leadership - 4-H Ontario

IN BRIEF
local stories
Rebuilding the Past
Submitted by Tom Aitken and Bob Walker
The Glencoe 4-H Machinery Club
was created in 2005 to provide senior
4-H Members the opportunity to work
on, and restore, old machinery. Old
machinery is quite expensive, so
acquiring enough funds to support the
Club’s mission was a tricky challenge.
In 2008 the Club had a big break when
the Estate of John and Mac McCallum
generously donated the proceeds
attained from auctioning off a John
Deere Model 60 tractor. The tractor
sold for $5000 and this provided the
Club enough funds to purchase parts
for a John Deere 1941 H that was laid
out and waiting to be rebuilt.
The Club began rebuilding the tractor
in 2009 with a completion goal of
2010. As you can imagine, this project
had many hurdles to overcome and
it did not go as quickly as planned.
Club Members and Leaders spent
numerous hours working on the tractor
outside of the two and a half hour Club
meetings they had each week. Many
local tractor lovers also donated their
time to help the Club complete the
project.
The time this dynamic group
spent together was enjoyed by all.
There was always plenty of great
conversation with many outbursts
of laughter. Food was always a
requirement and was consumed with
few signs of etiquette and nearly clean
hands. It was enjoyable to sit back and
watch as these young men stepped
back in time to work on machinery
their fathers were exposed to as
teenagers.
The tractor was finally completed this
summer. Members proudly displayed
the tractor at the Melbourne Fair
Parade and the Glencoe Fair. At the
Melbourne Parade, the Club was
awarded first prize for Best Antique
Tractor and Best Restored Tractor.
The Club project was wrapped up
by raffling off the tractor at the Red
Brand Show. Robert Holden from
Lakeside in Oxford County, an avid
Massey Ferguson collector, was the
lucky winner. The Club Members and
Leaders would like to thank everyone
who was involved in the project for all
of their support.
Tom Aitken and Bob Walker are Leaders of the
Glencoe 4-H Machinery Club in the Middlesex
4-H Association.
Mayor’s Office
Submitted by Marielle Sauriol
On November 2nd the Sudbury 4-H
Club went to the mayor’s office at Tom
Davies Square. The Club got to meet
the Deputy Mayor, Joscelyne Landry-
Altmann. The event started with the
Club Members introducing themselves
to the Deputy Mayor and telling her
about their favourite projects. Paulette
Macdonald, one of the Club’s 4-H
Leaders, started this momentous
occasion by talking about the purpose
of the 4-H program, and how it started
in Sudbury. The Members and
guests then recited the 4-H pledge.
After the pledge, the Deputy Mayor
read a proclamation, in French and
in English, declaring November 2nd,
National “Show Your 4-H Colours”
Day in the Greater City of Sudbury.
Club Members, parents and officials
then went outside to raise the National
4-H Flag. Shannyn, the Club’s Vice
President; Mélanie, the President; and
the junior Members hoisted the flag
together. It was a very pleasant day!
The Glencoe 4-H Machinery Club proudly poses with the 1941 John Deere they restored over the
past two years. From left to right: Back - Lloyd Smith, Mike Aarts, Leader Bob Walker, Robert May,
Leader Tom Aitken; In the driver’s seat - Stuart May; Front - Nathan Aitken, Brad Skinner and Daniel
Roeland. Absent from the photo is Member John McNeil.
Leadership In Action • Winter 2011
Marielle Sauriol is a Junior 4-H Member of the
Sudbury Clever Clovers 4-H Club and holds the
position of News Reporter.
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