'The Rural Voice' marks 50th anniversary with get-together in Blyth
BY SCOTT STEPHENSON
It’s been 50 years since the first issue of The Rural Voice hit Huron County newsstands, and the world of agriculture sure has changed a lot since then. Just flip through one of the magazine’s early issues - you’ll find articles speculating about the possibility of satellites someday sending data to earth sandwiched between advertisements for brand new gadgets like FM Land Radios and Aug-a-Balers - once on the cutting edge, now charmingly antiquated. But there’s one thing about agriculture that never changes: the need to talk about agriculture.
Founder Keith Roulston recognized that simple desire and set about filling the pages of The Rural Voice with those stories. It’s been half a century of stories, and there’s no risk of running out any time soon. Agriculture is an art and a science and a way of life - always evolving and utterly essential to existence - of course those right in the thick of it all have something to say - some stories are funny, some are tragic, some are full of hope, anger, novel ideas - whatever it is, The Rural Voice will find a place for it.
Last week, a cavalcade of contributors past and present came together to celebrate the auspicious occasion of this humble periodical’s 50th birthday. People came from far and wide to pay tribute and share their favourite memories of their time working at The Rural Voice. Even though some of them had never met before, the gathering felt more like a family party than a work function.
Current Editor Mel Luymes welcomed all to the Lions Park with her trademark enthusiasm. Publisher Deb Sholdice proudly proclaimed that she had travelled the least distance to get to the party. “I’m glad to welcome you all to my street, because I live right here on Gypsy Lane,” she said. “I’m so honoured that Keith invited me to come on board to North Huron Publishing, and The Citizen, and The Rural Voice. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else at this point - it’s my honour to look after these publications, for the communities that they serve.”
Roulston returned the compliment. “I retired in 2017, and was so fortunate that Deb Sholdice was available to replace me,” he said. “She has kept the organization running, while other publishing organizations are a shadow of their former selves.”
Roulston started The Rural Voice for the same reason he started most of his creative endeavours over the years - he saw that it could be done, and was fairly certain he could do it better than most. “I wish I had a better reason for having started The Rural Voice in June of 1975,” he recollected. He was just dissatisfied with the coverage agriculture was receiving at the time. He had been covering the Huron Federation of Agriculture for a few years, and they were struggling to publish monthly newsletters. As a self-professed prolific founder of new publications, he got the urge to get something going. His wife, Jill, set up an office, and Keith started a culture magazine, The Village Squire in 1973, followed by The Rural Voice in 1975.
He was always busy planning the next issue, finding the next great stories. He misplaced that first issue, and has never found a copy. The Rural Voice became a vital resource, full of tips and tricks before the internet arrived with its endless stream of information. Within the pages of The Rural Voice are all these little farming moments that would have otherwise been lost to time.