Farming '91, 1991-03-20, Page 22What is the oldest rural organiz
ation in Ontario that is non parti-
sian in its appeal to all parts of the
province? In what organization can
you discuss during the year any
topic from soil erosion, to buffalo
farming, to fertilizer to potatoes, to
handling farm machinery and all
topics in between. Surprise! It’s
the Federated Women’s Institutes
of Ontario (FWIO).
Somehow many people have
forgotten that the backbone of the
rural community in Ontario is
FWIO and that although their
name does not imply it, FWIO does
deal with all aspects of farming
particularly as they affect women.
A look at the range of agriculture
topics discussed, the field trips
undertaken by the various FWIO
branches would amaze you in their
scope.
The FWIO has never forgotten
that as an organization its roots
were started from a men’s farming
organization. Erland Lee, who was
Secretary of the South Wentworth
Farmer’s Institute, invited Ade
laide Hoodless to speak to their
ladies night in February 1897. The
members of the Farmer's Institute
were not unanimous in the decision
to invite a woman to speak to them,
but Erland Lee persisted. As a
result of the efforts of Erland and
Janet Lee and Adelaide Hoodless,
the Women’s Institute was formed.
That spirit of overcoming obsta
cles remains today. The Oxford
County Women’s Institute mem
bers have persisted in a project,
overcome numerous obstacles and
are now successful. They have just
supplied the over 5,000 public and
separate schools of Ontario with a
kit of true-type farm animals. At
this stage arrangements are being
made with the Band Councils to
supply the Native schools in
Ontario with the same kit. Many of
the pictures are from a series of
paintings by the well known Oxford
Agriculture painter Ross Butler,
whose wife has been a very active
WI member
Ruby Butler
in Oxford County,
has been the WI
OAAAF to train students
representative to the Oxford Farm
Safety Association. These kits con
tain copies of some of the original
paintings as well as updated ver
sions, approved by the various
Breed Associations. Also in the kit
are a series of activities the
children can do that will help them
understand what the real farm
animals are like and not just
cartoon characters.
The First Lady of Agriculture in
Ontario, this year, is Evelyn Freer,
President of South Western Area
WI (Kent, Lambton and Essex) as
well as a former FWIO Board
Director. This year the Internation
al Plowing Match is being held in
Lambton County and the tented
city is on the Freer Farm. Evelyn’s
husband will reign as the Mayor.
The cradle of Agriculture in
Ontario is the 4H Programme. As
well as donating money to assist
the programme, last year the Wl
members gave 27,500 hours of
volunteer help. The benefit will be
seen in years to come. Many young
people in Ontario have had their
education assisted by WI Scholar
ships.
As a provincial organization,
with over 20,000 members the
FWIO is associated with OFA and
with no other farming group. This
association has been on going for
many years and will continue to
benefit all who live in Ontario.
Next time you think of Agricul
ture, Ontario and women think of
Federated Women’s Institute of
Ontario.
Starting next month, up to 30
specially selected people will start
a unique training program, offered
by the Ontario Ministry of Agricul
ture and Food, which will help
them find jobs in the agriculture
and food industry.
“In the past few years, it has
been difficult for both government
and the private sector in Ontario to
find qualified people to work in the
agriculture and food sector,” said
Minister of Agriculture and Food
Elmer Buchanan.
“At the same time, some new
Canadians with agricultural educa
tion or experience in their native
country haven’t been able to get
work right away because of their
lack of knowledge of Ontario agri
culture. This program will improve
their chances of employment,” he
said.
The program will have two
Computerized
Blue Book
available
phases. In the education phase, the
students will spend four to six
weeks in the classroom at the
Ridgetown College of Agricultural
Technology.
The second phase involves prac
tical training. Following their class
room sessions, participants will be
twinned with people in the minis
try’s field branches or research
stations. They will help staff with
their duties, accompany them on
field consultation and attend in
dustry information meetings.
It is expected that training
placements will be made with
private sector companies and farm
ers, depending on a participant’s
specific requirements.
“This way, we provide people
with the theoretical background on
subjects like crop and livestock
production and, agricultural eco
nomics, then showing them the
practical application of this infor
mation,’’ Buchanan said.
People from all over the province
will participate in the program, and
the placements will be with mini
stry branches across the province
as well.
The public will be informed of
the program through the ministry’s
regular human resources activities
an advertising cam-and through
paign.
People interested in participat
ing can write to: Don Taylor,
Director of the Ridgetown College
of Agricultural Technology, Ridge
town, Ontario, NOP 2C0; or phone
him at (519) 674-5456.
“This is the first program of its
kind the ministry has ever under
taken, and we’re really excited. It
will be a great opportunity to help
people who have been unable to
find work and for potential employ
ers,” Buchanan said.
The $1.05 million program is part
of the special adjustment measures
phase of provincial government’s
$700-million anti-recession pro
gram, designed to provide short
term economic stimulation and job
creation. The first phase involved
capital projects, which targeted
public buildings and infrastruc- ' '
tures in need of upgrading and
repair.
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The Ontario Ministry of Agricul
ture & Food now has available the
Farm Account Book (also known as
the Blue Book) in a computerized
version.
Many farm families are familiar
with the manual farm account book
which has provided a simple to use
bookkeeping ledger for recording
accounting transactions on the
farm.
The computerized version cannot
run by itself on the computer but
requires a spreadsheet program
such as Lotus, Quattro-Pro, or
SuperCalc to operate. The program
is also very similar to the manual
version and includes columns for
recording GST. Many have found
the program a useful introduction
to farm accounting on the compu
ter. The program does not have
many of the advanced features
such as enterprise separation or
farm analysis that the advanced
commercial programs have. To
adequately use the blue book
version, users must also be familiar
with running the spreadsheet pro
gram. A manual for using the blue
book program is also included. The
program will produce an income
statement or balance sheet any
time and can keep track of accounts
payable and receivable. Cost of the
program is $10.00.
If you wish to discuss your farm
accounting needs, or require furth
er information on this program,
contact the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture & Food in Clinton.
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