The Rural Voice, 1998-05, Page 65PERTH Pgit
County Pork Producers NEWSLETTER
John Nyenhuis, President
519-393-6539
• The Rural Voice is provided to Perth
County Pork Producers by the PCPPA.
Remembering a man of quiet grace, firm conviction
George Lupton
1910 - 1998
"Stick together boys!", were the
last words I heard him say as he
pulled on his overcoat. George
Lupton and his wife, Marion, were in
the lobby of the Mitchell Community
Centre. The 1998 Perth County Pork
Producers Annual meeting had just
concluded and George was heading
home.
That evening we had just been
introduced to the first report from the
Ontario Pork Industry Marketing
Task Force. George probably felt a
twinge of anxiety as the presenters
talked about allowing "sales agents"
to replace the current system of all
hogs being sold through the
provincial board. Change was in the
air again. Change was not new to
George; he had seen much in his
lifetime, but was this new approach
for the better?
Perhaps during the evening his
mind drifted back to some stormy
encounter in the late '50s when the
pro -marketing board forces were
engaged in an intense struggle with
those against the board. Maybe he
remembered how the debate had
forced farmers to take sides,
sometimes against their neighbours.
Whatever his impression of the
Ontario Pork
Congress
25th Anniversary
June 25 & 26
In Stratford
Theme: A Glimpse of
Yesterday and a Vision
of Tomorrow.
evening's proceedings, his conviction
about working together remained
intact when he left for home.
George Lupton was born on June
11, 1910 in Downie township just off
the Harmony road. In 1937 he bought
the farm he was to call home for the
next 61 years. A mixed farm with
dairy cattle and farrow -to -finish hogs
provided him and his family with
ample work and a good living. I
asked his wife Marion when he
became involved with the Perth
County Pork Producers Association?
She thought it was shortly after their
marriage in 1958.
Obviously George's interest in
hog marketing was more than casual.
He was elected to serve on the
OPPMB in 1963 and continued in
that capacity until 1976. He also
served as president of the county
organization in 1967 and 1968. One
might have thought that his interest
would be waning after some years,
but not so. In 1971 he took on the
time-consuming duties of secretary
and remained at the post until 1982.
George was 87 when he died on
March 8, 1998. To me it is quite
remarkable that he continued to be so
interested in hog marketing issues
long after he left hog production.
George was a quiet man, but he was
always personable and likely to offer
his views one on one. Occasionally,
he would address the group. Vince
Hulshof told me that George was the
type of person who, when he spoke,
you knew you should listen. What
was the secret of his interest? Quite
simply, he enjoyed the discussion and
it contributed to his overall well-
being. Furthermore, he had been one
of the pioneers that brought in co-
operative marketing and he wanted to
sec a system maintained that would
serve everyone's interests. George
Lupton was a man of quiet grace,
firm conviction and an example for
us all. We will miss him.0
— Submitted by Larry Skinner
Any opinions expressed herein may
not necessarily reflect the views of
the Perth County Pork Producers'
Association.
PERTH COUNTY
PORK PRODUCERS'
PORK PRODUCTS
• Smoked Pork Chops • Fresh Pork Chops
• Stuffed Loin Chops • Smoked Sausage
• Smoked Cheddar Sausage
• Bacon Burgers • Teriyaki Pork Steaks
• Vittorio's BBQ Sauce
AVAILABLE FROM:
Fred de Martines (Sebr.) 393-6812
Martin van Bakel (Dublin) 347-2666
Walter Bosch (Monkton) 356-9000
Ted Keller (Mitchell) 348-9836
MAY 1998 61