RR Cattlemen's Association to hold Annual meeting Wednesday

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association (RRCA) will be holding their annual meeting Wednesday, January 16, 2008 in Stratton.
The regular business will include reports from the Sales Barn Manager Clayton Teeple, RR Vet Committee, RR Community Pasture, RR Feeder Finance Co-op, RR Breeder Finance Co-op, Animal Inspection Facility Committee, Soil and Crop Committee, OCA Advisor Council and an update on the Abattoir Steering Committee.
The RRCA will also play host two visitors from Manitoulin Island and the Temiskaming area. Jim Martin, Board of Directors for the Ontario Cattlemen’s Assoc. will be on hand to speak to RRCA members. He and his family farm on Manitoulin Island where they raise 105 cows, purebred bulls and background stocker calves. Martin is the representative for Northern Ontario on OCA and is in the second year of a three year term.
From the Temaskaming area comes Tom Hamilton, a Beef Specialist with the Ont. Min. of Agriculture, Foods and Rural Affairs. He will be the keynote speaker for the evening with his topic being, “Don’t let cows steal your feed.”
Hamilton was born and raised in the Temiskaming District, attended Univ. of Guelph and has a degree in Animal Science. He has worked in the feed industry, is an OMAFRA Bull Test Program Technician and has been Beef Specialist for five years. He also has a special interest in beef production systems.
Local OMAFRA Rep. Gary Sliworsky will also be addressing the members of RRCA, with his topic being “Permanent entry of livestock through the US Border and Inter-Transit movement of livestock through the US Border.”
The RRCA meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Our Lady of the Way School. All RRCA members and prospective members are welcome. Elections to office will also be held that evening.