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Lo Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, July 25, 1995 -- 23 A. S FARM NEWS < Durham West 4-H celebrates in a big way Monica Bentley Is enjoying a secretarlal- career with the Ontario Ministry of Agruiculture Food and Rural Affairs that has spanned the past 37 years. Hired as the sole secretary in 1958, she's dealt mainly with 4-H activities over the years. She was recognized for her many years of work with the farming community in this area. Showman overall at the Durham Laura Phoenix and her Holstein calf, Continental Roland Loreal, claimed Top Senior Showman and Grand Champion st's 4-H Family Day on Saturday, commemorating the 80th Anniversary of 4-H in the province. Laura was also the High Senior In the judging competition. About 180 people attended the Durham West 4-H family barbeque over the weekend, commemorating 80 4- 3 years in Ontario. Speaking to the Citizen, organizer Dorothy Shier said she wag more than pleased with the day's events. "It was just beautiful" she said. Showing her 4-H holstein calf, Laura Phoenix, 20, was the Top Senior.Showman and emerged "Grand © Champion Showman overall. In the Judging competitions, Laura won the Senior Division and was presented a plaque by her uncle, Keith Phoenix, a dairy farmer in Greenbank. Her brother, Carl, also had a good day. Winning the Intermediate judging class, he also won the Dairy and Beef trophies for obtaining the highest score in judging both breeds and won the Horse Judging Class, too. In the inter-club competition, Port Perry Dairy 4-H Calf Club members, Carl Phoenix, Laura Phoenix and Sarah Smith claimed top honours as Top Judging Team overall. Other judging results showed Gabriel Benschop the winner in the Novice class, John Werry was High Junior and Krista McFadden was the winner for the Crops Judging Trophy as well as the Domestic Science division. Judging maple syrup, Craig McAvoy was the winner and the baking class was won by Sarah Liddle. Robert Ashton claimed top honours in the Wearable Art division while Krista McAvoy won the Friends of 4-H division. High Alumni winner was Valerie Hunter, with Art Richardson being a close second. Cannington dairy farmer, Dan Doner, and Udora beef farmer, Martha McGlashin judged the two classes while Doug Heatherington of Fresh Water Farms in Wilfrid judged the Horse classes. . Remember. the.mini skirt; the. ball bottomed pant suits and those marvelous fashi made honoured as being chosen the Durham West 4-H family. Les became active in 4-H as a teenager in the mid-thirties and his children and the 4 grandchildren have_ all been active in 4-H. Whether they've been involved as a member or leader, three generations of the Smith family have been fully supportive of the organization and Les says the backbone:of the family is his wife, Ruth. "She's the one who keeps out of crimpoline? Fashions spanning the era of World War 1 (1914) to the present were worn by several models. Dorothy Shier told the Citizen Corinne Croxall did a splendid job organizing this event. Many of the models wore fashions that had been made as 4- H projects. Ruth Shaver, Home Economist from 1948 to 1956 in Ontario County, now known as Durham West, came all the way from Ottawa to take.part in the Wor tions. mith, a dairy farmer from i Perry, gave a delightful recollection of the great experiences three generations of his fapily have enjoyed in 4-H. "THe rdemorabilia brought to the reunion for display was great" Mrs. Shier told the Citizen. "So many silver trophies and trays, all polished to perfection -- they were all shining" she said. Les and Ruth Smith of Sunderland, along with their son, Ted, daughter, Norma Ferguson, and their respective children were ging us" he said. Another person honoured for her active work in 4-H was Monica Bentley who, as of July . 21, has worked for 37 years at the OMAFRA offices. She was the only secretary when she started working in the offices in Uxbridge in 1958 and dealt mainly with 4- H activities. Today, she is the office co- ordinator at the Port Perry OMAFRA offices and while she still does some work for 4-H, she says "not as much as I used to". Another person honoured at the festivities over the weekend was Dorothy Shier, for without her tireless work the reunion wouldn't have happened. Dorothy was instrumental in having the first provincial 4-H history book published this year and also spent hours of research time for another new book recently published on the history of 4-H in Durham West, the former Ontario County. Written by Dorothea Helm, this book sells for $7. and copies are available at the OMAFRA offices. PN 2 Numerous awards were présented'a at t the Burnham West barbeque last Saturday, commemorating 80 years of 4-H in Ontario. One of the awards presented was given to Les and Ruth Smith of Sunderland, along with their son Ted, daughter Norma Ferguson and grandchildren. Chosen as the 1995 Durham West 4-H Family, they are front from left Heather Ferguson, Norma Ferguson, Ruth: Smith, Wilma Smith. Back from left Eric Ferguson, Jim Ferguson, Les Smith, Ted Smith, LeeAnn Smith and Graham Smith. See story. Steer carcass weights increase sharply by Cheryl Russwurm, Beef Advisor A recent graph on Ontario steer carcass weights published in the Ontario Beef magazine caught my attention. Yes, carcass weights are up. Everybody knows that the market place has forced producers to hold cattle, or put more lbs. on to lower overhead costs. What affect does this have on the supply of beef at the retail level? Steer carcasses for the first 5 months of 1995 have averaged 796 1bs., up 87 lbs. from one year ago and 109 lbs. from 1991 figures. If this extra 87 lbs., cut out at 60 percent, it would equate to an extra 52 Ibs. of beef to offer to consumers. If this was all hamburg it would equate to 208 more 1/4 lb. hamburgers from one carcass. If we assume the size of the average family is four, it would mean 50 more trips to their favourite burger restaurant. Per capita consumption of beef in Canada in 1993 was 70 lbs. on a carcass basis. Therefore, the extra weight put on one carcass will feed one Canadian for a year. So, what affect does this have from an industry perspective. The average kill in Ontario is 12,000 head per week. Steers make up 57% of the weekly kill. Therefore, in the first five months of 1995, over 135,000 steers have been slaughtered. With an increase in carcass weights of 87 lbs. that equates to 28 million more 1/4 1b. hamburgers. The ripple effect of a producer's EBI 4-H Once against the Durham East 4-H Council took several top: honours at the Annual Eastern Breeders Incorporated 4-H Showcase. In the Dairy competition, Tom Tamblyn, Orono was Reserve Champion Showman. The Durham East Team of Tom Tamblyn, Donna Benschop and decision to hold cattle or feed to heavier weights is phenomenal. The whole issue of heavier carcasses and low prices, is a chicken and egg story - which came first? Which ever came first doesn't matter, it is an industry problem that each and every producer should conscientiously accept some responsibility for. Showcase 1995 Phillipe Leroux were the winner of the Overall County Team Competition. After an absence of a few years, the Durham East Beef club once again participated in the 1995 competition. Paula Pascoe; Solina, was the Champion Beef Showman and the Overall Champion of the competition. Scott. Nesbitt, Nestleton, won the clipping section and was Reserve Overall Champion of the competition. Jagon Malcolm showed the Champion Beef Heifer. In addition, the team of Paula Pascoe, Scott Nesbitt, and Jason Malcolm were the Top County Team. Alternate team members for the Beef second were Lisa Nesbitt, Nestleton and Jeremy Malcolm.