RR Cattlemen's Association still battling lawsuit

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association is still not out of the legal wilderness yet.
Last year they thought their legal battle with a former employee was over when a judge made a ruling. However, the plantiff filed an appeal.
Current RRCA President Murray McDonald informed the crowd of about 50 last Thursday at the annual RRCA meeting in Stratton that, “We thought it was over but it has been appealed.”
McDonald said RRCA does not know when it will be resolved, “But hopefully it will be before the appeals court soon and be done with so we can focus on more positive things.”
McDonald thanked all the members who donated hay and time to the sales barn, helping to reduce costs and allow the RRCA to pay its legal bills.
Too date they have incurred $108,159.15 in legal costs. They secured a line of credit from the Northern Lights Credit Union to deal with those expenses and keep the Stratton Sales Barn open.
In 2011 the four sales held there generated $3,851,960.96. Less expenses of $3,764,911.60, the RRCA made $28,937.27. That allowed RRCA to pay $18,261.90 to lawyers and apply $9,000 to its line of credit. They also used $1,664.43 to pay off a deficit in their AIF account.
Other business
•Long time Sales Barn Manager Clayton Teeple announced he will be stepping down. “I have too many things going on. But I will help get the new manager up to speed.”
•RRCA approved a constitutional amendment to allow the executive position of secretary to be filled by a volunteer rather than having to hire and pay someone. This was done last year when Kim Jo Bliss stepped up and saved the organization a few thousand dollars.
•OMAFRA Rep. Gary Sliworsky reported that Rainy River Resources wants to acquire the land from RRCA that they use for a Community Pasture program. He said that they have found a good piece of land and are now waiting for the appraisal value to see if RR Resources will pay for the new property. The other option, which the RRCA members do not seem to want, is to take a buyout for the existing property and kill the Community Pasture Program.
•Kim Jo Bliss reported that the Vet Committee has worked for years. Many of them with no large animal vets. Then in recent times they secured a number of them. However, the provincial funding for mileage for the vets was limited. “We have requested another mileage contract. They turned us down, but we have been encouraged to reapply. We will keep trying.” Later in the RRCA meeting she received bad news and announced to the members that one of the vets she spoke of had passed away that day.
•Jo Bragg reported that numbers for the feeder and breeder finance co-ops were up again in 2011 with the loan limits being raised at the ideal time. “With cattle prices up, the move from $1.5 million to $2 million was great!”
•RRCA held elections with the following offices being filled:
Zone A: Joe Sletmoen and Steve Lowshaw being acclaimed.
Zone B: Susan Irvine and Clayton Teeple being acclaimed.
Zone C: Bud McQuaker and Murray McDonald being acclaimed.
Zone D: Corrie Govier and Keith Caul acclaimed.
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Annual Meeting Delegates: Lora Pogmore and Deltin Martin elected.
Ontario Cattlemen’s Advisory Council rep.: Kim Jo Bliss acclaimed with Joe Sletmoen as alternate.
•Tom Morrish reported that the weigh club had a great year with 19 weighings, travelling to three farms.
•Two guest speakers addressed the members. Barry Potter from OMAFRA spoke about two stage weening using a reusable anti-sucking device.
The other speaker, Rick Hobbs of OCA, went over programs OCA has been working on this past year then gave a presentation on his farm where he and his wife started a bakery and meat shop on the farm.