The Rural Voice, 1993-01, Page 47RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
December 6, 1992
As family and friends gather for
the festive season with snow falling
gently around the countryside, we
think of the year that has just passed
and hold on to dreams yet to come.
Our district has weathered many
storms during 1992, beginning with a
very wet spring and continuing with
an even wetter fall. Haying was
delayed and grain was finally
harvested in September and October
after the frost. Despite all this, there
were good yields for many, proving
that hard work and determination
bring rewards. There's spirit in the
Rainy River Valley and with
encouragement from our local
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and
Food, we can all work as a team to
produce the best there is.
Since a number of us were
attending the Canadian Western
Agribition in Regina from November
28 to December 4, attendance was
down at the December 3 meeting of
the Rainy River Federation of
Agriculture in Emo. Linda
Armstrong reported on her meeting
with Assistant Deputy Minister of
Agriculture Ken Knox, where a
proposal was presented to develop a
new relationship between producers
and the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food Staff.
Bill Allen, director of the Ag.
Branch said they did present some
good ideas and staff are internally
reviewing the proposal. They plan to
meet with the producer reps in early
January. He said, however, that
certain aspects of the proposal won't
work as they would conflict with the
collective bargaining agreement with
OPSEU.
Jack Elliott, who helped prepare
"A New Partnership" stressed that
the attitude surrounding this proposal
"remain positive". An Extension
Services Committee of four to six
community members, plus a local
OMAF staffer would be formed as a
committee, to negotiate and share
resources, to link the community
with senior levels of the Ministry and
other committees, in an overall
strategy for northwestern Ontario.
Linda Armstrong was joined in
Toronto by Gordon Griffiths, Kenora
District Ag. Action Committee, and
Don Belluz and Thorcuill
MacDonald, both from Thunder Bay
Federation of Agriculture.
The Rainy River Hereford
Association held their annual
meeting at Pinewood on November
20. Following a potluck supper, an
election was held with executive as
follows: President, George Hyatt;
Vice -President', Kim Jo Bliss;
Secretary/Treasurer, Kathy
Robinson. Directors are Kim
Cornell, Louis Bujold, Andy
Carpenter, George Robinson, and
Archie Weirsema.
Applications are now being
accepted at the OMAF office in Emo
for the hands-on leadership program
"10 Steps to Community Action"
beginning in January. Time
commitment is about 55 hours,
between January 14 and May 13,
1993. Call Pat Clysdale-Cornell at
482-2310 for more information.
On Friday, November 20, the
Rainy River Charolais Breeders had
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 1C0
807-486-3622
• The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
River Federation members by the RRFA.
the 1992 Emo Fair Queen, Bobbi -Jo
Carlson of Devlin, who sang a
medley of Christmas songs. The
annual RRCB meeting and election
is scheduled for January 13, 1993 at
Elsie Skinners'.
The Rainy River Valley
Agricultural Society (Fairboard) will
hold its annual meeting on Tuesday,
December 8, 1992 at the Emo Legion
Hall at 8:00 p.m. Everyone is very
welcome.
The first shipment of 34 slaughter
cattle bound for Long Prairie Packers
crossed over into Minnesota on
Monday, November 23 at the new
Rainy River port of entry. The
following week, two more truck
loads travelled the same route
shipping directly into Minnesota
saving extra miles and weight loss
experienced previously at the
Emerson Manitoba/North Dakota
Port of Entry. The Rainy River
Cattlemen are co-ordinating this 20 -
year dream. They handle all
delivering in U.S. funds to avoid
exchange losses. Cheques to the beef
producer are also in U.S. funds.
The RRCA will hold a meeting on
December 9 at OMAF to discuss
1992 sales and recommendations for
1993. The annual RRCA meeting
will be held Wednesday, January 20
at Stratton Separate School at 8:00
p.m.
"In the coming year, let us extend
our hand to our neighbour in a
helping way, open our hearts to those
in need, fill our heads with dreams of
peace and cherish our health and the
health of the world."
Shirley Morrish
Readers make great writers. And The Rural Voice welcome 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 Keith Roulston at:
The Rural Voice, 136 Queen Street, Box 429, Blyth, ON NOM 1H0, Phone 523-4311, FAX 523-9140.
JANUARY 1993 43