Zurich Citizens News, 1976-06-30, Page 12Page 12 -Citizens News, June 30, 1976.
Junior agriculturist program
City kids get farm experience
Getting up at 4:45 a.rn. is a lot
earlier than Dave Springham of
London used to, but by the end of
the summer he'll likely be used
to it.
Dave is participating in the
Ministry of Agriculture's Junior
Agriculturist Program and is
spending the summer on the
dairy farm of Martin and Bev
Van Ninhuys, R,R. 2, Bayfield.
The program involves giving
16 and 17 year old male and
female residents of cities in
Ontario a chance to spend a
summer working on a farm. The
students live with the farm
family and are paid jointly by
the farmer and the ministry.
Their stay on the farm is from
June 21 to August 20 with every
other weekend off. They receive
a total of $16 per day, some of
which goes to pay room and
board.
The Van Ninhuys learned of
the program when a neighbour
had a student the previous year.
This is their first time in the
program but so far it seems to be
working out just fine and as soon
as the 35 cattle they milk twice
a day get used to Dave, he'll
be an even bigger help with the
chores.
Martin is teaching Dave how to
drive a tractor anctapparently
he catches on fast.
"Dave drove the tractor up and
down the corn field this morning
while we were picking Stones,
and he didn't run down toumuch
of the corn either." says Mr.
Van Ninhuys.
Dave learned of the program
through the guidance office at
school which had the applica-
tion forms available. During the
subsequent interview arranged
by the ministry's co-ordinator,
Dave expressed his interest in
dairy farming in particular.
Martin and Bev meanwhile
had obtained an application form
from the agricultural representa-
tive's office in Clinton, filled it
out and sent it to London to be
considered.
Lenard McGregor, in the
agricultural office in Clinton,
explained the qualifications look-
ed for in accepting both farmers
and students.
"The farmer must be a full-
time farmer with. -an ability to
work with inexperienced young
people. He must have suitable
accommodations available for the
student and understand this is to
be a learning experience and not
just be looking for cheap labor."
"The student must not have
worked on a farm before, must
remain on the farm for the full
nine week period with every other
weekend off and be in good
physical, mental and emotional
health. -It also helps if' the stu-
dents future plans involve the
farm in some way."
Dave's future plans are all
laid out even though the 16 year
old is only entering grade 11
this fall,
"I'm going tot become a
veterinary first, and when • I
have earned enough money I'm
going to become a dairy farmer."
What amazes Dave the most
about the dairy business so far
is the quantity of milk involved.
"Usually you only see milk
in those small bottles', but here
.you see so much." says Dave.
Martin laughs- and adds, "1
have to keep telling him to close
the lid on the milk cooling tank
because every time he pours
a pail of milk in he wants to stop
and take another look at all that
milk."
While Dave is amazed at the
quantity of milk 35 cattle can
produce, that is not what he
picked as being the most fun.
Believe it or not, he responded
without hesitation to say, "hay-
•
•
ing, haying is really fun".
Dave is one of 11 students
participating in the program with-
in Huron County, However, only
5 of these 11 are boys. Involv-
ing girls in the program has its
own hazards according to Mr.
McGregor.
"The girls want to sling bales
and do chores, but some farmers
are very selective about •the
physical labor they let the girls
do. There are still some male
chauvinists around I .guess."
However, the problem is not a
serious one as in past years
the girls have tended to make
their desires known. They do not
want to be baby-sitters and they
soon prove they can handle the •
work. In fact, the girls seen to
get along better than boys with
dairy cattle especially.
Martin Van Ninhuys looked a
little skeptical when he heard
that but his wife, Bev, agreed
adding, it could he the voice that
does it.
At any rate, days on the
Van Ninhu.;' farm begin at
4:45 a.m. and Dave is still hav-
ing nrohlems with that.
ST. BONIFACE GRADUATES—After attending mass Wednesday .
evening the grade 8 graduates of St. Boniface with their families
and friends held graduation exercises in the schodl. Left to right,
front row, Rosemary Meidinger, Jeannette Charrett, Linda Deno-
mme;Denise Bedard, Donna Miller, Rose Struyke, Betty Pennings„
Diana Verlinde, Theresa Soudant. Second row, Sister Louise,
Jeff McKinnon, Terry Bedard, Paul Hartman, Christopher Groot,
Jim Dietrich, Terasa Van Raay, Rosemary Dutman, Wendy Mei-
dinger, Sandra Overholt, Carolyn Rasenberg, Brenda Vanneste,
Barbara Hoffman, Herman Koert, Grade.8 instructor. Third row,
Len Van Wonderen, Ken Masse, Rob Denomme, Tim Bedour, Tom
Cyr, Barry Overholt, David Soudant, Robert Watson, Ken Mathon-
ia, Mike Overholt, Kerry Bedard. Photo by McKinley
"In London I wouldn't get up
until around 10 a.m. in the sum-
mer. Here we've already done
half a day's work by then," he
laughs, his head shaking. "It
sure is different."
Zurich
Personals
E. Jane Gingerich of Zurich
was among the largest graduating
class in the history of Toronto's
Humber College June 17. Ms.
Gingerich graduated as a Regist-
ered Nursing Assistant.
Douglas W. Meidinger gradu-
ated from Fanshawe College
June 18 in the advanced electri-
cian field. Douglas is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Leo Meidinger,
Zurich.
Mr. and Mrs. Lenoard Prang
attended the graduation cere-
mony at Fanshawe College on
June 18, when their son Edward
graduated as a Maintenance
Engineering Technician. He is
employed at Dashwood .Industries
Ltd.
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Admittange to 16 Yr.
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1
ECOLE STE. MARIE GRADUATES—The grade 8 class of Ecole
Ste. Marie took the morning off Classes Thursday to hold their
graduation exercises. Left to right, front row, Cheryl Rau, Debbie
Creces, Brenda Creces, Bev Ducharme, Mary Ann Mommersteeg,
Kerrie Conlon. Second row, Father Bensette, Mrs. Laporte,.
principal, Jason Adelman, Gary Regier, Mark Regier and Terry
Bullen, Grade 8 teacher. Third row, Robert Jeffrey, Steve Don -
ornate, Peter Wild. Jean-Pierre Laporte was absent.
Photo by McKinley
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= 14 REGULAR
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WED,, JULY 7
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NO PERSON UNDER 16
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