What a real outdoor adventure it would be to paddle a canoe on the North Saskatchewan River from Rocky Mountain House, Alta. all the way to Montreal, Que. Over the past few years so many young and old canoeists are taking that challenge, but they at least know where they going and know all the river hazards along the way. The weather could be a factor a times. Canoe adventurers back at the turn of the last century, explorers and fur traders, travelled the river without knowing where it led and the real tough trip it could be.
May 16 a group of canoeists from eastern Canada started out at Rocky Mountain House to take a four-month trip down the river to Lake Manitoba and on to Lake Superior and Montreal. They went through the Battlefords district May 29. They are raising money for a charity supporting outdoor activities for Canadian children.
Clean up day was held at the Baljennie St. Bridget's cemetery grounds June 6. Due to the busy farming season being late this year and the aging of many residents, only a handful turned out to do the job. With family buried in both Willowmoore and Baljennie cemetery, family members gather together, and were able to do both cemeteries. In the larger areas they are able to use riding lawn mowers for cutting and hand equipment around the grave sites. A big thank you to all those who did turn out. A follow up clean up will take place later on in the summer.
Farming had a slow start this spring due to the late winter melt. It has all melted now, but did leave a few areas on the wet side. The farmers have been busy seeding full swing for the past three or four weeks. They have to be careful near some sloughs and soft areas in many fields. It is easy to get pulled in the soft spots and be stuck in the mud and it has happened to a few. Seeding is coming to an end in this area. Rocks have been picked on some fields, and some other fields have had the roller equipment go over to flatten the land for the special crops seeded. Some of the early crops are all up and growing fast. We did get some much needed rain fall in the past week. Once the crops are up and advanced it will be time to spray these early weeks.
The 4-H program of Canada is celebrating a 100th anniversary in 2013. The first calf show clubs in Baljennie and Spinney Hill started off in 1945 to 1952 and they did not belong to the Canada 4-H movement. They were a club of their own, organized and supervised under the Saskatchewan Co-operative Extensive Program Extension supported by provincial and federal governments and the University of Saskatchewan. They also had junior co-operative grain variety tests plots for wheat, oats and barley with Saskatchewan Co-operative Wheat Producers Limited. The Homemakers Club also sponsored home craft clubs for the girls. A 4-H light horse club ran in the Sonningdale area for a few years before the Baljennie Multiple Club began in 1979. There was a few interested horse members going to Sonningdale 4-H light horse club as well as the Baljennie club.
On Oct. 3, 1979 the Baljennie Multiple 4-H Club was organized and run for a good number of years. Over the years they have had many members and club leaders. On Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 you are invited to come and celebrate the 100th year for the 4-H clubs in Canada at the Baljennie Community Centre. On Saturday, Aug. 1 registration will start at 1 p.m. and will cost $10 for the day. Eight years and under are free. If anyone has and cares to display memorabilia such as photos, record books and trophies please feel free to bring them along. Later in the afternoon there will be games, crafts, a fashion show and a 50-50 draw. At 5 p.m. a roast beef supper will be served. Bring your lawn chairs. At 7 p.m. there will be a 4-H club movie slides of the club leaders and activities while they were an active club. It will be followed with grass hockey and at 9 p.m. Eileen and Glen Peters family will sponsor a wiener roast to bring the day to a close.
The following day will start off at 9 a.m. with a pancake breakfast sponsored by Irene and Robert Greer family. At 2 p.m. Maralyn and Edward Wintergill family will serve hamburgers to all.
Please reply by July 1 to Maralyn Wintergill at 306-937-7172. It will help greatly to know how much food to order for the roast beef supper and to know how many are planning to attend. Remember 4-H fundraisers are drug and alcohol free. Anyone interested is welcome to come.
