The Rural Voice, 1998-03, Page 63r
RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 1C0
4"* 807-486-3622
A...A,„ ' The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
RAINY RIVER VALLEY River Federation members by the RRFA
February 10, 1998
I'm wishing now, that I had taken the
advice of Harry Vandetti, when he said
to always carry a little notebook with
you and when an idea pops into your
head, write it down. He says your best
inspirations come when a body is busy at
something else. Well, last week I had
some terrific thoughts, but with this
balmy, 40+- weather, concentation has
gone to other places.
We are so very lucky to be living in
the Rainy River District. We haven't
suffered the floods, the winds or the
freezing rains. We haven't even had
enough snow to complain about. The
power has stayed on and the telephone
costs are supposed to diminish; maybe
that's the reason for the number of phone
calls that I have been receiving,
inquiring about property that might be
available in our District. The requests
come from the eastern part of our
province and south of them as well. For
our faraway readers, a reminder that our
District borders Manitoba and
Minnesota, and we are recognized as
North-Western Ontario — Sunset
Country; a wonderful place to do just
about anything.
RRFA held their January meeting on
a new date; the last week of the month
— but it will be changed back to the first
Monday of each month to harmonize
with everyone's calendar. At the
January 28 meeting, attending were Kim
Desserre, Lucy Lahti, Don McCullough,
Rick Neilson, Rudy Sinninghe, James
Gibson, Stanley Armstrong, Wayne
Flats, Tammy Hunsperger, Kristine
Carpenter, Bill Darby, Shirley Morrish
and guest speaker from Rainy River
Valley Safety Coalition, Elaine Caron.
A question mailout will be sent to 350
farms across the district and a draw will
take place after all entries have been
received. Rick and Shirley,
representatives for Rainy River Rural
Safety will assist with the mail -outs.
Rick reported for Member Services.
He stated that most of the information
was to do with the ice storm down east.
There was a big push for generators, but
when people like Don McCullogh
offered his, it was not needed. Rick also
mentioned the Ontario Northern
Conference, coming up March 6-7-8 in
Timmins. Rainy River District has 156
members, Kcnora 23 and Thunder Bay
1
has 96 from last membership count.
Rick at this time also handed in his
resignation, due to an overload of other
commitments. We are all sorry to see
him go; he has done a great job over the
past year. Thanks, Rick, for your many
hours and support.
Kristine reported for Ag in the
Classroom. Career Day at Donald
Young School has invited a number of
professions to set up displays and answer
questions for students from Grades 6-7-8
from D. Y. School, Crossroads School
and Sturgeon Creek School. Kristine
Carpenter, Pat Clysdale-Cornell and
Shirley Morrish set up a display
promoting Agricultural Careers. Each
student had a questionnaire to follow and
the interest was excellent. It never
ceases to amaze me when kids ask about
something: one student wanted to know
if there was a College that taught you
how to make brew out of barley. He was
ready to diversify before he started.
Bill, chairperson for entertainment,
has a teleconference scheduled February
11 with the committee. The annual
potluck luncheon and skating party
which takes place Sunday, February 22,
will be planned as well as the Spring
Dinner and Dance which will coincide
with Ag Days on the weekend of April
3-4. Entertainment committee people
are Bill Darby, James Gibson, Tammy
Hunsperger, Kris Carpenter and Shirley
Morrish.
Rainy River District 4-H held their
Annual Awards Banquet at the Devlin
Community Centre, Friday, February 6.
Tables were set up for 160 guests. The
banquet was served by Deb and Lucy
and appreciated by everyone. Guest
speaker was Bill Darby and a short talk
was presented by Roy Lever from
Dryden.
Rainy River Veterinary Services
presents an award to the highest scoring
member in the 4-H vet clubs and this
went to Stacey Angus. The $100 and
Trophy for the calf club member who
accumulated the greatest number of
points in the past three ycars, wcnt to
Laura Zimmerman. Greg Haglin
received the 4-H Leaders' Association
Award, as well as the Toronto Dominion
cash award of $100.
The Rainy River Federation of
Agriculture combined with the Rainy
River District Cattlemen's Association,
presented halters to first year beef club
membcrs. Wayne Flats and Bill Darby
presented them to Mark Brown, Chad
Hayes, Kerry Hyatt, Jeff LaFleur and
Dusty Smith. Leader certificates went to
Vicki Calder for five-year, and I0 -year
certificates went to Louise Bliss and
Alwine Teeple. Eighteen -project awards
went to Simone LeBlanc, Nicole
Sinninghe, Melinda Teeple and Pamela
Teeple.
The annual meeting for the Rainy
River District Cattlemen was held
January 21. Directors on the board for
1998 arc Peter Spuzak, Dean McLean,
Todd McLean, Ralph Hunsperger, Andy
Carpenter, Archie Wierscma, Aarne
Hahkala, KimJo Calder, Gordon
Hoskins, Rick Boersma and Wayne
Flatt.
February 9 was the annual meeting
for Rainy River Feeder Finance. Five
hundred and fifty cattle are on feed in
the District through the program at this
time.
The Calving Clinic for Women was
held last week at OMAFRA with 11 in
attendance. It was an excellent
presentation by Robert Tremblay
D.V.M. It was suggested that he do a
return workshop for the fellows. It's a
terrific refresher course for everyone
involved in the calving business.
The latest on the Border -Crossing
issue (the 26 -year ongoing Rainy
RiverBaudette matter): In January, the
American contact at the USDA was
overseas and nothing could be done until
his return. Secretary for Nault stated
that there were no problems or
complications; just delays. Last week,
after the latest phone conversation, it
was reported that the American official
in charge of the animal division and the
Canadian counterpart are discussing the
issue, but there are other areas besides
ours that have the same problem. More
on this later.
"To be a good leader, take a little
more than your share of the blame and a
little less than your share of the credit."
I guess there's only one thing left for
me to do. I'm going outside to make
snow angels as it's the only winter sport
I excel in and it's calling for rain. which
means our little bit of snow will soon be
gone. Ah - - - Spring.
The luck of the Irish to you all!O
by Shirley Morrish
MARCH 1999 59