The Rural Voice, 1991-01, Page 52RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
Box 416, Emo, Ontario POW 1 E0
807-482-2051
• The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy River
Federation members by the RRFA.
Sometimes being the daughter of the
"public relations" person has real draw-
backs. When Mom missed the monthly
meeting of the RRFA, someone men-
tioned that The Rural Voice deadline
must be soon. I could "look into" and
"look after" that, couldn't I? (Mom is on
the mend, so I made her write a report on
the "pre -retirement seminar," from her
hospital bed.)
Then there's the coffee pot! I carred
it from meeting to meeting all last year
— and I don't even drink the stuff! Last
meeting I ungraciously dumped the job,
and Gertie picked it up. But Gertie had
to go to her son's wedding, so you know
who walked in with the dreaded coffee
pot this meeting!
The entertainment committee is
busy planning the annual family Christ-
mas skating party held Sunday, Decem-
ber 16 at the Barwick Hall. We are
looking for ideas for a guest speaker for
our spring dinner/dance. We had a good
turnout for our directors' appreciation
supper on December 2 at the Emo Inn.
Kristine attended the Royal Winter
Fair to help at the Ag in the Classroom
exhibit. She was impressed with the
variety of ideas used to get people's
attention. One of the most popular was
a "Wheel of Fortune" type of trivia
game. Dryden has inquired about look-
ing at, and perhaps using, our Ag in the
Classroom project. Our local commit-
tee is starting a grade three project for
the 1991-92 school year.
The farm progress building commit-
tee has been evaluating this year's work
and tossing some new ideas around.
Their work will start up again in March.
Linda has had our "improved trapper
training" proposal reworded slightly
and will be sending it to the OFA board
of directors as a resolution.
In the membership department,
Archie reports we have lost several
members this year, and he is concerned
about what a further price increase will
do to membership. It reinforces our
concern that stable funding is a neces-
sity to keep our lobbying voice strong.
Dennis reported on the annual meet-
ing of the soil and crop association, held
December 4. John Heard spoke about
crop diseases and reported on the Crop
Check North projects. A conservation
advisor from International Falls, Min-
nesota, gave a presentation on designing
conservation projects. Dennis brought
to our attention this year's Land Ste-
wardship Program for waterways, ma-
nure pits, and milkhouse wastes. There
is also a program for pesticide storage
and handling, and alternative fill sites
for sprayers.
The next meeting of the RRFA will
be held January 3, 1991 at 7:30 p.m. at
Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton.
Gertie will be bringing the goodies and
the coffee pot.
The Rainy River Charolais Breeders
met at Herb and Donna Govier's on
November 14. The main topics of dis-
cussion were the show and sale at the
Emo Fair, and the annual barbecue in
June. On November 26, 42 members
and their families had a Christmas sup-
per meeting at the Emo Inn. President
Mike Neilson thanked everyone for
their help and support in the past year.
The annual meeting of the Rainy River
Charolais Breeders will be held January
9, 1991 at Elsie Skinner's home at Emo.
The Rainy River Farm Business
Management Association held a dinner
meeting December 6 at the Emo Inn.
Tom Morrish, the district "weigh man,"
spoke about proper cow -calf handling
facilities.
Ralph and I attended the "pre -retire-
ment seminar" at Quetico Centre on
Friday and Saturday, November 23 and
24. The weekend seminar was spon-
sored by the Ontario Ministry of Agri-
culture and Food, and the Thunder Bay
Federation of Agriculture. It was called
"people who plan ahead get ahead." Ten
couples from the Rainy River district
and Thunder Bay district attended.
The speakers were informative and
sometimes entertaining. Some of us
were a little disappointed in a couple of
the sessions. We all know we should
have started saving before we were 25,
but at that time we didn't have money to
save. We were hoping to get some
advice as to what we could do now to
help ourselves a little bit.
The topics ranged from the business
side — farm estate transfer, to the joy of
retirement — keeping healthy and plan-
ning ahead. Some interesting statistics
were brought out at the seminar. Two-
thirds of all farmers work past 65 years
of age, 21 per cent past 70. Farmers
make up only three per cent of the popu-
lation, but of all people who work past
70 years, 90 per cent are farmers. The
setting for the conference was beautiful.
Many of us felt we could get accustomed
to the luxury.
If the column seems disjointed this
month, don't be concerned; more than
one person has had their hand in it. Best
wishes to all and may you all have a
Happy New Year.0
Kim & Jacquelyn
Readers make great writers. And The Rural Voice welcomes submissions from anyone
involved in the agricultural community. We will gladly consider for publication:
REPORTS OF MEETINGS
OR EVENTS
• from commodity groups
to community fairs
FEATURE ARTICLES
• on the people, places, issues,
and management decisions
central to life on the farm
PROSE AND POETRY
• capturing the creativity and
the values of rural people
and rural life
For freelance rates or more information, contact Jim Fitzgerald at:
The Rural Voice, 10A The Square, Box 37, Goderich, Ontario N7A 3Y5, telephone and fax: (519) 524-7668
48 THE RURAL VOICE