Rudy Brown Honoured At Grand Opening Celebrations - Ridgetown ...

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Irene Moore and Ron Fleming were lead characters in the 2006 presentation of Guys and Dolls.Staff Talent a Part of Ridgetown Theatre Group’s SuccessFor some people at Ridgetown Campus, the routine of academic and research life is balanced by the thrillof the stage. Several staff members have a long and somewhat noted career with the local theatre group– Ridge Players.In 1967, Canada’s Centennial year, the local chapter of the IODEwanted to raise money to construct a swimming pool in Ridgetown.They decided to put on a play as a fundraiser, and enlisted the help ofMrs. Liz Brown. Brown was a teacher at Ridgetown District HighSchool and she had experience organizing and directing a play.“We decided to stage the HMS Pinafore,” she says. “I had directedthe same play at the high school several years earlier, so I knew whatwas needed.”Although the play, presented in 1969, was intended to be a one-timeonly production, it was so successful it became an annual event.Ridge Players was born. The 2007 production of The Sound of Musicwill be the group’s 39th consecutive show.Throughout its nearly 40-year history, Ridge Players has had closeties to Ridgetown Campus. In fact, there are two original membersof that first production still involved with the group, and both have aconnection to the Campus. Liz Brown, the first and only music director,is the wife of the late Rudy Brown, and Jennifer Cofell, an actor andstage director, is the wife of retired crop technician John Cofell.Many past and present staff members and alumni (too many tomention them all) have contributed to the success of Ridge Players,either by acting or helping in a behind-the-scenes capacity.Dr. Irene Moore, co-ordinator of the Veterinary Technology Program,is one staff member who has made Ridge Players her winter pastime.“I’ve always been interested in theatre, and first became involved inRidge Players in 1993,” says Moore. “It is a great way to help thewinter fly by,” she adds.Environmental professor and researcher Ron Fleming and his familyhave been involved in Ridge Players since they moved to Ridgetownin 1994. “My son Kevin was in Music Man in 1995 and after takinghim to all the rehearsals, I decided it was something I would liketo try,” he says.Besides providing cast members, the staff has been a good source ofplants and props for many plays. “The College has always been verygenerous in assisting us with items needed for our productions,”says Brown. She notes that for several years, the group borrowedroom dividers that were used at the side of the stage. “Ridgetownstaff must have realized that we used the dividers more than they did,so someone finally said ‘Just keep them!’” she laughs.Each year, Ridge Players donates its profits to charitable causes inthe community, and recently Ridgetown Campus was the beneficiaryof their generosity. In return for all the talent and support it hasreceived from campus staff, Ridge Players donated $10,000 to thenew Rudy H. Brown Rural Development Centre.Liz Brown has also made a special donation to the new building.The new auditorium contains a beautiful oak podium as a tributeto Rudy and the many lectures and presentations he gave duringhis distinguished career.18roots@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca
Rob Reid (centre) along with Norm Catchpole and Melissa Jansen have been key to the success of Ridgetown’s dairy herd.Students Get Management Training in Dairy BarnWhere is the best place to teach a dairy management course? In a dairy barn, of course!Since September of 2005, classes for the new Dairy Managementcourse at the Ridgetown campus have been held in the campusdairy barn.“We wanted the course to be very hands-on so we added tablesand chairs to a calving pen and converted it into a classroom,”says Rob Reid, dairy barn manager and one of the courseinstructors. “With the classroom located in the dairy barn, we caneasily explain a concept to the students and then immediatelyshow them how it applies.” The pen actually serves double duty;when it’s needed for calving, the furniture comes out and it isonce again available for its original purpose.The curriculum is very practical, and students participate in allareas of the operation, including feeding, stall cleaning and earlymorning milkings. Field trips to other dairy barns, guest lecturers,and herd health instruction from veterinarians are also part ofthe program.The new course has proven to be very popular with students,with full enrollment in both semesters in which it was offered.In 2006, the class is oversubscribed and there is a waiting list.“The students like the fact that this course is not in a traditionalclassroom,” says Melissa Jansen, the co-instructor. “This isdefinitely a hands-on program.”It isn’t just students from dairy farms who are interested in theactivities in the dairy barn. “Many students without a dairybackground take this course to get a better understanding ofthe industry. Because of the small class size, it is easier forthese students to ask questions.” says Reid. VeterinaryTechnology students also use the dairy barn for some of their largeanimal training.Besides using the dairy barn as a teaching resource, Reid andJansen, along with assistant Norm Catchpole, have had excellentresults with their breeding program and milk production.Since 1991, the Ridgetown barn has produced six cows with anExcellent rating from Holstein Canada. The rating is based on theappearance of the animal, and only 4% of dairy cows ever achievethis status. The rating system helps the staff with correctivebreeding, says Reid. “Knowing the shortcomings of a cow, we canchoose a bull with good qualities to offset the poor characteristicsof the dam,” he says.This breeding program, along with the excellent care given by thestudents and staff, has paid off with improved milk production.Earlier this year, the Ridgetown herd, consisting of 30-35 purebredHolsteins, was recognized as the top herd for production in Essex-Kent in 2005. Jansen notes that the herd had been moving slowly upthe ranks in recent years, and calls the 2005 results “awesome”.There are 21 herds in the Essex-Kent area.In May, the herd reached another milestone with a record-highmonthly average milk production of 41 kg per cow. “Our milk testertold us that in 20 years of milk testing in four counties, she hadnever had a herd average over 40 kg,” says Reid.Congratulations to everyone involved in the dairy barn. Keep up thegood work!19
Page 2 and 3: A Message From...OAC DeanCongratula
Page 5 and 6: ▲ With seating for 1200 people, t
Page 7 and 8: Surrounded by friends and family fo
Page 9 and 10: ELT’s green roofs can be installe
Page 11 and 12: The use of a blimp for this field r
Page 13 and 14: Class of 1956 Celebrates 50 th Anni
Page 15 and 16: Cesar Ardila - Government Interpret
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