Notes From Nebraska . . . confinutdfrom page 4 Sue and I drove south. through more sandhills. to North Platte. We attended a special event called Nebraska~land Days and toured about historical grounds. When we left. we crossed the Dismal River. Trees grow along the river banks and the grass is greener. And OC- casionally along the roadside were clumps oftrees - a reminder of what was once a homestead. Nebraska is tornado country. and on our drive back to Halsey. we watched a large cloud grow to tremendous proporâ€" tions; it brought no rain. We headed west through another time zone towards Harrison. The hills became smaller. and ï¬nally we entered an area of trees in the Pine Ridge country. The land leveled out as we drove through a flat valley. It looked like a patchwork - ï¬elds golden with the colour of ripening grain. interspersed with green pasA ture and brown earth in summer fal» low. These ï¬elds are kept ploughed to keep down the growth of weeds which rob the soil of moisture. The heat then bakes it to a hard Crust. keeping in the moisture. The scene near Harrison â€" mountains. rock. country. and ranches. I stayed on a ranch of approximately 4.000 acres at Hyannis. owned by Kathy and Gerald Griesse. Checking fences. cattle and windmills are their priorities On one of the rounds. I was lucky enough to see my first golden eagle in its nest. From the Harrison area. we returned to Broken Bow in southern Nebraska. We went through an area of wheatlands. and then along the Platte River. Again seeing lots of irrigation. Along the valley. com was grown. We went through Cal~ loway. a town of 600. where l en- joyed my first rodeo - a way of life for these people. We ï¬nished our day and then drove to the home of Margaret and Robert Smith: again. [had a tour of their ranch. Radio Station KRVN 880. owned by ranchers and farmers. is located in this area. It was the location of my second interview. My ï¬rst was held in Pawnee City the day after I arrived. With no time for lingering. we were on our way to Minden. We toured a wonderful privately owned museum. which housed collections of everything! We continued on to Holdrege to the home ofConnie and Larry Jacobson. Connie was the Past President of NCHEC, so we were already acquainted. It was akin to renewing an old friendship. A potluck supper was being held by her Club - just like home! Connie and Larry cash crop com, and one son raises pigs. My next and ï¬nal stop was in Lincoln, Nebraska’s capital. at the home of Dorothy and Charles Weichart. They are retired farmers, but still live on the fan-n. My visit would not have been complete without a visit to the Legislative Building in Lincoln. Also on the agenda was a tour of the Animal Science Division at the University of Nebraska and the Home Economics Branch. Our tour guide was the Home Extension Ofï¬cer. My'ï¬nal day before I left included a visit to the County Extension Ot- ï¬ce and Bryan Memorial Hospital. as well, I attended a cross corn-[mi Antique car race. ’ Nebraska is a very rural State where neighbours are separated in: land and joined by community spirit. Canada is hardly ever men: tioned in the media, except when there is a crisis. such as Meech Lake. They admitted to knowing very little about us. but were cage} to loam when given the Opportunity Harriet made presentations to NCHEC members all over Nebras- ka and at the State Convention. as well as to other groups. conveying her impressions of Ontario and con- tributing to an understanding of Canada and its people. These are my impressions of Nebraska. It is very much a rural farming State with down-to-eanh, hospitable people. They have a respect forthe land. strive to achieve their goals and preserve their tradi- tions and environment - quietly. with pride and dignity. Margaret Munro is the Past President of the F WIO. You Can Make a Difference! When Bev Coutts. a Women's Institute member from Simcoe County. attended the Associated Country Women of the World Con- lerence in Kansas City in 1989. she was touched by the plight of women in the Third World. And as a dediâ€" cated Wl member. she personally wanted to do something to help. While talking to the WI repre- sentative from Guyana in South America. Bev discovered that schools were in desperate need of pencils and paper. Upon retuming home she contacted the Guyanese President. who approved of her proposal to ï¬ll this need. She or- ganized the collection and shipping of materials, making arrangements with the Counsel General of Guyana located in Toronto. Bev decided to target the supplies to a specific area in Guyana. The ï¬rst shipment was sent in Decent- her. and hopefully the second Wlll go in the Spring. If you would like to contribute supplies of pencils. ex- ercise books. scribblers or paper (not necessarily new), please Send them to Bev Coutts, RR4 Staynï¬‚ï¬ Ontario. LOM ]SO,(705)â€"428-2252. Submitted by Geraldine CamePM' PRO, F W10. I! H & C December. January. Febmrary l9‘ll