The Rural Voice, 2006-03, Page 62People in Agriculture
Clare Schlegel named PCPPA 'Producer of the Year'
Clare Schlegel (left) accepts the Producer of the Year
award from Russ Danbrook, president of the Perth County
Pork Producers' Association.
The Perth County Pork Producers
Association Producer of the Year
Award has been presented to one of
the most familiar faces of the pork
industry in all of Canada.
Clare Schlegel and his wife
Catherine were presented with the
award at the association's annual
meeting in Mitchell, January 19.
In presenting the award, PCPPA
President Russ Danbrook recalled
first becoming involved with the
association 15 years ago and being
impressed with "a brown -haired guy"
Steve Hulshof (left) presents the Perth County Pork
Producers' Association's Promoter of the Year award to
Marty Ropp of St. Willibrord Community Credit Union.
pork producers had given him a great
opportunity to travel the world ons
their behalf. "I've learned that
Canada is regarded as the most co-
ordinated industry after Denmark," a
fact that surprised him, he said.
Also at the meeting, Marty Ropp
of St. Willibrord Community Credit
Union was presented with the
Promoter of the Year award for the
company's efforts in helping promote
the Perth County food booth at the
2005 International Plowing Match at
Listowel.0
at monthly meetings, noting
Schlegel's hair colour has changed m
the intervening years.
"I haven't got a clue how he keeps
all the balls in the air," Danbrook said
in outlining Schlegel's ownership of
four hog finishing barns as well as
participation in a small multi -site
loop. He is currently chair of the
Canadian Pork Council and past chair
of the Ontario Pork Producers'
Marketing Board.
In accepting the award Schelegel
(whose wife could not attend) said
Van Raay plugs for CQA in pork
Teresa Van Raay, recently elect-
ed a director with the Ontario Pork
Producers' Marketing Board, says
her main goal is to ensure Ontario
pork is marketed locally and globally
as a safe and quality product.
Van Raay and her husband
Martin, run a 500 -sow farrowing
barn in Dashwood. She says she
would like to see all Canadian pork
producers take part in the Canadian
Quality Assurance program because
it's globally respected and
recognized as a guarantee of safety
and satisfaction. "If all hog
producers had CQA certification we
could guarantee a product like no
other country. This will ensure our
success in the global marketplace."
Van Raay is a graduate of the
Advanced Agricultural Leadership
Program, which she says gave her
confidence in her leadership ability.
Prior to this provincial role, she
served as president of the Huron
County Pork Producers' Association.
During her term she was
instrumental m bringing together
producers and retail representatives
from Sobeys and A&P for a group
discussion that helped producers
better understand what the current
domestic markets were, and how
their product was being used to meet
society's requests. The meeting, she
says, gave everyone present a clearer
understanding as to why today's
strict production methods are in
place.0
Love family named
Producers of the
Year in Huron County
The Love family of Parr Line
Pork Farms Inc. between Hensall
and Zurich was named winner of
the Huron County Pork Producers'
Producer of the Year award.
Pat Love and her three sons
Gary, Grant and Gord represent the
fifth and sixth generations of the
Love family farming since 1859.
There has been a family member on
the Huron board for nearly 50
years. The seventh generation is
also involved with the children
being Royal Jr Barrow participants
for the last number of years.0