The Rural Voice, 1987-12, Page 74RAINY RIVER Federation of Agriculture N EWS LETTE R
Box 416, Emo, Ontario
NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT
Farmers in the Rainy River District are
almost at a loss as to what to do next, as most
of the fall work is completed. As farmers,
however, they feel guilty being idle when
there is fine sunny weather and the soil is dry,
so many tractors were still humming in late
November.
They say this was probably the driest
summer in more than 30 years in the Rainy
River valley.
CALF SALE
All the cow -calf produccrs have been
wearing broad grins since the record-setting
calf sale at Stratton Sales Yard on October
19.
Although there were fewer than 1,100
head offered for sale, the quality of the cattle
was excellent, and the prices broke all previ-
ous highs.
Prices ranged all the way up to 1.40 for
a pen of small calves, but averaged between
1.00 and 1.25 for many of the high quality
calves weighing between 500 and 700
pounds.
Cross -breeding has raised the total take-
home pay for many District produccrs.
Although the numbers may be down in
the Rainy River District, the farmers still
striving to succeed are proving to be produc-
ers of top quality.
The bidders, from Kitchener via satel-
lite, kept the bids climbing, but there were
also many buyers in the stands. Everyone
agreed it was a great sale.
RRFA ANNUAL MEETING
On Saturday, October 24, the Rainy
River Federation of Agriculture held its
annual meeting at the Emo arena. About 180
District residents enjoyed an interesting
meeting chaired by retiring president Bill
Gibson.
Speakers during the evening included
Doug Avery from the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture, Carolyn Kreger, representing
Rural Dignity in the group's fight with
Canada Post, John Parry, MP for Rainy
River-Kcnora, and Howard Hampton, the
newly elected MPP for Rainy River District.
Gerald Gouliquer, president of the
Rainy River Cattlemen's Association, ex-
pressed the District's appreciation to John
Owen, who is leaving the District, for his
many years of work on behalf of both the
Federation of Agriculture and the RRCA.
72 THE RURAL VOICE
Elections were held following the dinner
and speeches. Agricultural representative
Bruce Ward conducted the election.
ELECTIONS
George Hyatt of Devlin was chosen as
the new president, replacing Bill Gibson,
who stepped down bccause of family
commitments. Norman Cain of Devlin was
returned as secretary. Lisa Teeple of Black -
hawk is the new treasurer.
In Zone I, Bob Locking was returned to
serve a second two-year term, while Linda
Armstrong has one year remaining of her
term. In Zone 11, Reuben Korb of Stratton
joins Kristine Carpenter, who has one year
remaining. In Zone III, Debbie Zimmerman
of Barwick starts a two-year term and Allan
Teeple has one year remaining. In Zone 1 V,
Bill McLain of Devlin joins Jim Belluz as a
director from the cast end of the District.
POW 1E0 807-482-2051
Ralph Hunsperger of Emo was re-
elected as provincial director to the OFA.
Kristine Carpenter and Linda Armstrong
were chosen as delegates to the OFA con-
vention in Toronto.
Also on the agenda was the presentation
of OFA plaques to federation members who
have unselfishly served the farmcrs of the
Rainy River District. Doug Avery of the
OFA presented these plaques to four former
presidents of the Rainy River federation.
First was Telford Advent, the original
president of the District federation, who set
a high standard of dedication. The second
president was Donald McCulloch, a dedi-
cated worker for District agriculture and the
present reeve of Chapple municipality. Bill
Gibson, a tireless worker for the RRFA since
its inception, followed as the third president.
And Ed Fisher, who has donated endless
(eont'd on following page)
"TIME OUT" CONFERENCE
FOR RURAL WOMEN
Rainy River District rural women
could be found enjoying themselves at a
"Time Out" conference at the Red Dog
Inn in Fort Francis last month. The
event was co-ordinated by Emily Wat-
son, Jeannine Cornell, Marcine James,
Kristine Carpenter, Pat Fisher, Marga-
ret Gemmell, and Pat Clysdale Cornell.
Guest speaker Marilyn Sharpe from
Alberta, a 1986 Nuffield scholarship
winner, showed slides of her five-month
learning experience in Britain, Bel-
gium, and France. Ideas included farm
shops, market stimulation for produce,
inviting food editors to the farm to taste
products, hops, spring farm tours, open
farm days, and an adopt -a -farm program
in which a farmer visits a classroom to
explain his operation.
Dr. Audrey Johnstone, a family
practitioner, strongly urged the women
to help change their family's and future
family's style of high living to a more
healthy one: stop smoking for your own
sake, she said, and for those around you
who breath the smoke. Three guide-
lines, she added, are "less fat, less salt,
and less sugar."
Janet Owen, lecturer at Confedera-
tion College, helped everyone to recog-
nize overload, and had them look at
what caused their stress.
Kathy McNabb of Family and
Children's Services provided a network
program for individuals, families, or
groups to consider.
John Wilson, a gardener with Agri-
culture Canada, had reams of informa-
tion on planting a productive, weed -
free, enjoyable garden.
Emily Watson, family management
specialist, discussed budgeting, invest-
ments, wills, and life insurance pertain-
ing to women.
Shelley Scott, a local reflexologist,
introduced a stimulating natural method
of alleviating health problems.
Pat Clysdale Cornell, rural special-
ist, selected the topics of good commu-
nication, good leadership, and setting
goals on a work sheet.0
Kristine Carpenter