Times Advocate, 1989-05-17, Page 23To rejuvenate 4-H
program in Ontario
TORONTO - Ontario's 4-H pro-
gram will be rejuvenated to better
meet the needs of today's rural
youth.
"Proposed changes to the program
have been discussed with local 4-1-1
associations and they have agreed
that the Ontario program will bene-
fit if changes are put into practice,"
Ontario Minister of Agriculture and
Food Jack Riddell said today.
"The 4-11 program in Canada is
76 -years -old. It is a well-established
• organization, still popular with ru-
ral youth," Riddell said. "These
changes will ensure it has a solid
following in Ontario for years to
come."
The 4-11 program's purpose is
the personal development of youth
in rural Ontario. There are current-
ly about 17,000 441 members and
3,600 4-H leaders in Ontario.
- A review of Ontario's 4-H pro-
gram, which made suggestions for
strengthening Ontario's 4-H pro-
gram and attracting more members,
was released last December. Since
then, the minister mct with presi-
dents of local 4-11 organizations.
Their suggestions for amendments
and additions have been considered
and many have been incorporated.
"Local 4-H organizations will be
able to adapt these suggestions for
change into their programs as they
see fit," Riddell said.
Some of the new directions for
the 4-H program will be:
• to establish an elected Ontario
4-1-1 council within three years.
The council will have expanded re-
sponsibilities in formulating and
implementing policy, proposing
and evaluating projects and allocat-
ing funding for leadership develop-
ment.
• to broaden the scope of mem-
bership in local 4-H associations
to enhance community involve-
ment. This could include involve-
ment of non -leader volunteers,
members and thcir parents and
sponsors. The association would
be responsible for defining its
membership and local bylaws, in
accordance with the constitution
and overall policies set by the On-
tario 4-H council.
• to include 10 and 11 -year-olds
in the program. Previously, youths
must have been 12 -years -old to
join. This year, the program started
accepting 11 -year-olds. In 1991, it
will begin accepting 10 -year-olds.
This will require the development
-if junior and senior level project
material.
• to organize a provincial cam-
paign for revitalizing the image of
4-H in the rural community and to
develop resources and workshops
for local 4-H associations. A for-
mal marketing plan will be devel-
oped to communicate a strong im-
age of 4-11 as a youth development
program that is educational and
fun.
• the ministry's rural organiza-
tions and services branch will fur-
ther strengthen its support of the
4-H program by, among other
things, providing leadership train-
ing and meeting resources for 4-1-1
leader sand enhancing indepth or-
ientation and contact, particularly
for new leaders and members.
Trying his luck - Allan Talbot, of Brucefield, tries his luck at the
Exeter Lions Club Fishing Derby at the Morrison Dam on Saturday.
The raincoat was needed after a morning sprinkle.
Times -Advocate, May 17, 1989 Page 23
Beef producers say
"no" by 72 percent
TORONTO - Seventy-two per-
cent of producers who participated
in Ontario's beef cattle marketing
vote said "no" to the establishment
of a producer -controlled marketing
commission.
"A significant percentage of Onta-
rio beef cattle producers has voted
to maintain all of their marketing
options, including direct -to -packer
sales. I now urge all the members
of Ontario's beef industry to work
together to achieve change and im-
provements for their industry," On-
tario Minister of Agriculture and
Food Jack Riddell said Friday.
Twenty-one percent of the v.oters
voted "yes" to the ballot's second
question, which asked should a mar-
keting commission, if formed,
work towards a marketing plan with
the authority to manage supply and
determine price.
The mail -in vote, which had a
deadline April 14, 1989, gave Onta-
rio's
nta-
rios beef cattle producers an oppor-
tunity to express their opinion on
the future of their marketing sys-
tem, as recommended by the Beef
Marketing Task Force, said Riddell.
Nearly 20,000 beef cattle producers
cast valid ballots.
"As the next step," Riddell said,
"I'm going to discuss with the in-
dustry, the othersecommendations
of the Beef Marketing Task Force."
Riddell noted that more than
9,000 producers attended informa-
tion meetings across the province.
An information package and the
questions, both prepared by a com-
mittee made up of representatives
from the Ontario Cattlemen's As-
sociation, Ontario Beef Producers
for Change; Inc. and ministry staff,
were sent out to beef producers.
The questions asked on the ballot
were:
1. Are you in favor of the pro-
posed producer -controlled market-
ing commission which would reg-
ulate the sale of all beef cattle in
Ontario?
2. Are you in favor of the above
proposed producer -controlled mar-
keting commission working to-
wards a national beef cattle market-
ing plan with the authority to
manage supply and determine
price?
SOYBEAN & WHITE BEAN
GROWERS
Have you tried Hensall Co-op's
Fluid Blend Fertilizer?
Did you know you can get your. Total N,P,K and
Chemicals custom applied at one time?
Graduate - Stephen Harburn,
son of Glenn and Doreen Har-
burn, Hensall, graduated April
28, 1989, from Sir Sandford.
College in Lindsay. He is pres-
ently employed in Red Lake for
the Ministry of Natural Resourc-
es fighting forest fires. Stephen
is a graduate of South Huron
District High School, Exeter.
Alert dangers
of boating
TORONTO - Statistics show that
one out of two Ontarians will be
involved with boating this year.
With that in mind, the Ontario Pro-
vincial Police has prepared informa-
tion designed to alert the public to
dangers related to boating.
Last year, fatalities were up, with
64 killed compared to 43 in 1987.
Approximately half of fatal acci-
dents arc alcohol-related.
"Alcohol consumption is more
hazardous on a small boat than on
shore," said S/Sgt. Larry Smith. "It
throws off coordination, balance and
judgment, which are very important
factors in safe boating."
Eighty-five pt;rcent of those killed
were not wearing life jackets.
"Life jackets won't work if you
don't wear them," said Smith. "It is
difficult even for a good swimmer
to locate a jacket and put it on after
capsizing."
Hypothermia is another dangerous
factor that should be considered.
Most lakes have an average temper-
ature of two degrees Celsius in
• May, and at that temperature. life
expectancy can be measured in sec-
onds.
"Cold water chills 25 times faster
than cold air. If your boat capsizes,
you should try to get as much of
your body out of the water and onto
the boat as you can. Of course, you
should also dress warmly for this
kind of weather. Even though the
air may feel warm, the water isn't,"
said Smith.
More than tree -quarters of the fa-
tal accidents at occurred last year
could have been prevented if boaters
had respected basic safety rules and
used proper safety equipment, ac-
cording to Smith.
Total Blend of Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash and Chemical being uniformly applied
5 LIQUID TERRAGATORS CAN GET
..THE JOB DONE FOR.YOU FAST!!
FLUID BLEND ADVANTAGES
* All broadcast NPK fertilizer and chemicals applied in just one application
• Reduce or eliminate amount of starter fertilizer used in planter
* Eliminate additional trips over field with fertilizer spreader and sprayer-
" Uniform
prayer`Uniform distribution of plant nutrients means getting maximum efficiency from your
fertilizer and increased yields.
• Applied fertilizer cultivated into root zone
* Least soil compaction
* Save valuable time and money by reducing trips over field
FLUID BLEND FERTILIZER = TOP YIELD
•
"Farmers working togefher for over 50 years'"
HENSALL DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE
Hensall 262-3002 1-800-265-5190