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The Rural Voice, 1999-08, Page 47News Missouri economist, sociologist to speak on rural life Agriculture is an extremely profitable business — if you're not a farmer, says the Catholic Rural Life Conference (CLRC) which is bring- ing William and Judy Heffernan to a series of meetings in Bruce, Huron and Lambton counties in August. Catholic Rural Life's chairman Tony Beernink, who first brought Dr. Heffernan to the attention of his and other farm groups last November at the CRLC Conference, arranged for the eminent sociologist and economist from the University of Missouri at Columbia to return to Ontario, along with his wife Judy. The husband and wife team, each of vv hom is respected for their academic and practical work in defending the family farm, will speak about the issue of the inequity of a situation that sees farmers with return on equity of three per cent while corporations like General Mills have a return on equity of 222 per cent and Quaker Oats, 165 per cent. The Bruce and Grey County Fed- erations of Agriculture will host the 'couple at a meeting in Hanover on Monday, August 23 at the Knights of Columbus Hall (Highway 4 west between Hanover and Walkerton) at 7:30 p.m. See the Grey County Fed- eration newsletter for more details. The Ecumenical Rural Life Committee, a group of clergy and laypeople from the Anglican, United, Catholic and Presbyterian churches concerned about rural communities and farmers, have organized a day- long event at the South Huron Recreational Centre (Exeter Arena) in Exeter on August 24. During the afternoon, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m., the Heffernans will present a session aimed at clergy, pastoral teams and members of church congregations called "A Passion for Rural Ministry". The Heffernans believe traditional rural institutions such as churches can become focal points for connecting farmers and consumers • and developing equitable alternatives to the current food system. Their expertise with alternative systems has encouraged churches to become involved in the session. The evening session, entitled "A Different Road: Developing Rural Community as if People and the Environment Mattered" is open to everyone beginning at 7:00 p.m. There is no charge for either event. The Lambton County Federation of Agriculture will host the final event on Wednesday, August 25 at 6:00 p.m. at Wyoming Fairgrounds with a banquet at 6:00 p.m. with Dr. Heffernan as.guest speaker. The Heffernans have been active describing the ongoing concentration of power within the food industry and the implications for rural communities, urban consumers and national governments around the world; examining means through which the negative consequences of the economic crisis in agriculture and rural America can be lessened for families and communities and describing the role institutions, including churches, can play in the changes impacting rural areas.° Slippery Concrete Floors? COLD PLANING • Etch the complete top off slippery concrete floors. • Also grooves new barns. BENEFITS TO COLD PLANING & GROOVING • Ensures Footing for walking, mounting and moving around on �� 'F • Decreases04 - 4�a nervousness'!' �e- �� and injuries_ t _� GROOVE SIZE: 3/8" depth, 1/2" wide, 4" centre to centre. To ensure better results have your floors cut both straight and on an angle. JJM CONCRETE GROOVING R R #1 ARTHUR ONTARIO (519) 848-3184 1-800-837-0246 Rissler The Original Wooden Conveyor and Taper Board Feeder • Wood Construction with oak rails or optional Poly rails • Simple installation - Simple maintenance • #55 or #62 Steel detachable chain with Poly flights • Adjustable slip clutch, cast sprockets, greasable bearings • 3 coats polyurethane on surfaces in contact with feed • Painted exterior surfaces • CONVEYOR available up to 170 ft. length • FEEDER available up to 80 ft. length • 12 1/2" to 30 1/2" widths OPTIONS • Inclines • Declines • Dropouts • Covers • Hoppers WE ARE THE DISTRIBUTORS FOR RISSLER MANUFACTURING For your local dealer call: OLIVET SALES & SERVICE RR #2 Drayton, Ontario NOG 1P0 ELMER M. BRUBACHER (519) 638-2555 Fax: (519) 638-2031 AUGUST 1999 43