Ontario Beef Farmers Get a Special Visit from Premier Wynne
By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
The newly appointed Ontario Premier and Minister of Agriculture and Food Kathleen Wynne was one of the honored guests at this year’s Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) annual banquet.
"Premier Wynne's decision to attend our AGM and Award Banquet was a wonderful way for our new board to start the year," said OCA President Dan Darling. "Our members understand that the Premier is coming off one of the busiest months of her life. The fact she could adjust her schedule to spend the evening listening to cattle farmers speaks volumes to her commitment to ensure her government reconnects with rural Ontario," Darling added.
Other dignitaries that were present included Rural Affairs Minister Jeff Leal, Parliamentary Assistant of Rural Affairs, Grant Crack, Opposition PC Agriculture Critic and former Minister of Agriculture Ernie Hardeman, NDP Agriculture Critic John Vanthof, and a number of MPPs.
Among farm leaders and politicians there was discussion about Ontario's Risk Management Program, in which beef cattle producers expressed their willingness to work with the government to ensure that the program continues to serve the needs of farmers in the province.
According to online sources, Wynne was gifted a cowboy hat at the OCA hat. The OCA is a grassroots organization that represents 19,000 beef farmers in the province.