MITCHELL ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 7 RELEASE OF STRATFORD-PERTH ARCHIVES’ DIGITAL NEWSPAPER DATABASE Appreciating Yesteryear BETTY JO BELTON STRATFORD-PERTH ARCHIVES Stratford-Perth Archives is excited to announce a new way to access local historic news- papers. You can now browse and keyword search over 8,000 issues of 17 different Pert! County newspapers via the Archives’ digitized newspaper database. In 2021, Assistant Archivist guidance, the idea has grown into a greatly improved and accessible way to access newspapers at Stratford-Perth Archives. Over the last three summers an amazing group of Se have digitized ne ers from the Archives’ GolleeHons along with assisting researchers and helping with other projects. We are thank- ful for all of their hard work as they scanned over 71,000 pages from both paper originals and microfilms. We are also grateful to the Perth County Branch of Ontario Ancestors for their generous monetary contribution that we are using to pilot having these resources available for free online access. And, we are thankful to staff at the host site, Our Digital World, and our colleagues in the Perth County IT department, for their support and collabora- ion. While we have made great strides over the last three years, there is still more work to be done. The scanning project continues and more issues and titles will be added to the data- base each year. All pre-1950 issues scanned so far will be available ion free online access same way via public computers in the Archives’ reading room. We have digitized 17 Perth County papers so far, 12 of which will be available online. We first focused on newspapers that were not already available on microfilm, such as the Stratford Listowel Banner, 1920-1927. Listowel Standard, 1878; 1888; 1893-1899; 1902-1911.Milverton un, 1891-1919.Monkton Times, 1907-1921.Stratford Advertis- er, 1881; 1887; 1889.Stratford Examiner, 1860; 1863.Stratford Mirror, 1923-1946.Stratford Times, 1876-1 Toto gs ly Herald, 1882.More curr: issues of the Listowel Beet Mitchell Advocate, Mitchell Times, Stratford Beacon Herald, Stratford Gazette and Serattord Times will be available as w but only on public ie in the Archives’ reading room. Ms We can better preserve Let ne coy what you find! the fragile inal paper copie: waleatees of these historic by dc i making the electronic copies available for research use. The following REVERSES willbe via the OurDigi /Strat- ford: Perth. resin digitized newspaper database at: vitacol- lections.ca/s- paces eone search, Post-1949 issues: canned so far will be eerie to browse and search in the mn the pub- lic computers in ms Archives reading room: Atwood Bee, ee 1923. is open for drop-in research, oe Tuesday to Friday plus other times, including Saturdays, by appointment. For details about what’s available during Reading Room drop-in hours and appointments for in-depth research, please visit www.perth- County of Pert! ing Monitor, se County of Perth Herald, 1863-1864; 1905. call us at 519-271-0531, ext. 259 or email archives@perthcounty.ca Fall shows, fairs and events Focus on the Farm SARA WOOD VICE PRESIDENT, ONTARIO FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE Early September often feels as kids Ee back to school. For the lets me see the latest agricultur- al innovations, tools, equipment and technology, and chat with a ee friends and reconn Be with others in the agricultural community. From an OFA perspective, the show lets us have informal, one farming means hater time kicks into high gear - but it also unofficially marks one of the biggest agricultural events of the year, Canada’s Out- door Farm Show in Woodstock. I farm with my family near Mitch- ell and I’m also a vice president with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture so I worked at the show at what we call Federation House - hes ns building onthe show ground: For me asa faded the show 0 with mem- bers who come and see us so we can learn more about the chal- lenges and successes they are having, and what they’re looking forward to in the coming year. We're an advocacy organiza- tion for Ontario aia and rural fer all, so strengthen food and farming connections municipal representatives about responsible land use planning. But we're also putting a partic- ular focus on harvest readiness. This means highlighting farm and road safety, but also mental health and aria pas how self-care is as importance as looking after your cae live- stock Sa equipment. ‘We also have a focus on young farmers this year and in part- nership with the Junior Farm- ers’ Association of Ontario, the presidents of our two organi- zations are hosting an informal networking event on the first night of the show. The goal is to bring young nebo together, encourage them engage with our ind give us input these types of agente are invaluable to make sure we can represent the needs and inter- ests of our members to the best of our abilities. pikes? encouraging ow ‘s, for example, 3 have Speen with their local on how we can ‘nest encourage their involvement in the future of Ontario agriculture. We shared our space in Feder- ation House with other organi- zations and businesses, includ- ing many of our OFA Benefit Program partners, such as Farm Life, Scotiabank, Cooperators, ‘hes businesses who offer eenoe planning, financial, insurance, media, retail and health care services to our members at discounted rates - and the show offers the opportunity to learn more about what is available to OFA members. chaii Better Farming i is SelePitne their 25th anniversary at show, as well as 25 years as an OFA member benefit program partner. Autumn also means its fall fair time across Ontario and many of our farmer members and our county and regional federations will be participating in fairs in 2 ities. T It’s a year of big i for a couple of our partners. The Advanced Agricultural Leader- ship Program is marking its 40th anniversary and as a auntie member of the program, we’r proud to be the premier: ieee of their celebration at the farm show this year. Wesee the results of this program’s impact reflected throughout the agriculture and food sector. I’m a graduate as are other OFA board members and staff, and many alumni are making SeriReant ha a he tions across our membership, and throughout the entire value their great opportunity for Ontari- ans to come and experience a glimpse of farming and rural life. en I was growing up, I used to show cattle at fall fairs, and it ‘was always great to see kids who had never seen a calf or acow before coming up and asking if they could pet the animals. It only takes a little bit of time to have that oe with them, but the impression that leaves will last alifetime. We look forward to seeing you at a show, a fair or other event this fall!