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Or perhaps other ISMs would like to follow their example and do some- thing for the organization. One of the most useful and fascinating sessions of the recent provincial convention in Hamilton took the form of a morning workshop where ISMs from all over Ont- ario brainstormed the ways in which an individual member or county organization could have some impact on farm policies. The discussion was led off by a veteran of the People OR Planes committee which fought so long and successfully to save Pickering area farmland. Among an al- most bewildering Variety of sugges- tions, these ideas stood out: first of all, strengthen and revitalize your organization at the grass roots, seek out and welcome support from parts of the community you hadn't thought of approaching before, persuade non- farmers that you share common interests, make the whole family part of your or- ganization and let them help with the work, keep up a steady flow of letters iBAKERS FEEDSTORE BED RR# 1, Portland (Mailing Address)’ CUSTOM GRINDING MIXING & ROLLING "1am ' mews ONTARIO FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE REPORT January is supposed to be a dreary month, but it came up roses for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. On January 1%, ,the United Counties council of Leeds and Grenville voted to rant $3,000 to Leeds OFA and $1,500 to Grenville OFA. This action was taken in response to a unanimous recommendation of the council's agricultural committee led by Earl McFadden, deputy reeve of South Crosby. The local press has portrayed Mr. McFadden as the hero of the occasion, fighting on behalf of his farm constituents and skilfully guid- ing his motion through a divided coundil, but Earl refuses to take any credit. It all belongs, says Earl, to ISM's Eric Webster, Earl McCrady and George Murray fo a masterly and convincing presentation in a ten page brief to the agricultural committee. "We just talked about some of the accomplishments of the OFA right here in Leeds County,” says Eric Webster modestâ€"l 1y. "We reminded them that their county! organization had worked hard and long to Tel. 272â€"2545 HOG FEEDS DAIRY FEEDS POULTRY FEEDS SPECIAL MIXTURES FERTILIZERS SEED GRAINS GRASS SEEDS FARM SUPPLIES bring about changes in succession duties, to set up the county ARDA program, to get farm tax rebates and to set up the Farm Labor P001, to name just a few.” Only those involved know how much ‘it takes in terms of time off from farm work, miles travelled, sleep lost, . meetings attended, phone calls, letters, research, report writing and just plain hard thinking to bring about even minor changes and keep the organization runnâ€" ing, never mind the major achievements highlighted in the OFA brief. Even mod" est financial support ix? actiViw ties has been a constant problem. Al» though legislation exist: to allow lo" cal councils to use tax rrvenues in support of agricultural I?“®Ui$tions, this practice had not ?w‘i followed in recent years. Thfito we be an opporm tunity to thank an; ' rigcrking grants committee at the up ;m1 wasting and banquet at Mallorytcta on February a. tnese to the media, don't be afraid to make your objections known to politicians who are acting against farm interests and don't forget to compliment and strengthen your friends. The provincial organi; zation has already acted on one of these suggestions by appoin- ting Grace Stalker and Irene Spence as our representatives on a four person producer? Consumer committee which is in- tended to share concerns, ex- change information and opinions and generally head off foolish misunderstandings before they become mutually harmful contro- ‘V‘inl GS . What can the individual member here in Leeds contribute? Director Ed Richmond, who is al- ready following this advice,