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CF W committed to original goals one cold Saturday last January. at ~mall group of farm women from tire} and Bruce Counties gathered for J potluck dinner. The occasion was concerned Farm Women‘s annual meeting; an opportunity to look back on the years 01' effort and uchtexement. CF“ formed in the fall of I981 u hen otcr 250 “omen turned out for .1 meeting, organized by two Chesley- .tren lurm women, to erress their “OI'I'ICs about high interest rates and lou DFIL‘C‘M One of the first projects “as u some). 0i \H'C'M in Farm families, carried out under supervision from the Lil'IIHL'lHll}. oI Guelph. CFW [‘leihi’lcd the findings in a book The Farmer Takes A Wife by Gisele Ireland. uhtch has mld over 4,000 topics. \ \iitit-[Elpd presentation and .t welt-o were also prepared and used \\ ttlcly, _l\ the sun e3 generated a great deal pl interest across Canada, the I nited Stillt‘s, and beyond 7 one mutton men phoned her support Imnt \ustrnlta! Political lubb}.lllg remains a priority mlh ('I W. and its members frequently prepare briefs for governments and [list tort-es, and have met with ol'ltcials trom all lewls oI' government. St.“ch years ago, Dennis Timbrell made i'IIN first public appearance as Minister ol' Agriculture and Food at .1 (MN dinner, and recently the pre- vent Minister ot Agriculture and Food Lick thdell was presented with a top} ol' our new vtdeo. In an unusual approach, lint year. copies of A Farmer Takes A Wife were mailed to the spouses of all Members of Parlia» ment. ('FW has also worked with the liaison committees ol’ major farm organizations in Ontario to present a united tarm voice on selected issues. ('FW beliexes that a broad base of support beyond the t‘arm community |\ necessary to bring about the changes that t'armers are seeking. In addition to I'illing a wide range of requests for speakers, the group has recently released a second video. entitled Rural Roots, Urban Connec- tions. Designed For the urban viewer, l[ eloquently presents the case for [Itutl‘tiuil‘ting the family farm. Educa- tion el'l’orts are not directed only to the consumer. In [985, a guide to By Susan Glover property and credit law for farm families was published, and a revised edition is to be published later this year. A CFW has recognized the changing needs of farm women. In coâ€"operation with the Women‘s Institute, a summer pilot project explored alternative approaches to child care. CFW also sponsored a parents’ group in south Bruce which researched the feasibility of various child care programs designed for farm families. The group remains committed to its original goals: working for the interest of farmers, working with other farm organizations, and r mating greater understanding of far; issues. For example, a Toronto hi h school teacher whose drama Sludeft were preSenting a play called Th: Farm Show, recently requested a speaker. The result? An enthusiastt busload of students arrived in iii: Wiarton area for a two-dav visit crammed with farm tours, hearty meals provided by local WI members and of course showing of CFW’Q videos! The past five years have been diffi- cult ones for many farm families. The financial strains have been difficult for many, to much for some. CFW members have worked with other continued [III p. I] GISELE IRELAND THE FARMER TAKES A WIFE A STUDY BY CONCERNED FARM WOMEN w I4 H St C April, May, June 1987