Ontario producers can submit nominations until June 25
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
The nomination window is open for Ontario producers interested in serving as directors with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).
Farmers can submit nominations for the open zone elections until June 25.
The elections are taking place in Zones 1 (Essex, Kent), 8 (Arnprior, Lanark, Ottawa, Renfrew), 11 (Grenville, Frontenac, Dundas, Leeds), 12 (Hastings, Lennox & Addington, Northumberland, Prince Edward) and 15 (Northern Ontario).
Nominees must be active farmers in their respective zones to be eligible for selection.
Dairy producer Debra Pretty-Straathof, the representative for Zone 8, will not seek re-election after more than 20 years of involvement with the OFA. Her term will end in November at the OFA’s annual general meeting.
She’s encouraging farmers in her community to become OFA directors because the position provides a real opportunity to make changes in the industry.
“It’s an incredible experience and is a way of giving back to the industry,” she told Farms.com. “Your voice will matter, and you’ve got a real chance to make things better for all farmers in the province.”
Part of making changes includes working with governments.
Any new OFA director needs to know that policy-makers work at their own pace, Pretty-Straathof said.
“You’ll come to understand the wheels of government turn very slowly, but when they want to, they can move pretty quickly,” she said. “And when you do have a workable solution, they’re going to ask how much it’s going to cost.”
Potential directors should take the time to educate themselves on important issues facing the ag sector.
Producers who specialize in one portion of the industry may not be up to date on what’s happening in other areas. Consulting online resources is a good place to start, Pretty-Straathof said.
“Go on the OFA website, brush up on the issues and do as much background learning as you can,” she said. “You’re going into the position with knowledge of maybe one or two commodities, but you’re going to learn about some of the other industries we have in Ontario.”