The Rural Voice, 1999-04, Page 3i
Editor: Keith Roulston
editorial advisory committee:
Bev Hill, farmer, Huron County
John Heard, soils and crop extension
and research, northwestern Ontario
Diane O'Shea, farmer, Middlesex Cty.
George Penfold, associate professor,
University of Guelph
Gerald Poechman, farmer, Bruce Cty.
contributing writers:
Gisele Ireland, Lisa Boonstoppel-
Pot, Bonnie Gropp,
Bob Reid, Mervyn Erb, Sandra
On, Carl L. Bedal, Janice Becker,
Allison Lawlor
marketing & advertising sales manager:
Gerry Fortune
advertising representative:
Merle Gunby
production co-ordinator:
Joan Caldwell
advertising & editorial production:
Dianne Josling
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Behind the Scenes
Teaching kids to love the farm
As the farming population ages,
there is concern about who will run
the farms in the next generation.
Generally there is the worry about
how young people can get the money
to take over the farm but there's also
the possibility that kids won't want to
take over the family farm.
Joel Salatin, speaking at the recent
Canadian Organic Growers
Conference in Guelph, dealt with the
latter subject, how to let the kids
grow in their own way within the
family farming operation. His speech
was so thought-provoking we felt it
deserved to have wider circulation
and asked his permission to reprint it.
Steve and Judy Shelley of
Hanover know how to involve
children. Their daughter Nicole is
already a shepherd at age five with a
flock of eight sheep of her own. The
Shelleys combine their sheep
operation with a sheep -shearing
service that visits farms all over the
southwestern part of Ontario,
shearing 7,000 sheep a year. We
talked to them this month.
The Profit$ section this month
deals with farm buildings. We talked
to professionals in the business to see
what's going up, and what's going
into what's going up.
Among the things going up with
greater frequency are fabric -covered
shelters. Steve Dolson and Karen
Galbraith are among the first in
Ontario to build a new free -stall dairy
operation completely contained in
such a shelter. We visited their farm
to learn how things have gone since
they occupied the barn in late
January.
In the news section, Bruce and
Grey members of parliament heard
the concerns of farmers when they
attended the members of parliament
dinner in Elmwood. Among the more
emotional issues raised in questioning
from the floor was the difficulties
rural young people face in trying to
get decent jobs and earn money for
their education.
Bonnie Gropp's recipes this month
offer treats for the Easter season.
In her decorating column this
month, Patti Robertson offers some
quick tips to make housekeeping
easier. Rhea Hamilton Seeger talks
about scree gardens — that mimic
nature to take advantage of gravelly
land.0
Update
4-H at a new crossroads
The evolving relationship between OMAFRA and the Ontario 4-H Council
took another step recently when the 4-H Council agreed to a new partnership
agreement.
OMAFRA has been cutting the apron strings with 4-H for more than a decade,
sometimes with unhappiness on the part of 4-H leaders (as reported in November
1996 when 4-H celebrated its 80th birthday) but at the 4-H Council's Conference
and Annual Meeting held in Orillia delegates accepted a new agreement that will
come into effect on April 1, 2000. Under it the council will be responsible for
100 per cent of the delivery of the program with OMAFRA strictly being a
funding partner.
The goal, the 4-H Council says, is to support a relevant and vibrant youth
program and to deliver it efficiently. The council will review 441 and shape it
into a program that best meets the needs of youth in the 21st century. All
stakeholders are encouraged to participate by providing input through surveys or
an on-line poll and at face-to-face meetings. The new 4-H will reflect the new
millennium. Such initiatives as partnership with the Rural Youth Employment
Network, implementing youth -at -risk issues sessions, 4-H in the school and
volunteer management have demonstrated the 4 -H's leadership and forward
thinking, the council maintains.
Still, the council says, membership fees, sponsorships and donations are still
required to continue to build the 4-H program and the Ontario 4-H Foundation.0