The Rural Voice, 1995-12, Page 64GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
519-364-3050
• The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
Let's take the agricultural initiative
I am very proud of the Grey
Federation members who have taken
the initiative in so many ways over
the past year. There were members
who demonstrated to their urban
neighbours that farmers were taking
care of the environment by
completing Environment Farm
Plans, practising good animal
husbandry, having school tours and
striving to be competitive and
fiscally responsible. These
initiatives can only strengthen the
story of the agricultural industry in
Grey County. But, it is not all we
should or could be doing.
What I would like to challenge all
the farm members and organizations
to do in the coming year is to take an
agricultural initiative. I see this as
being a pro -active and building
exercise for the future. It must be
done and only on an individual
basis. From that point, collectively
through marketing and alliances,
agriculture will be able to strive for
the future.
There was a message printed
across the stage at Grey Highlands
Secondary School Commencement
last week which stated, "It's all
about individuals. You can only
grow from here." As those
graduating students reflect on four
or five years of secondary school
education and contemplate their
future, it is up to them to take the
initiative and grow. So must
agriculture.
Individually we must determine
how committed we are to our
profession, what commodity or
service we are the best at, or is now
the time to change direction?. Be
honest with yourself and resolve
now to strike out with a new
initiative! If we would all do this, it
would put a firmer footing under
agriculture, and particularly this
Federation, to focus our mandate
and give leadership.
Personally, I find agriculture to be
floundering. There are a number of
members now who wonder if they
should feed their grain to livestock
or sell it. Commodity boards find
themselves in conflict with some
members in their marketing
philosophy: eg. domestic or export,
single desk or not, quotas and free
enterprise. These examples of
conflict bog agriculture down and
use precious resources we can not
afford to spend. Every government
SEASON'S GREETINGS
from the Executive and Directors of
Grey County Federation of Agriculture
60 THE RURAL VOICE
office, do -good organization and
self-interest group is now looking
toward agriculture as its mandate to
regulate and mould, themselves.
That's all right if we in agriculture
have an initiative and know what
and how to negotiate but right now,
we don't. We have to come up with
one. Start now with yourself!
I see no future as an organization
(Grey Federation) if all we do is
fight fires, with no fire prevention. I
see no future if we as individuals, do
not dream, invest and take initiatives
for the future. I see no future for
agriculture if we wait for something
to happen.
Make it happen!O
— Submitted by Ken Furlong
GCFA President
GCFA
Directors'
Meeting
Thursday,
December 14,
1995
OMAFRA
Boardroom,
Markdale
1:00 p.m.
MEMBERS ARE
WELCOME TO ATTEND