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Press Release
October 3, 2003

2003 Rural Ramble a Growing Success

Held on September 27 and 28, 2003 the Rural Ramble is a traditional self-guided weekend driving tour with 27 sites and a variety of hands-on country activities commemorating agriculture and rural living in the Valley. This tour attracted nearly 3,000 visitors again this year.

We see a growth in the Rural Ramble from year-to-year, and the 9th annual was no exception. The OVTA has received verbal reports from visitors, committee members and participating sites that this year’s event was successful in many ways. “We had a lot more children this year” says Carol Anne Bonenberg of Mapleside Sugarbush.

Attendance for this year’s event exceeded the committee’s goal of 2300 people. “We met our goal, and we are within 1% of last year’s numbers, despite the stormy Saturday,” reports .Marie White, Ottawa Valley Tourist Association (OVTA) representative. "I am very pleased with the turnout,” she says.

Sites pertaining to composting and recycling that showcased state-of-the-art equipment were entirely new this year. There is an increasing emphasis on the environment, and these sites told the story of how composting and recycling impact our rural community, and how valuable compost is to the agricultural industry.

Of the 10 new sites this year, and each of them offered a unique educational and interactive experience for families. Some of the other new things Ramblers were able to see included champion show cattle, horse riding disciplines, a rural artist demonstrating the stages of stained glass art, a sow with her litter and feeder pigs, quilting demonstrations, a heritage petting farm, and a perennial nursery that showed you how to extend the beauty of your garden into the fall. Plus all of the favourite sites from previous years such as the bison farm, blueberry and pumpkin farm, apple orchard with a cider press, a bat roost in caves, cattle farm, dairy and beef operations, craft sales, historic museums, a one-room school house plus much more to see and do.

Renfrew County's Rural Ramble continues to be a popular event, bringing people in from all over the County, Ottawa and beyond. “There were signatures in the guest book from Montreal, Kelowna, BC and as far away as Scotland during this year’s Ramble” remarks Marie Zettler of Big Bend Pottery.

The Rural Ramble is organized by the OVTA in conjunction with the Agricultural Leadership Advisory Committee. This event is only possible with the support of the participating sites, sponsors, committee members and OVTA staff," she concludes. "Without them, we wouldn't be able to offer this kind of Ottawa Valley rural experience for our visitors."

For more information contact: Marie White Ottawa Valley Tourist Association (613) 732-4364

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