Stan Eby was CCA President from 2004 to 2006 and President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance in 2010 and 2011.
Islay and I are still farming at Kincardine, Ontario but reduced our pasture acreage and tile drained our land and are growing wheat, corn, soybeans, and hay.
I help my sons, Steve and Jeff. I walk pens at Steve’s feeding operation daily and seem to be very much involved in all farming activities.
Community involvement has been interesting: Our church amalgamation with another church was something cattle politics may have prepared me for. It actually went well. I have just retired as a member of an area “Source Water Protection Committee”. These committees were set up across Ontario following the Walkerton water crisis of 2000. Islay and I both volunteer with the Tiverton Agricultural Society.
At the urging of a granddaughter who is a nurse in Vancouver we flew out on June 6th and had an interesting few days to see some sights and visit with friends. Andrew Raphael is still very keen in his retirement.
We drove east and spent a day with Bonnie and David Haywood Farmer at Savona, B.C. – a very interesting ranch in a very dry area. It was alarming to see how close the forest fire in 2021 was to their home and buildings.
Our next stop found us at Lundbrek, Alberta where we found Hugh and Betty Lynch-Staunton doing well. I rode and was involved (I’m not sure I was a help) in rounding up and moving cattle for transport and trailing cattle to the Gap (approximately 20 miles) for summer pasture. I always enjoy the visit with Hugh. Somewhat dry in that area.
We travelled north to Calgary on Hwy 22, one of our favourite drives in Canada, green and lush southwest of Calgary. We then flew from Calgary to Saskatoon where another granddaughter took us to Langham just in time for Langham days – an interesting small town celebration. Our granddaughter’s fiancé is a researcher with Bayer Crop Science and toured us in one of his plot locations. Crops in the Rothern area looked good but need moisture. What a contrast from the foothills of Alberta to the level land north of Saskatoon.
An excellent trip with all flights full and on time June 6-19th.
Thinking of CCA, it is always a pleasure for us to host a tour and lunch for CCA personnel prior to the Beef Farmers of Ontario AGM in late February.
Looking forward to reading about other former CCA Presidents.
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