The Rural Voice, 2005-11, Page 62People in Agriculture
Perth County plowmen set
for Canadian championship
Bill Feeney, 16, 2005 IPM Junior
Champion Tractor Plowperson
(plowed using two -furrow plow in
the group born 1986-1989) is now
eligible to compete next spring at the
2006 Canadian Plowing Contest
(Junior division) in Chilliwack, B.C.
Son of Francis and Glenda Feeney
of the Staffa area, Bill was coached
for several years by his grandfather,
also Bill Feeney, from the Dublin
area. This was his first year to plow
on his own — no coach allowed.
The IPM this year was held at the
Carson Farms near Listowel, in Perth
County on September 20 - 24.
Feeney also holds the Sidney Sisler
Memorial Trophy as a result of being
the Jr. Champion in his class. As
well, he was awarded a two-year
scholarship at an Ontario University
or College of Technology, and the
Orville and Ruth Fried Special,
awarded to contestants, qualifying to
compete at the 2006 Canadian
Plowing championships, which
consisted of $200, a Jr. Champion
jacket and hat.
Brandon McGavin, RR4, Walton,
son of Brian and Shelley McGavin,
was Reserve winner in his class (born
1990-1995), using a two -furrow
plow. McGavin was coached by his
Needles premiere
Simcoe County's most famous
sheep farmer is debuting a new
Christmas play at Theatre
Collingwood, November 17-27.
Dan Needles, who lives on a farm
near Collingwood, has teamed up
with Steven Thomas, artistic director
of Theatre Collingwood, for The Last
Christmas Turkey. It tells the story of
Nancy and Braden, two adult children
who return to their family home to
help their parents downsize, then
reminisce about a favourite childhood
story in which two young people
cross paths with a turkey slated for a
church Christmas supper.
Needles has won wide acclaim,
not to mention a Leacock Award for
Humour, for his series of plays about
Walt Wingfield, a former Bay Street
father, Brian.
He also won the Jack Taylor Past
President Award, presented to the
contestant with the highest number of
points in this class (previous winners
are not eligible).
Darryl O'Rourke of the Dublin
area, son of Dan and Colleen
O'Rourke, missed going to the 2006
Canadian Plowing Contest by just
one point (over the four days they
plowed at the IPM) but was also
awarded the two-year scholarship, as
Feeney had been. O'Rourke was not
allowed to have a coach in this class.
Brent Melady of the Dublin area,
son of Pat and Cathy (McGavin)
Melady, was awarded the Robert
Taylor Memorial trophy, presented to
the first-time competitor with the
highest aggregate score in the two -
furrow tractor class (born 1986-1989
or 1990-1995). He was coached by
Jeff McGavin.
The newly -crowned Ontario Queen
of the Furrow was Jennifer Christie
Tara, representing Bruce County who
competed against 27 provincial
Queens of the Furrow at the.
Rosanna Grobbink, RR3, Walton,
Huron's, 2004-2005 Queen of the
Furrow, was awarded the Miss
Friendship title.0
s Christmas play
broker who decides to slow down by
buying a farm in Persephone
Township, one of the province's
poorest farming areas. The Wingfield
saga has has continued through a
series of plays over 20 years (the
most recent being Wingfield
Unbound currently being performed
at a number of Canadian theatres) as
well as books and a television show.
Needles also premiered a multi -
character play, The Bells of Larkspur
at Theatre Collingwood in 2003. His
Perils of Persephone, which
premiered at the Blyth Festival in the
1990s, has also become a popular
staple of Canadian summer theatres.
The Last Christmas Turkey is
being performed at downtown
Collingwood's Gayety Theatre.0
Rob Black named
GM of soybean
growers
Ontario Soybean Growers
(OSG) have appointed Rob Black
to the position of General Manager,
effective November 7, 2005.
Most recently Executive
Director of 4-H Ontario, Black
brings has an extensive experience
in human resource management,
administration, leadership,
communications, and government
and industry relations.
"The Board is excited to begin
working with Rob in the role of
General Manager," says Greg
Devries, Chair of OSG. "Rob has
particular strength in government
and industry relations, which will
be a real asset in achieving our key
result areas particularly in business
risk management."
Black has spent more than five
years working with 4-H Ontario.
Previously he also worked with the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs for 15
years.
"I'm delighted to accept this
position and I look forward to the
challenges and opportunities to
come," says Black. "I look forward
to working closely with others in
the industry to identify synergies
that will lead to the betterment of
agriculture in Ontario."
Black was born and raised on a
mixed farming operation in
Wellington County, and he has
degrees in agriculture and
education from the University of
Guelph and Queen's University,
Kingston.
Black assumes the position after
the departure of OSG's current
General Manager, Wendy Jahn in
October.
"The Board is grateful to Wendy
for the time and dedication she has
put into our organization over the
past two years to help progress
Ontario's soybean industry," says
Devries. "We wish her all the best
as she moves on to the next chapter
in her life in Eastern Ontario."0