“Tonight we are here to share some wonderful food, to help some of our community members who need our support right now, to recognize someone who is making a difference to our community, to hear the words of those who will inspire us to work together, and, of course, to have fun.”
With those words, Rainy River Federation of Agriculture president Trish Neilson welcomed the more than 400 people seated at the Barwick Hall—eager to eat three whole pigs and to listen to cowboy poet “Rhymin” Diamond Doug Keith.
Neilson explained when the RRFA’s board of directors held a strategic planning session earlier this year, one of the issues that came up was that everyone in Rainy River District needs to work together.
This same issue was identified by the Rural Economic Development Committee of the RRFDC when it held a similar session a short while later.
“That is why the entertainment committee of the [RRFA] decided to make our spring dinner a special event. To bring the community together, to build community spirit,” Neilson stressed.
Chapple Reeve Peter Van Heyst welcomed everyone on behalf of the host township.
“People are our most precious resource,” Van Heyst remarked. “And it is heart-warming to see so many coming together in support of community spirit and community building.
“Our communities are going through difficult times in the farm, forest, and tourism industries,” he added. “But new challenges bring new innovations to light—things we may not have thought of before.”
Van Heyst invited all of the friends and neighbours at the “Spring Gathering” to share and network; to travel and work together, to build community for the greater good and a better future.
The pigs, which were roasted by Paul and Susan Peters at Sunrise Meat and Sausage, were pretty much gone by the end of the meal.
The wild rice, mashed potatoes, carrots, perogies, and all the other food—much of it having been donated—was prepared by a team of volunteers under the supervision of professional caterer Deb Zimmerman.
“I liked the pig,” said Laurie Spanninga of Emo. “We both enjoyed the roast pork. The supper was good. There was a lot of work put into it.”
Gene Stoltzfus, retired director of Christian Peacemaker Teams that moved to the district about three-and-a-half years ago, gave a talk on relations within Rainy River District and his vision of the way things could develop.
Stoltzfus is particularly interested in race relations within the district, and said that the creativity of the area reaches back thousands of years.
“There has to be a future for all of us—those who come from settlers and those who come from native populations,” he stressed. “We need to figure out a way of being imaginative and creative so that our youth will want to come back.”
Stoltzfus added you can tell the communities with positive energy because they are the ones where the youth are returning.
“Compassion comes naturally to all of us. Some of us learn to fight it, but it feels good to express it and it provides the opportunity to make us all better,” he asserted.
Robin McCormick of Devlin gave a heart-warming and humorous presentation on how the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
She talked about the journey of realization that came from having a name that she was most happy to be able to change and how, in the end, the name she was born with is the one she loves.
McCormick was billed as the warm-up act for the main guest of the evening, cowboy poet Doug Keith.
“I didn’t know I was going to have to follow a comedian,” he mocked.
“The most often asked question that I have had since I got here is, ‘Where the heck is Domain?’” Keith observed.
“Well, it’s very easy. Drive to Winnipeg, turn southwest, and drive ’til the folks look inbred. . . .
“. . .Then drive another 10 minutes and you’re at my place,” he quipped.
Keith recited some traditional cowboy poems, as well as some of his own material.
He had the crowd in stitches with his hilarious anecdotes and fast-paced observations of rural life, as well as some of the things that can—and sometimes couldn’t possibly—happen to a cowboy.
At the end of his hour-long show, the audience gave Keith a standing ovation. He said he would be happy to return to Rainy River District anytime and congratulated everyone for having such a fine community.
“‘Rhymin Diamond’ was excellent. It was a really good evening,” enthused Emo resident Kathy Leek. “It was nice to see so many people out for a good cause and to see communities come together like that.
“The supper was excellent,” she added.
The “good cause” was a silent auction held for the young daughter of Nikki and Rod Sinninghe, Kenna, who is facing a number of medical challenges.
Local ag co-ordinator Jeannette Cawston, along with RRFA directors Ken Fisher, Tracey Hyatt, and Linda Armstrong, ran the silent auction throughout the evening.
The effort raised more than $1,700 to help with expenses that are not covered by the health care system.
“We had a great time,” said Nikki Sinninghe.
“And we want to thank the Rainy River Federation of Agriculture and everyone who donated,” she added. “We really appreciate what everyone has done.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
