The Rural Voice, 1992-04, Page 68HURON
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
Box 429, Clinton, Ontario NOM 1L0
519-482-9642
• The Rural Voice is provided to all farmers
in Huron County by the HCFA.
GIANT MEMBERSHIP CANVASS IN HURON/PERTH COUNTIES
313 new OFA members!!
154 new mcmbcrs in Huron and 159
new mcmbcrs in Perth was the tally for the
drive held from March 2 - 13, 1992.
St. Columban church hall was the
scene of the wind-up party after the drive
in Huron/Perth membership recruitment.
While the secretaries were busy counting
and recording the new names, others were
chatting and playing euchre.
Several stories wcrc told of humorous
or unusual incidents occurring around
sales. Winston Jibb won out as the win-
ner of the most unusual. He actually end-
ed up donating blood in exchange for a
sale. Top spot in sales was a tic between
Willy Keller and Ivan Stueck with 14 each.
Heinz Claus, Cliff Thomson and Fred Jung
tied for runner-up with 11 each.
Draws were held for four $50 prizes.
They wcrc for tickets to the Blyth Theatre
and/or 550 vouchers at fine Stratford
restaurants. The winners were Gary Love,
Simon Blocker, Dennis Dittrich and Dave
HCFA BOARD OF
DIRECTORS' MEETINGS
8:00 p.m. sharp
Wednesday, March 25, 1992
Wednesday, April 29, 1992
Vanastra Boardroom, all at 8:00 p.m.
EAST WAWANOSH FED. OF AG.
ANNUAL MEETING
Tuesday, March 31/92
11:30 a.m. - Belgrave Institute Hall
Speaker: Colin Reesor, OMAF Economist
Tickets: $10.00 each
Contact: Barry Elliott 357-1532
Simon Bleeker 357-1062
EVERYONE WELCOME
Turner, all of Huron county. Everyone
who tither sold or purchased a membership
was eligible for the draws.
Hot cider, coffee, cheese and crackers
were prepared and served by Rick
DcBrabandcre, and Henrietta and Heinz
Claus. The cheese was donated by Jack
Stafford/Gay Lea. Thanks, Jack for your
contribution to our big event!
A special thank you goes to Blaine
Stephenson, our Huron/Perth Fieldman
who was the initiator along with his
committee of Larry Plaetzer, Jeanne
Kirkby, Heinz Claus, Rick DeBrabandere,
Ivan Stueck and Cecil Rose. The
committee have been working on the plans
since October 1991. A great deal of thanks
also goes to all the township captains who
lined up prospective members as well as
everyone who sold or purchased a
membership. In years to come we will
remember the BBB (Blaine's Big Blast).
CONGRATULATIONS to ALL who
helped!! A job well done!O
270 HURON FARMERS WENT TO OTTAWA
Arc you a veteran of the Ottawa Farm Rally of February 21? Were you one of
those who drove through a midnight snowstorm to board one of the five "Red Eye
Specials": one day trips from the parking lot of Clinton's Christian Reformed School? Or
perhaps you were on the early bus that left the day before from Fleming's Feed Mill. At
least 270 Huron fanners went to Ottawa this way, in addition to northern Huron farmers
who met buses in Belmore or boarded George Underwood's bus, and farmers who took
private vehicles. Huron County was well represented on Parliament Hill.
We'll all remember the Ottawa Rally, with its forest of placards and signs in every
direction, listening to farm leaders and politicians and joining with representatives from
other provinces, all agricultural commodities, and USA farmers. We'll remember
standing shoulder to shoulder with French-Canadian farmers, each trying to bypass the
language barrier and cheering together to add strength. The most impressive was the
mood and number of farm folk: almost 40,000 strong meeting with determination, good
humour, orderliness and unity to stand up for our industry.
Some people just couldn't leave their responsibilities at home to add strength to the
rally. They may have had livestock to tend, family situations that needed them, or health
problems that made them avoid the ordeal of the trip. Many of these people also
contributed to the cause by sponsoring other to take their place on the bus, or making a
donation to the total cost of the rally. And on the home front, some stores and businesses
in our towns closed for the noon hour in solidarity with the farmers. We appreciate the
support shown by all those at home.
Definitely, this show of strength and unity had an impact on our Canadian GATT
negotiators. We hope that we also impressed the USA and other GATT countries so that
they reconsider their direction at the final talks, and Canada is able to achieve the
balanced position necessary to protect our agricultural industry.0
Commodity Loan Guarantee Program (Crop Insurance)
Huron County Federation of Agriculture Members' Meeting
Speaker: a director from the Agricultural Commodity Program
Wednesday April 1, 8:30 p.m.
Brucefield United Church Hall (Everyone Welcome)
THANK YOU!!!!
The Huron County Federation of Agriculture extends a HUGE Thank You to the following businesses and
individuals who donated so generously towards the tremendously successful group of people who attended the GATT rally
in Ottawa on February 21, 1992.
Martin Feed Mills, Lucknow Huronia Welding, Goderich Milton Dietz, Seaforth Fleming Feed Mill, Clinton
Kirkton Vet Clinic, Kirkton Hoegy Farm Supply, Brodhagen United Breeders, Guelph TopNotch Feeds, Seaforth
Dauphin Feeds, Dungannon Reavie Farm Equip., Lucknow Boumatic, Walton New -Life Feeds
Hyde Bros., Hensall Logan Ford, Mitchell George Wraith, Goderich Huron Tractor, Exeter
G.E. Sales, Lucknow Becker Farm Equip., Exeter Cargill, Seaforth Sunrise Dairy, Clinton
Logan Farm Equip., Bornholm Cuddy Chicks, Jarvis McGavin's Farm Equip., Walton
Durst Farm Centre, Clinton Vincent's Farm Supply, Seaforth Hensall Co-op, Londesboro
Howick Mutual Ins., Wroxeter Hay Mutual Ins., Zurich Bill Coleman Farm Supply Don Douglas
Elmer Harding Bob Broadfoot George Underwood Paul and Heather Klopp
We especially thank: Steve Tyndall, manager of the Clinton Credit Union, for coming out at midnight in a snowstorm to
collect the bus monies and deposit them for us; the bus captains, Rowena Wallace, Ed Mosterd, Alex Westerhout, Ron Baer,
Ken Flanagan, and Gerrit Dykeman; as well as Jim and Brenda McIntosh.
64 THE RURAL VOICE