The Rural Voice, 1990-06, Page 78GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER •The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE HISTORY
In 1940, the Grey County Federation
of Agriculture was organized through
the efforts of the Grey County Council,
which already had an Advisory Agricul-
tural Council. The Advisory Council
worked very closely with Tommy S.
Cooper, agricultural representative of
Grey County from 1920 to 1959.
Council took steps to set up a provi-
sional organization. This consisted of
two county councillors or ex -county
councillors from each township and
made a board of 32 members. Meetings
were held in the various townships and
five men were selected from each town-
ship. The chairman of each township
organization was then a member of the
new Board of Directors of the Grey
County Federation of Agriculture.
The first board consisted of 16 town-
ship directors and an executive of presi-
dent Douglas MacDonald, ex -warden,
vice-president William McGregor, ex -
warden, second vice-president Arnold
Hutchinson, and secretary -treasurer
William McGregor.
Many ideas from the township direc-
tors were then discussed at the county
federation, which met one day a month
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
At this time, World War II was on,
and many of the young farm men were
leaving for the services.
Farm Radio Forum (a weekly study
group) was a Monday night must on
CBC Radio at 8 p.m. Topics such as
hydro for rural areas, farm safety, and
producer organizations were intro-
duced. A discussion on the broadcast
topic followed and ideas were recorded.
These were then taken to the county fed-
eration, where a consensus was reached
and sent to the Department of Agricul-
ture. And at the end of each month, a
summary was given on the radio. This
brought a great deal of support for the
county federation from all the farmers in
the county on many important issues.
Some of the achievements of the
county Federation of Agriculture were:
1. A paid county secretary (Bob
Misch in 1954).
2. A paid projectionist who showed
film board pictures.
74 THE RURAL VOICE
uLL%VP.
PROTON,
JOIN THE
GREY COUNTY
Federation of Agriculture
ON JULY 18, 1990
ANNIVERSARY
50TH
CELEBRATIONS
CENTRE GREY RECREATION
COMPLEX — MARKDALE
3. The organization of a Commer-
cial Swine Producers' Association.
4. The organization of a Beef Pro-
ducers' Association.
5. The greatest number of Radio
Forums in the province of Ontario and
the Dominion of Canada.
6. A group of 18 men representing
the Swine Producers' Association.
7. A representation of 7 men for the
Beef Producers at the annual meeting.
8. 70 per cent of our Grcy County
farmers signing a petition authorizing
the deductions of one-quarter of one per
cent from all receipts for livestock sold
at the stock yards and packing plants.
No other county had gone so far in the
matter of financing at that time.
Long before the days of OHIP, the
Grey County federation implemented
the Grey Co-operative Medical Serv-
ices. This was managed by a county
board with one member per township.
In the beginning the fee was 515 per
family, per year. The coverage paid for
approved hospital expenses, certain
ambulance calls, etc. This coverage (the
Extended Health Plan) is still available
today with the Co-operators.
The Grcy County Federation of
Agriculture also assisted in establishing
DEW,
the Co-operative Auto Insurance Com-
pany to get fairer premiums.
Public speaking contests involving
all our schools in the county have been
continuous for the past 45 years. Also,
the Wiarton Cattle Sales and the Grey-
Dufferin Pasture Farm are all notewor-
thy ventures accredited to the Grey
County federation.
Although concerns have changed in
the past 50 years — to a stress on envi-
ronmental issues, the Line Fences Act,
the property tax rebate, free trade, the
GST, farm animal care, etc. — the
county federation still plays a very im-
portant role for the farm community.
To recognize this historical signifi-
cance, the July Directors' Meeting of
the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
will be held at the Centre Grey Recrea-
tion Complex, Markdale, on July 18 at
10 a.m. There will be a cold luncheon at
noon and a banquet in the evening.
Plan to attend and help us to recog-
nize the 25 presidents we have had over
the past 50 years. And join in the enter-
tainment. The excitement of this event
is growing. See you there!O
Agnes Diemen
Chairman, 50th Anniversary
Celebration Committee