The Rural Voice, 1990-09, Page 85GREY
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050
• The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
As part of the 50th Anniversary cele-
brations, Grey County Federation of
Agriculture hosted the Ontario Federa-
tion of Agriculture Board of Directors'
Meeting on July 18, 1990.
President Brigid Pyke, chaired the
meeting and welcomed representatives
and guests.
Cathie Lowry informed everyone
that the Ontario Agricultural Training
Institute (OATI) has been well received.
The OATI motto "farmers managing
change" emphasized the need for farm-
ers, as for all modcm business people, to
adapt their business practices to be ef-
fective in an ever-changing environ-
ment. In its first year of operation,
OATI offered 126 courses on 13 topics.
OATI was established by the OFA in co-
operation with the public, private, and
non-profit sectors of the agricultural
industry. Major funding is from Em-
ployment and Immigration of Canada.
Brigid Pyke gave a progress report
on stable funding. Jim Boynton, Sulli-
van Township, and a former secretary to
the Ontario Pork Producers' Marketing
Board, endorsed a broad, general ap-
proach on stable funding and empha-
sized the importance of installing stable
funding as soon as possible.
Brigid Pyke also reported on the
Farm Property Tax Rebate Program for
1990 and 1991. She emphasized that the
universality of the program has been re-
established. She instructed directors
that this is the time to register their
business in preparation for the Goods
and Services Tax.
OFA's first vice president, Roger
George, during his talk on safety nets,
reported that the federal government
wants the farmer's share of premiums,
towards such programs, to be 50 per
cent. Second vice president, Jack Wilk-
inson, moved that the farmer's share be
no greater than 33 1/3 per cent. This
motion was carried.
Grey County Federation presented a
resolution asking OFA to petition the
government of Ontario to place the
welfare of all farm animals under the
jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agricul-
ture and Food, since the Animal Rights
Movement is becoming very aggressive
in their opposition to normal farming
82 THE RURAL VOICE
practices. This resolution was carried
unanimously.
Huron County presented a resolu-
tion asking OFA to request a general
investigation into the workings of the
Ontario Farm Start Program because it
does not seem to be fulfilling its purpose
of supporting well-qualified applicants
to establish themselves as agricultural
producers. During the discussion on
this resolution, a number of people re-
lated that they felt the rules were being
applied inconsistently. This resolution
was carried.
After the Directors' Meeting, several
directors enjoyed either a bus tour to the
Beaver Valley or a trip to the Ontarbio
organic farm at Durham.
One of the highlights of the evening
banquet was the introduction of past
presidents of Grey County Federation of
Agriculture:
1940, 41, 42
D.J. McDonald (Deceased)
1943, 44
Cliff Allen, Glenburnie
1945
J. L. Lembke (Deceased)
1946
Ross Bowser (Deceased)
1947,48
Howard T. Graham (Deceased)
1949,50
Edgar Lemon (Deceased)
1951, 52
Tom Pringle (Deceased)
1953, 54
Joe Crutchley (Deceased)
1955,56
W. J. Davidson (Deceased)
1957, 58
Lloyd S. Harris, R. R. 1, Mount Forest
1959
John Norton (Deceased)
1960, 61
Russell Freeman (Deceased)
1962, 63
John. S. Black, R. R. 1, Markdale
1964, 65
Vic Bassingthwaite, Mindcmoya
1966, 67, 68
Kcn Leith, R. R. 4, Durham
1969,70,71
Murray Fraser, R. R. 2, Dundalk
1972
Fred Taylor, R. R. 2, Clarksburg
1973
Bob Scott, Dundalk
1974, 75, 76
Bill Hodges (Deceased)
1977
Orville Lee, R. R. 3, Durham
1978, 79
Robert Taylor, R. R. 2, Clarksburg
1980, 81, 82
Bessie Saunders, R. R. 4, Meaford
1983, 84, 85
W. M. Don Hill, R. R. 6, Owen Sound
1986, 87
Murray Clarke, R. R. 2, Durham
1988 - Present
Lorne Eccles, R. R. 2, Holstein
Entertainment consisted of readings,
skits, and singing by local talent. Enter-
tainment was provided by Michael
Hiltz, Bill Klages, Keith Elder, Edith
Preston, and the "Men of Note" quartet:
Grant Preston, Ken Hooper, Bob Scott,
Ainsley Jack, and Helgi Scott, accom-
panist.
Congratulations to Agnes Diermert
and her Anniversary Committee on a
very successful day. Anniversary com-
mittee members were: Agnes Dicmert,
chairperson, Bill Pullen, George Black,
Edith Preston, Bessie Saunders, and
Shirley Veen.0
Submitted by Wesley II. Sparling
Regional Director, Grey East
DATES TO MARK
ON YOUR CALENDAR
Grey County
Federation of Agriculture
REGIONAL MEETING
Wednesday, September 12, 1990
8:00 p.m.
Markdale Legion
Guest speaker: Roger George
first vice president, OFA
0
Grcy Federation
ANNUAL MEETING
Friday, October 19, 1990
Guest Speaker: Brewster Kneen
author of
From Land to Mouth:
Understanding the Food System