WOODSLEE FARMER RECOGNIZED Diemer receives Conservation Award COMMUNITY LIVING BENEFITS Record Apple Fest proceeds A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN Girls' hockey expands, now WECSSAA sanctioned See AGRICULTURE Page 6 See COMMUNITY Page 11 See SPORTS Page 17 $1.00 "Serving Essex and Community Since 1896" (GST included) Whole Number 6216 Registration No. 08565 Volume 127 No. 50 Phone: 519-776-4268 Fax: 519-776-4014 519-776-4021 32D Arthur Ave., Essex Wednesday, December 13, 2006 http://essexfreepress.reinvented.net Harvest heads overseas Harrow Growing Project donates to Canadian Foodgrains Bank BY DANIEL SCHWAB Harrow farmer Karl Neudorf is leading an initiative to feed families in poorer parts of the world. In the spring, Neudorf planted a 40-acre crop of soybeans for the Harrow Growing Project, which turned its harvest into cash last week to be sent overseas and into Third World countries. The project, now in its third year, was spearheaded by the Harrow Mennonite Church. The crop will be donated to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFB), where it will be matched four to one by the Canadian International Development Agency for a total of about $50,000 going toward feeding needy families, said Neudorf, co-ordinator of the Harrow project. "I read about it and thought it was something I could do," Neudorf said. "I can't go overseas and do mission work, but I farm and grow soybeans and thought this was something I could contribute to." The project began four years ago on Neudorf's HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS "We wish you a Merry Christmas" was a starskate feature performed by (left to right) Chelsea Salter, Alyson Thomas, Leah Poisson, Sarah Zaaroor, Jessica Anchor and Kiana Flood in Skate Essex's 45th Skating Carnival, "Home for the Holidays", at Essex Arena, Dec. 10. Please turn to page 16 for more photos. Woodslee Friendship Kingsville dairy farmer named new ECFA Club honours president war brides BY ANDY COMBER WOODSLEE Family, friends and community came together to honour local war brides at the Woodslee Friendship Club' Christmas Dinner, held at St. John's Hall in Woodslee, Dec. 8. "We're here to celebrate with all the war brides and their families," said Joanne McMurren, vice-president of the Woodslee Friendship Club, who welcomed the 125 people attending the event. McMurren introduced several war brides who were able to attend, including Louise Bastien, Cecilia Burling, Eileen Lebert, Ruby Robertson, Margaret BY DANIEL SCHWAB Smith, Eileen Stowe and Betty Wilton. Also in attendance were children and family members representing war brides from both World Wars. Essex MPP Bruce Crozier presented honours to the war brides from the Province of Ontario, which proclaimed 2006 the Year of the War Bride, marking the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the majority of war brides in Canada. "This is a thank you to all the war brides, who left their life behind for a new life in Canada," said Crozier, presenting certificates and pins to the war brides or surviving family members. SEE TRIBUTE, PAGE 3 WOODSLEE Kingsville area dairy farmer Bernard Nelson was named the new president of the Essex County Federation of Agriculture during the group's annual meeting Dec. 6 in Woodslee. Despite some initial reluctance, Nelson said although he is busy tending to his own cattle farm, he wouldn't let the ECFA down. He spent 12 years on the Essex-Kent Milk Committee and became a board member of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture in 2003. "I came onto the OFA board just to see what I could do to help out, trying to go to as many events and learn as much as I can about the OFA and what they're trying to do as an association," Nelson said after the meeting. "Basically, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture is a lobbying agency for the farmers of Ontario to the government to present their program on what's good for agriculture. On the county level, we now lobby our MPs and MPPs but we've got to do more of a job of educating our consumers and make sure they buy Essex County-grown or Kent County-grown or Ontario-grown because we do have the best quality food in the world." SEE ECFA, PAGE 6 land on County Road 20 west of Harrow, where the first crop of soybeans was planted and harvested. The next year, wheat was planted. There was no project last season but in the fall, the Essex Region Conservation Authority contacted Neudorf, wanting to know if he was interested in using a piece of property for the initiative. At the time, the land hadn't been worked at all, Neudorf explained. "There were weeds literally five feet high. I mowed it last fall," he said. Eight months later, 41 tonnes of soybeans were harvested and taken to a Harrow Agris Co-operative elevator where a check will be cut and issued to the CFB, Neudorf said. "We get the feeling that the people who need it, get it," he said about the proceeds. The CFB is supported by 13 churches across Canada and is "basically a way of fundraising to solve hunger," Neudorf said. SEE LOCAL FOOD, PAGE 2