8 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | August 2024 Beyond the Barn Keeping everything locked and secured protects against rural crime, such as trespassing, mischief, theft, and destruction of property. That advice comes from Sarah Bowers-Peter, who recently spoke with OFA farmers about reducing the odds of being victims of rural crime. “Farming communities have unique challenges when it comes to crime prevention – such as reporting distance, lack of visibility from roadways and irregular schedules,” says the program coordinator with Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington. Bowers-Peter was featured in a Zoom call in late June, hosted by the OFA as rural crime has become an increasing concern for many rural residents across Ontario. According to a 2021 report by Statistics Canada, crime in rural areas has spiked, even when compared to crime rates in urban centres. The report explained that “the higher crime rate in rural areas was mainly because of the high number of assaults, mischief and incidents related to disturbing the peace. These common offenses were reported approximately two to three times more often by police services serving a predominantly rural population.” How do we avoid becoming victims of rural crime? Bowers-Peter offered Better Farming readers some recommendations. “Prevention is as simple as increased lighting, installing security systems and locking buildings, fuel tanks, vehicles, and keeping keys secure. If it’s handy for you to have the keys in the vehicle, imagine how helpful it is to criminals.” Bowers-Peter also points out that crime in rural areas is evolving. “There is a new spin on old crimes: Trespassing, where strangers want a glowing field of canola blooms for social media posts. And illegal dumping, where materials transported from urban developments are dumped on agricultural properties.” As OFA members were advised, “with evolving crimes, farmers must also evolve. “Being vigilant about security and communication are simple ways we can do this.” BF - Mary Loggan Emily Croft photo ‘EVOLVING’TO PREVENT RURAL CRIME A FARMING LIFE: LOIS HUNTER Farmer, wife, mother, grandmother, fair volunteer and homecrafts judge. Born Nov. 20, 1924; died April 27, 2024. Lois Hunter (née Poole) of Smiths Falls grew up on a purebred Holstein farm outside of Perth and had a lifelong love of raising cattle. She met her future husband Donald Hunter at the Lombardy Fair where he was showing his 4-H calf and the two were married in 1944. The Hunters took over the Hunter Family farm in the mid-1950s. “People would call her ‘the traditional farm wife,’ but she was a farmer,” grandson Hugh Hunter tells Better Farming. “She milked cows, drove tractors … she did everything, but she wouldn’t be seen without makeup!” Over the years, she won three Holstein Canada Master Breeder Awards. Last year, she was presented with a Century of Holstein award at a ceremony in Montreal, which she attended with her family. “It was special for all of us to take her and get that award together,” says Hugh. “Granny was a cow person. She was interested in the breeding and genetics, and when the cows would get classified, she’d want to be called with the results.” Lois loved her family. She had two children, six grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. “She was born to be a grandmother. She loved to feed us and bake, take us on picnics, gave great big hugs, and she was always at school concerts, 4-H, and cow shows. “Even last summer at 98 years of age, she never missed anything.” BF - Leslie Stewart Lois Hunter
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