Annual RRFA dinner highlights 30 years

The Rainy River Federation of Agriculture celebrated its 30th anniversary Saturday evening with a dinner and dance at the Millennium Hall in Stratton.
About 100 people attended, with many past presidents on hand as special guests.
New Member Service rep Linda Armstrong invited all to browse through the complete list of RRFA board members since its inception. She had them all
posted on the wall.
Armstrong also read a letter of congratulations from Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Ron Bonnett, who extended best wishes and also noted the OFA is celebrating its 70th anniversary.
In her annual report, RRFA president Trish Neilson spoke about the importance of all groups working together, naming the soil improvement
program and the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association as examples.
“We have teamed up to work for drought assistance,” she noted.
Neilson also encouraged RRFA members to envision what they would like to see the future of agriculture in the district look like and “Get involved with
[RRFA] committees.”
Also Saturday, the RRFA held its annual elections. Neilson was re-elected as president, with Linda Armstrong elected secretary and Angela Halvorsen as treasurer.
Elected as directors were:
•Zone 1—Rudy Sinninghe and Linda Armstrong (has one more year to serve in current term);
•Zone 2—Amos Brielmann and Rick Boersema;
•Zone 3—Rick Neilson and Ken Fisher; and
•Zone 4—Tracy Hyatt and Kim Jo Bliss (has one more year to serve in current term)
Trish Neilson also was elected as the RRFA delegate to the OFA convention, with Rick Boersema elected as the alternate.
< *c>Other business
•Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Ken Boshcoff addressed the crowd briefly, telling them as chair of the rural caucus and sitting on the ag committee he will continue to work on issues such as drought relief for farmers;
•OFA provincial director Peter Aalbers addressed the crowd and told them about plans to streamline the provincial body; and
•Armstrong handed out postcards to everyone, encouraging people to send them in to both Boshcoff and Prime Minister Stephen Harper (they address the need for income assistance for farmers and encourage the government to act on the crisis).