On Labour Day weekend, like thousands of people from all over the world, I attended the Western Quebec Regional Fair in Shawville, Quebec. You would not be there very long before you realized that agriculture is the basis of this fair. Although dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, all sizes of horses, and agricultural tractors and equipment are easy to find, you soon notice that farmers sure like to have fun too. From the midway, which is a kids’ priority, to truck and tractor pulls, to daily animal shows, to art and baking competitions, to magic and trained dog shows, to food concessions to fit everyone’s taste, to places to wet your whistle (whether it’s water or something stronger), an army of volunteers have worked thousands of hours to make everyone feel at home and blend in whether they are secretaries or farmers.
With a 4-H club of more than 80 members, kids from eight to 20, and members not just from farms but from all walks of life, the next generation will understand the importance of a healthy agricultural community. If you had the opportunity to watch the market lamb and steer auction, you would have noticed the generosity of those kids when they donated back thousands of dollars made from selling their animal to help people in distress. That is part of what 4-H teaches members, not just preparing animals to look like they are in a beauty contest, or how to write and deliver speeches, or judge everything from fruit quality to the best dairy or beef animal, or how to square dance, and dozens of other life skills.
When we attended the nightly music shows with thousands of others who spoke many different languages, we noticed that everyone enjoyed great music and no one quarreled or spoke a harsh word. Our fair only lasted five days, but I never heard anyone ask “what religion are you?” or mention that the hat that they wore was different, or “do you speak a different language?” Most of us are more comfortable speaking one language than another, but we try to help each other communicate as best we can.
Most of our grandchildren are now bilingual. I have some grandchildren that watch Japanese cartoons while learning to understand Japanese. The most informative magazine addressing dairy farming is now available in English, Spanish, and I am proud to have spoken to the editor and persuaded him to also produce a French version “free of charge” for all the French-speaking dairy farmers in Canada and their employees.
So, what do you want for your future world, country, county, municipality, family and descendants?
A world with clean air, water, and safe food? Leaders who look ahead for thousands of years? Less aggression? Religions that respect each other and life?
A country that offers freedom of religion? Speech? Assembly? A “non-biased” judicial system? A constitution that is honoured by all?
A county that works with the country to assure an education and health system that provides timely access to all residents, regardless of which province supplies the service?
Municipalities, towns, and cities that work with all of the above to offer their ratepayers a good place to live that attracts residents and offers the next generations a desirable place to raise their families.
Do you want your wanna-be future politicians to all participate in “all-candidates debates” so you can find out who they are? Or what they want to do?
Let all your politicians know why you live here and what kind of world, country, county, and municipality that you could be proud to pass on to your kids and your descendants.
Chris Judd is a farmer in Clarendon on land that has been in his family for generations.
