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The Rural Voice, 1987-05, Page 63NEW- LICS LIMITED • Custom Cylinder building & repair includingTruck Hoists, Fork Lifts, etc. • Hydraulic Jack repair & service • General Machining • Hoses & Fittings NEW -LIFT HYDRAULICS Limited Wallace Ave., N. Listowel 519-291-4413 YOUR HURON -PERTH DEALER FOR (II 1111 K.E.W. WASHERS Priced fro m $795 Ask for a Demonstration Large Units Demonstrated by Appointment Only • MODELS FROM 900 LB. UP HOG BARN SPECIALS 1800 LB. • DISINFECTANT ATTACHMENTS • SOAPING ATTACHMENTS 'POWER WASH BRUSHES 'SAND BLASTER ATTACHMENTS • QUICK COUPLER EXT. HOSES • FULL RANGE OF HOT WATER UNITS AND REG. WASHERS TO 2000 LBS. SEAFORTH 521.0120 FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED • • WOOCSTOCN 62 THE RURAL VOICE NOTEBOOK Jo Anne Wilhelm, 17, daughter of Leonard and Bessie Wilhelm of R. R. 1, Stratford, wrote the following piece (an excerpt is printed) for a 4-H com- petition. As Bessie Wilhelm notes, Jo Anne's work is an indication of "how concerned our young people feel about farming today." Jo Anne is a student at Northwestern Secondary School in Stratford. SAVE OUR FARMERS Agriculture is more than products and process. It's people, the backbone of our nation. We can no longer take our agricultural business for granted. A country is only as strong as its agriculture. Agriculture is one of the nation's largest businesses, along with industry and tourism. It accounts for almost 15 per cent of the jobs in Canada. But not since the dustbowl days have so many farmers walked away from their land. Many who remain face ruin and crippling debts. Farmers are becoming unpaid servants who donate their time and talent to feed you and me. The majority of us young people are deeply concerned about the social and economic evolution which is tak- ing place. We have a special role to play in the farming industry with our energy and ambition and enthusiasm. We are willing to earn that right to play an active role. Let's stop being intimidated by so- called experts; our guess is as good as theirs, and sometimes a whole lot better. They give advice by the bucket but take it by the grain. We will take the responsibility to become involved and there is nothing we can't over- come. We do believe in our 4-H motto, "Learn to do by doing." But it is difficult to farm if our parents have lost their farm — and we haven't pro- duced even a hybrid daisy yet that can sprout from under an asphalt parking lot. Yet despite the physical, emotion- al, and economic hardships of farming, they want to carry on. They love the land. They want to keep a family tradition and heritage. Our farmers are under constant stress and worry, not knowing what tomorrow brings. Many are so concerned about losing their farms to banks and other creditors