The Rural Voice, 1991-07, Page 53RAINY 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.
The directors of the Rainy River
Federation of Agriculture met in the
OMAF boardroom on Thursday, June 6.
Directors present included Susan
Boersma, Gary Esselink, Shirley Mor-
rish, Wayne Flatt, Gertie Bujold, Linda
Armstrong, Kim Hunsperger and Marc
Husser.
Genie Bujold suggested that the
video "The Facts Behind the Food
Scare" should be shown on Fort Frances
Community Television. No concrete
plan was put forward as to who to con-
tact and how to go about presenting the
video, so some thought will have to go
into seeing it gets done.
The community pasture reports that
cattle numbers are down from other
years.
The nuisance and wildlife resolution
committee reports that Dona Ste-
wardson and Peter Jefferies from OFA
will be meeting with the Minister of
Natural Resources Bud Wildman within
the next month or so, and there will
hopefully be something positive to re-
port shortly.
The Cattlemen's Association report
shows that there are plans for four sales
this fall. The Charolais breeder's sale is
to be held September 28, and the Cattle-
men plan sales for September 7, October
12, and October 26.
Linda Armstrong reported on the
telephone conference that was held be-
tween herself, Peiter Van Ballegooie,
Roger George, and Carl Sulliman. One
of the main topics of the conversation
was stable funding. There is a letter on
file from Elmer Buchanan, Minister of
Agriculture and Food, outlining his
view as to how and when the proposal
could be worked. The minister has
proposed a "president's steering com-
mittee" be established, comprised of the
three leaders of the general farm organi-
zations, Norris Hoag, executive director
for OMAF, and a member of his staff.
Their mandate would be to oversee and
direct a working group to develop a
stable funding proposal that could be
accepted by all parties. The proposal
would be brought to the minister'satten-
tion for consideration.
Rolly Stroeter, the director of the
Farm Assistance Branch, has been
asked to chair the working group. The
membership of this group would be
made up of representatives from the
three general farm organizations and a
number of his staff.
Some of the areas that need to be
addressed are:
Registration: mandatory — depends on
the outcome of the Lavigne Appeal to
the Supreme Court of Canada this sum-
mer
Registrar: OMAF or third party
Fees: mandatory
Fee Collection: cheque or checkoff
Fee Distribution: pluralistic between
provincial level and grassroots
General Farm Organization: eligibility
Grandfathering: three existing general
farm organizations
It would appear that there is a lot of
work ahead.
The Northern Echo Bible Camp
brochure arrived and if anyone is inter-
ested or has young people who would
like to go to the camp, dates are : junior
camp, ages 8 to 12, August 8 to 14; teen
camp, ages 13 to 18, July 21 - 27. The
camp fees are 580 until July 7 for the
teen camp and July 28 for the junior
camp. After that it is $85, including the
$7 for canteen. Contact Evangelical
Covenant Churches, Bethel Baptist,
Fort Frances, or Calvary Tabernacle,
Fort Frances. The address is Northern
Echo Bible Camp, Box 261, Fort
Frances, Ontario, P9A 3M6.
We went to the Charolais breeder's
barbecue and even though we were a
little late, we had lots to eat. It was good
to sit for a little and visit with the neigh-
bours. We had had a rather long day that
June 8, really enjoyed the meal, and
were glad that someone else was on for
the cooking and cleanup.
We have our first cut of hay and
haylage done, and the rain last night was
just what the ground needed. Our silo is
three-quarters full and there are about a
thousand square bales ready to put in the
dairy barn. The hay crop here looks
good. I cannot say the same for the
backyard. We had to do some digging
last summer and it appears that more
will have to be done this summer. The
cellar drain is giving us some problems
and the only solution appears to be to dig
up the backyard and try to find the place
where it has blocked. Allen likes the
mess. Mud to his ears is no problem for
him.
The painter has arrived and hope-
fully when he is finished today I will be
able to say that I have my house back in
order. At least until next year. We have
been here 17 years now and this will be
the first time the whole house will have
been repainted and papered. I feel as
though I am in a new house.
I must get away and get the mail.
There are a few errands that need doing
before the "10 steps" trip to Winnipeg
on Thursday, not to mention the finish-
ing touches on a dress that I hope to be
able to wear. There will not be a meeting
of the Rainy River Federation of Agri-
culture in July, but some of the commit-
tees will be doing some planning for the
Fair and on into the fall.
The nomination commiuee will be
formed at the August meeting so if you
have some ideas as to who you think
would do a good job on the local board
of directors and serve as a provincial
director, please let the president or any
of the present board know. Some of the
terms have expired and new people are
needed.
The date for the annual meeting has
been set for October 19, 1991 in Strat-
ton. Mark your calendar and be pre-
pared.
Kim Hunsperger and Shirley Mor-
rish will be setting up a schedule for the
fair booth in the Farm Progress building.
If you could spare the time, please let
them know. It would be much appreci-
ated. See you later.0
Jacquelyn
Don't Forget
THE RURAL VOICE
HAS MOVED!
Our new address:
136 Queen St., Box 429,
Blyth, ON, NOM 1H0
Phone 523-4311, Fax 523-9140
JULY 1991 49