first Sunday of
Lent and as I take stock I am
reminded of some of the New Year's
Resolutions that seem to have gotten
lost and I consider that maybe it
would be a good time to strengthen
that resolve.
The Rainy River Federation of
Agriculture met in the Emo Curling
Club on February 1, 2005. President
Trish let us know that Food Freedom
Day was to be February 8 — the day
when the working person has earned
enough to pay for their food for one
year. It will take until mid-July to pay
our taxes.
The Ontario Federation of
Agriculture is moving the head office
to Guelph and the new address will
be forthcoming along with the new
letterhead.
The Bright Ideas committee is
working on an informational bus trip
and the details are hopefully
completed by the next meeting and
can be made available.
The Entertainment committee is
also hard at work. They are planning
the place, date and time for the spring
dinner and dance.
Kim Jo Bliss advised us that there
will be an intern vet assisting Dr. Dan
this summer and Dr. Dan is looking
for a positive result in his search for
another vet for our district.
There will be a Milk Committee
meeting sometime this month and
hopefully we will get a better
understanding of the announced
increase to the producer. James
Gibson spoke of the way it is to be
applied and the transportation costs
involved. He spoke of the necessity
to monitor carefully the quota and
the implication for overproducing
fines.
The Farm Safety Committee has
presented a concern about hunters
who shoot down the sides of the road.
There have been some sightings of
hunters shooting down the sides of
the road and the concern is the
possibility of injury to a small child
standing waiting for the school bus.
The time the bus comes and the
opening of a day of hunting coincide
very closely.
The 4-H Leaders will hold their
annual meeting on March 4, 2005 at
Sioux Narrows. Kim Jo brought us
the cost information. It will cost $50
for a membership in this year.
The Feeder Finance Co-op will be
holding their annual meeting in April.
The date will be announced as the
details are finalized.
It was decided that the Federation
locally should get together with the
local Agricultural groups and
hopefully become more united and
supportive of each other. The
Executive Committee will meet to
plan such a strategy and try to give
information to those invited as to how
and what we are trying to
accomplish. We need to have one or
two issues fully researched and know
who we are trying to reach. We will
need to be ready to work on solutions
with specific action plans and draw
on what ever resources we have
available to us.
It is hoped that there will be 1000
or more people at Queen's Park in
Toronto for a rally of concerned
Agricultural Producers in March.
I spoke to Krista Vos of the Rainy
River Cattlemen's Association and
received the information pertaining to
their annual meeting. The board of
directors are Peter Spuzak, Arne
Hahkala. Ken McKinnon, Rick
Boersma. Ken Kuorikoski, Darryl
Angus, Tony Flatt, Murray Gemell,
Jim McDermid, Doug Hartnell,
Robert Kreger. They will be electing
their president at tonight's meeting.
The representative to OCA is Stephen
Szeder and the alternate is Dennis
Brown. The sales manager is Russ
Richards.
The Rainy River Cattlemen's
spring sale at the Stratton Sales Barn
is set for Saturday, April 23 with the
start of the sale set for 9:30 a.m. They
will begin receiving consignments at
10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 21.
Sales Manager Russ says that if you
have animals to sell bring them in
and he will do his best to have the
right buyer there. We are very
centrally located to serve much of
North America and the border should
be open by then. The Rainy River
District has major highways running
east, west and south.
Russ has confirmed the dates for
the two fall sales. The yearling and
calf sale is set for Saturday.
September 3. The calf and stocker
sale has been set for Saturday.
October 1.
The Rainy River Agriculture
Society annual meeting was a
successful meeting. They have a full
slate of officers headed by Emily
Watson as president. Their secretary
is Jan Judson. Representation from
the Federation include Angela
Halverson, Linda Armstrong, Shirley
Teeple, and James Gibson. They
reported a good meeting and good
volunteers.
The calving season is in full swing
for some and the weather is so far co-
operating somewhat. The latest issue
of the Cattlemen's Magazine is being
perused closely by some and it is to
be noticed that our Shirley Morrish
has a timely tip printed.
Kim Jo Bliss is getting ready to
open the Research Station on April 1.
She isn't certain what the new or
renewed focus will be but is sure
there will be something of interest
and benefit to the district.
Happiness lies in the jug of
achievement nd the thrill of creatine
effort.0
— Submitted by
Jacquelyn Hnn.spe t,e
MARCH 2005 51