Photo cutline: The delegates and local junior farmers had dinner at Nancy and Steve Schultz’s home on Grants Settlement Road Tuesday evening. In the photo are, front from left, Curtis Schultz with Jackie and Emily Schultz. Middle row from left: Samantha Cull, Meredith Mulligan, Emily Warin (England), Céline Fahrni (Switzerland), Heather Murray (Scotland), Rieka Janssen (Germany), Johanna Prodinger (Austria) and Emma Duncan. Back row from left, Mae Cull, Grady Dwyer, Phil English (Kawartha County), Christina McCollam (Nothern Ireland), JR Blair (Nothern Ireland), Michael Lerchner (Austria), Zach Lance, Jamie Schultz and Bryson Duncan.
By CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Foresters Falls) — Eight young people from around the world are spending three months exploring Ontario. They are part of the Junior Farmer Exchange program.
They arrived for a two-week visit with the Renfrew County Junior Farmers on Sunday, June 25 and will depart Saturday, July 8.
The young people are Joanna Prodinger, Austria; Rieka Janssen, Germany; Heather Murray, Scotland; JR Blair, Northern Ireland; Christina McCollam, Northern Ireland; Emily Warin, England; Michael Lerchner, Austria; and Celine Fahrni, Switzerland.
They are being hosted by junior farmers Tanner and Cailen Bromley, Emma and Bryson Duncan; Meredith and Miranda Mulligan, Emily, Curtis and Jamie Schultz and Jenna Hedden.
Prior to arriving in Renfrew County, they spent time in Kawartha Lakes, Wellington County, Orillia, Guelph and Durham West. After a week-long break following their visit in Renfrew County, they will visit junior farmer organizations in Essex, Middlesex, Huron, Perth and Grey counties.
While here they’ve had a variety of experiences, such as visiting various farms, canoeing in Algonquin Park, spending time at the sale barn in Cobden, zip lining at Logos Land, spent time at the Lookout near Westmeath; the NHL Museum, a visit to Bonnechere Caves and spending Canada Day in Ottawa.
“It was amazing,” Emily said about Canada Day.
They managed to dress up in outlandish red and white outfits and were quite surprised at how big a party there was in Ottawa.
What wasn’t amazing for Emily was finding out she’s allergic to mosquito bites. This happened while visiting in Kawartha Lakes. Lumps formed on her legs and then blisters. She went to the hospital and after talking with the doctor, discovered her allergy.
The young people are billeted at different junior farmers homes and each night, if possible, they all get together at one host’s house for dinner.
JR and Christina went to the EastGen Showcase where local 4-H participants were competing. It was interesting for a while, but three hours of watching the same thing over and over and not being a participant got to be a bit much, JR said.
“The young people did a good job showing and preparing cattle,” he said.
Host Nancy Schultz said this is the first big show of the year for the 4-H participants. The show season is now underway with the upcoming Beachburg Fair the next event.
While JR is here to learn and have fun, anything to do with water isn’t his cup of tea. As a matter of fact, while most of the young people and local junior farmers are rafting on Saturday with Wilderness Tours, he’ll be working at a host farm baling small squares. He went on the canoe trip, but didn’t enjoy it.
“I don’t like water,” he said. “There’s a lot of work involved (in canoeing).”
As for why JR decided to participate in the program, he said, “It’s a chance to see a part of the world. I’ve never left Northern Ireland. I’m 21 and had to get a passport for the first time.”
JR said the farms are huge in Renfrew County but the dairy herds are small.
Heather noticed the pick-up trucks are much smaller in Renfrew County than they are back home.
However, Rieka said our food portions are much larger.
“Your baby scoop is normal for us,” she said.
They were divided on how much they liked or disliked poutine.
As for farming, Michael said his country cancelled the quota system two years ago, and believes they shouldn’t have.
“We export too much milk now,” he said.
They also noted that many of our homes have basements.
Emily said people buy vehicles at a much younger age here – and also get married very young.
At the sales barn, they were surprised at how much the auctioneer (Preston Cull) talked to the people between the sales. The cattle were also dirty compared to how they’re sold in England, where they’re washed before heading to the sales barn. Another difference is there are more than just cattle sold on the one day, and the animals are all sold in the same show ring.
Visiting the Bonnechere Caves near Eganville was interesting, said Christina.
“The guide told a nice story about the caves,” she said.
The guide is Scott Hamilton, who has been working there for many summers. He is well-known in the area as a former 4-H member and a leader when he’s able to.
Heather was happy to meet Nancy Schultz, who knew her mother Elaine Kirkland, when she visited the area in 1990.
Celine was taking advantage of improving her English, while her travellers thought she was doing quite well with the second language.
Yesterday they travelled to Ottawa for more sight-seeing and the chance to try beavertails.
