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Janet Parsons is a dairy farmer near Cache Bay, Ontario. Janet runs the farm with the help ofone full-time employee, Leona Verrette. Her three sons also help out, when they have time; her husband, John, works fullâ€"time as an Accountant. "When John andlstarted farming, we decided that I would represent the farm at any meetings. One of my first projects was to set maximum terms of office for the local Milk Committee members so more farmers could benefit from the experience." For years, Janet has remained active in a number oforganizations in the West Nipissing/East Sudbury area, including the Federation of Agriculture, the Agricultural Society, the Milk Commit- tee, and the Soil and Crop Improvement Association. She was also the Charter President of the Veuve River Branch of the Women’s Institute in 1983, and later Secretary/Treasurer and President ofthe Nipissing District WI. Al the provincial level,Janet has been involved with the Federated Women's Institutes, the Farm Family Advisor Program, the Dairy Herd Improvement Association, and the Federation of Agriculture. In 1986, she was appointed to the Farm Products Appeal Tribunal and the Farm Debt Review Board. In 1988, Janet was presented with the Padre Young Award, Outstanding Young Farmer for Central Region, and the W.R. Motherweli Award, Outstand- ing Young Farmer of Canada. When people comment that she should run for Parliament, Janet responds: "Three things stand in the way... my family comes first, my farm comes second, and then, I like a little time for myself." 8 H all C October. November, December l991 Joyce Anderson lives with her two daughters, near Brigden, Ontario. She runs a cow-calfoperation and a 125 acre cash crop farm. Today, Joyce is involved in a variety of organizations. She is a 4-H Leader and a Regional Representative for the Lambton 47H Leader’s Association. Joyce has served at all levels of the Women‘s Institutes, and is a former Provincial Board Director for the Federated Women’s Institutes of On- tario (FWIO). Presently, she is District Delegate and Area Auditor, sits on both the FWIO Centennial Registration and Agriculture Committees, and is the FWIO Representative on the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). During the past year, Joyce has also served as Director of the Lambton Federation of Agriculture and the On- tario Agricultural Training Institute. She attended the Canadian Federation of Agriculture annual meeting as an OFA delegate and participated in the Canadian Farm Women in Decision- making Conference last April. Joyce cites three different incidents that stirred her to take more direct politi- cal action in the late ’80:: the threat ofa new power line on her property; the proposal to dump Toronto garbage in her area; and, the plan to build a couple of incinerators in Lambton County. "I realized that the "they" who should do something [about it], should be me." These encroachments on her home and county initiated many visits to local councils and Members of Parliament. And in the past two years, Joyce has participated in demonstrations to force action on both environmental issues and the farm crisis situation. Lorraine Lapointe claims that politic entered her life in 1984, after he decision to buy her falher~in-law‘ tintown, Ontario. Because Lorrainewa the spouse of an existing farmer, government assistance program refuse a reduction of the interest rate on he bank loan. Lorraine believed the program’ criteria - stating that "spouses an children under 18 are considered as a entity" - was archaic. She challenge this, arguing that women are separat entities, and it was changed. Today, th Ontario Human Rights Commissioni investigating her complaint. Lorraine has since prepared an presented briefs to government task for ces, and has participated in a Publi Inquiry on Growth Hormones in th dairy industry. "Being politically awakened ha changed my life and that of my family I never let a challenge go by,” she said And added, "Being involved is the uni way to make constructive changest our society." She is a member of lh National Farmers Union, Women to the Survival of Agriculture, and ‘ Femme et la Gestion de la Fenne. Lorraine is also the Francophorl Director for the Ontario Farm Women ' Network. She is anxious to "sink he political teeth" into their recent studyo the participation of farm women 0 regulatory boards and agenctes. She concluded by stating: "The Suf fragettes gave us the vote so we coil pursue our individual strengths we can empower us..., let us notwastethel fight."