The Rural Voice, 1998-10, Page 55RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
m*
ANAL
RAINY RIVER VALLEY
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 1C0
807-486-3622
The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
River Federation members by the RRFA
September 15, 1998
Harvesting is completed across the
District and with this very arid
weather that everyone seems to be
experiencing, farmers are able to
plough, cultivate and rejuvenate the
land. Ponds are drying up, as well as
creeks and riverbeds. It does give the
opportunity to clean up the rubble
and debris that collects when the
water is at normal levels. It's
amazing to see some of the "artifacts"
that float down stream.
The RRFA meeting for September
was held, a bit later, so today is a mad
rush to beat the deadline date for The
Rural Voice printing. Kim Desserre,
Bill Darby, Lucy Lahti, Betty
Salchert, Don McCulloch, Stan Arm-
strong, Linda Armstrong and Shirley
Morrish met at Morley Municipal
meeting room. Kristine Carpenter
arrived after her CWL meeting.
Kim met with local MP, Ontario
NDP Leader, Howard Hampton, last
week. She presented a number of
issues to him. Howard did stress that
lobbying is very important, if yoti
want something done. Kim also
found out that our local OMAFRA
office would not be moving out of
Emo; it could transfer to a different
government building, but we will
have it remaining in the town of Emo.
Bill reported that the 10' x 12'
entrance sign that has been designed
to promote agriculture is a go. Peter
Spuzak will do the painting and it
will be unveiled at the annual fall
dinner and dance at Pinewood on
October 24. Remember to get your
tickets early from anyone of the
Directors. The theme is Country
Harvest. Cocktail hour is at 6:00
p.m., dinner at 7:00 p.m. and the
meeting at 8:00 p.m. CWL ladies will
serve the roast beef dinner with all
the extras and they promise to
remcmbcr the horseradish!
The 4-H Leaders Association will
have its regular meeting on Monday,
September 28 at OMAFRA at 7:30
p.m. A 4-H Leadership Workshop is
to be held at Quetico Centre on
September 26 - 27. A number of
leaders from Districts across Ontario
will be attending.
Kim reported that Wally
Hunsperger will take on the duties of
managing the local Community
Pasture until the season ends. The
books will continue to be done by
Wade Desserre and Kim. Some of the
cattle were leaving the pasture today.
Kristine reported for Ag in the
Classroom. We will be setting up a
display at the Clover Valley Farmers'
Market on Saturday, October 10 to
coincide with Ag Week. Once again,
scarecrows will be created, since they
were such a hit last year, and there
will be face painting for the kids.
Recipes and any Ag. info will be
available. AITC will also be doing a
presentation on teachers' day,
February 19, 1999.
The Annual OFA convention is
November 23 - 25 this year. Stan
Armstrong will be attending with
Linda in place of Kim, who should
have a new little bundle by that time.
Kim will order the signs "No
Entry without Permission of Owner",
size 10 x 12 and they will be on sale
at the annual dinner October 24.
Carrie Baker will design them.
The 1998 Leadership in Action
program is being offered at Geneva
Park near Orillia from September 30
to October 2 this year. The cost is
$250. Thirty-five participants will be
accepted. Registration forms are
available from OMAFRA.
There is to be a Health and Safcty
Conference at the Valhalla Inn at
Thunder Bay on November 3 - 5.
Brochures are available from
OMAFRA.
Bulls can be delivered to the
Rainy River Bull Test Station at Ken
Fischer's on October 13, 1998. It will
continue to be under the supervision
of BIO. Bulls must be born between
January 15 and April 15, 1998 and
weigh a minimum of 400 pounds at
delivery. Vaccinations and boosters
must also be completed two weeks
before delivery date. The estimated
cost for 142 days on test, is $785.
Mike Solomon called Kim
concerning the wild elk that arc to be
released in the area. They did a
release in the French River arca.
approximately 40 head, and are
working on a release again for the
year 2000, with about 50 - 100 head.
If conditions are not right, they will
come here instead. This is all under
the Ontario Elk Restoration Initiative.
Bill mentioned that it is really the
white-tailed deer who host liver
fluke, and not the elk.
There is a Trade Show '98 at the
Fort Frances curling rink, September
18 - 19. Show times arc Friday, 12 - 9
p.m. and Saturday 10 - 5 p.m. There
are some great draw prizes and a free
barbecue with admission on the
Friday.
The annual fall calf sale at Stratton
Sales Yards is Saturday, October 3.
Call President Peter Spuzak at 807-
274-9017 or Manager Russ Richards
at 807-487-2472 for any information
needed.
Canadian Western Agribition this
year is November 22 - 29 at Regina
Exhibition Park. For information, call
Agribition office at 306-565-0565.
The Royal Agriculture Winter
Fair runs from November 5 - 14.
Brochures are available at your local
OMAFRA office.
4-H has a new mascot — it's
Frisco the Funky 4-H Fox! The
winning submission was a tie design
between Elizabeth Francis from
Coboconk, Ontario and Sarah Jean
Lees from Pictou, Nova Scotia. The
contest was open to 4-H members
across Canada and more than 110
entries were submitted. November 2 -
8 is National 4-H week.
We are all being reminded to take
an active part in the RRFA and let
your name stand when the annual
meeting comes up October 24 at
Pinewood. Remember it's "Farmers
working for Farmers", and we all
benefit from the work being done in
the Association.
"You know you are getting old
when it takes you longer to rest up
than it did to get tired."0
- By Shirley Morrish
OCTOBER 1998 51
•