In Wellington County, the Junior Farmers have been operating for 90 years.
In 1918 the Arthur Junior Farmers’ Improvement Association was formed, so it is appropriate that the 90th anniversary will be celebrated at the Arthur community centre.
A dinner dance is being held on Oct. 18 to commemorate the milestone. Bill Beattie his band (including other JF alumni) will be providing the music for the first part of the evening and a DJ will close out the night.
The organizing committee is made of alumni representing a variety of past clubs: Judy Feil, Lower Wellington; Glenn Ruegg, Minto; Mary Anne Connell, Fergus and Minto; Rob Farrell, Mount Forest; Barclay Nap, Erin; and Jennifer Girvin (nee Mitchell), Eramosa and Erin. Current members are: Matt Schieck, Brent DeVries, and Danielle Snyder.
Tickets for the event are $20 for the dinner and dance and $10 for the dance only, and are available from committee members or by emailing wellingtonjf90th@jfao.on.ca.
Cheques are payable to Wellington Co. JF 90th and can be mailed to Jennifer Girvin, Box 123, Hillsburgh, N0B 1Z0. Tickets can be held at the door for pick-up the day of the event. Girvin can be contacted by phone at 519-855-4231.
In addition to the dinner dance, a memorabilia display is being assembled to highlight the history of Wellington County Junior Farmers. The committee is looking for photos (clearly marked with names, dates, and places), Newspaper clippings, club and personal scrapbooks and other memorabilia (club jackets, trophies etc.). People wishing to loan items can contact Mary Anne Connell at 519-343-2668 or by email at connellm@on.aibn.com.
Updates on the event, articles on the history of Wellington County Junior Farmers and memories of its members will appear in future issues of The Wellington Advertiser. Information will also be posted at www.jfao.on.ca/wellingtonjf90th/.
