Letters and Comments for July 30, 2009

Letters and Comments for July 30, 2009

Support local youth

To the Editor:

Don’t miss out on the 4-H and FFA Junior Market Auction at the fair.

Saturday at 5 p.m. the 4-H and FFA exhibitors will be auctioning off their market animals, which include hogs, sheep, beef and goats.

You can purchase these animals, have them custom cut and wrapped, and put the meat in your freezer. However, there are other ways to support these kids as they wrap up their summer projects. You can come and bid on their animals and if you end up buying the animal you can turn that animal right back around to the floor buyer, who then takes possession.

For example: If you bid a 250-pound hog up to $2.50 per pound and the floor price is 50 cents, you are supporting that exhibitor with a $500 donation (250 pounds X $2.50 bid price less .50 floor buyer buy back). For businesses this is great advertisement as your business is recognized right there in the ring.

This is a social event so there are lots of people and they will remember you the next time they make a purchase. The donation may be tax deductible; contact your local CPA.

Another way to support the kids is if you know someone who is selling a market animal but just wish to make a small addition to their purchase price like $25 or $50. You can do this by contacting one of our auction committee members and letting us know. This form of support is called an “add-on.”

Don’t forget, we will be having a pre-auction pit barbeque at 4 p.m. If you pick up a bidder number you get in for free. If not, the cost to the barbecue will be $5 per person.

If you have any questions or need someone to proxy bid please call 910-8970 or 786-1750.

John Leithner

and Tim DelCurto

A broad impact

It’s been interesting listening to people talking about the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Travel Management Plan, because most all of the discussion is about off-highway vehicles and ATVs. While these are a part of the TMP, all other motorized use is also covered (except snowmobiles).

So whether you drive your Subaru wagon or tow your horse trailer to the trail head; take the SUV camping or the pickup hunting; look for firewood, mushrooms, berries or just go out for a drive on our public lands; whether you’ve been there one time or a hundred, remember that the TMP will have an impact on where you can go on our national forest lands.

For more information stop by the Forest Service offices or go online to http://www.fs.fed.us/

r6/w-w/  for more information.

If you do nothing now, don’t complain later when you can’t get to that favorite place you’ve always gone to before.

Mark Barber

La Grande