The Rural Voice, 1989-11, Page 34040 0.0 0147
Wen a farmer breaks a leg, suf-
fers a barn fire, or there is a death in
the family, the whole community
comes together to help. People tele-
phone, send cards, bring food, assist
with the plowing, or do the chores.
When a farmer loses a farm, exper-
iences financial difficulties, or suffers
mental stress caused by problems re-
lated to his business, the support he
needs is a little more difficult to get.
The average person simply doesn't
know how to respond to the financial
or stress problems of community
members, says Carol Cooper, program
co-ordinator for a newly formed group
called Rural Connections.
But Cooper adds that when a farm-
er is in trouble, the entire community
feels the effect. Community spirit
suffers.
One objective of Rural Connec-
tions, which was initiated by the Grey -
Bruce branch of the Canadian Mental
Health Association, is to assist farm
families to form and develop networks
of farm families who can discuss
issues, crises, concerns, and offer
mutual emotional support.
The goal, Cooper says, is to
provide a way to let people talk "at a
deeper level and with openness," with
no blame attached. In short, Rural
Connections means self-help groups,
"with each group deciding its own
direction," from stressing politics to
concentrating on "family learning."
A Resource Directory has also
been prepared. It lists all the support
groups helping farm families in Grey
and Bruce counties.
Rural Connections plans to hold
seminars for farmers and support
people, for "people who are willing to
step out and take a risk to help bring a
community together" — a community
"with that extra touch."
Through Rural Connections, Roger
Williams, an adult educator and asso-
Rural
Connections
Carol Cooper, program co-ordinator for Rural Connections: "We
need people who are willing to step out and take a risk to bring a
community together — a community with that 'extra touch'."
ciate professor at the University of
Wisconsin, will be offering "Bringing
Forth the Local Heroes," a presenta-
tion showing people who were able
to do something special in their own
community. Individuals can make a
difference, Williams says.
Williams will also discuss "Stay-
ing Up in a Down Economy," show-
ing how the farm crisis developed and
encouraging people to see the value
of support groups in the community.
Williams will speak in Durham and
Hanover in December (see the
Calendar listings in this issue).
Williams, author of the "Neighbour
to Neighbour" program in Wisconsin,
says that farm families, in many ways,
are more isolated than ever before.
Advances in technology have made it
possible for farmers to own their own
machinery, and low prices in agri-
cultural products have forced farmers
to be more efficient and competitive.
The consolidation of schools, church-
es, farm implement dealers, and other
associations has resulted in less day to
day contact with people in the imme-
diate neighbourhood.
The Rural Connections advisory
board includes Grey and Bruce repre-
sentatives from the Federations of
Agriculture, the Ministry of Agricul-
ture and Food, Concerned Farm Wom-
en, the Queen's Bush Rural Ministry,
the Women's Institute, the Grey -Bruce
Community Health Corporation, and
the Canadian Mental Health Associa-
tion, Grey -Bruce branch. For more
information, contact Carol Cooper at
201 Durham St. W., Walkerton, On-
tario, NOG 2V0, 519-881-0641.0SG
32 THE RURAL VOICE