The theme of this year’s Annual General Meeting is Prosperity Grows Here
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) delegates will vote on some key leadership positions at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Taking place on Nov. 19 and 20 at the Hamilton Convention Centre, this year’s AGM theme is Prosperity Grows Here. The event brings together OFA members, industry representatives and key stakeholders to explore issues that affect the province’s agriculture and food industry as well as rural communities.
Attending voting delegates will vote for a director-at-large and two vice-presidents. The presidential position is acclaimed for this year, and the board will elect an executive member. Nominations concluded at the end of October.
Vice-president nominees include Peggy Brekveld, Mark Reusser, Crispin Colvin, and Pat Jilesen. Andrea McCoy-Naperstkow and Hugh Simpson are nominees for director-at-large. Mark Wales is retiring as the director for Elgin and Oxford, and will be replaced by Melissa Schneider. Peter Lambrick, the current director-at-large, is also retiring and delegates will elect his replacement at the AGM.
Doug Griffiths, author of 13 Ways to Kill Your Community, is the keynote speaker.
Ernie Hardeman, minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, and Andrea Horwath, leader of the Official Opposition for New Democratic Party of Ontario will also speak.
A highlight of the AGM is the workshops, Neil Currie, OFA general manager, told Farms.com today.
“Back by popular demand, we (are offering) five workshops,” he said. “The delegates really enjoy the workshops. It gives them the opportunity to be educated about topics of interest.”
Some examples of topics include mental health, working with municipal councils, and technology in agriculture, Currie said.
At the AGM, delegates can engage with other industry members, gain knowledge about the industry, and learn ways to improve farming operations.
This year’s theme is a central component of the AGM, Currie said.
“Prosperity Grows Here is taking off on the producing prosperity election campaign that we launched last year,” he explained. “So, continuing to remind our members of their role in the economy and how important it is, and the need for governments to participate with us and invest in our rural communities, because that’s where the real growth will happen.”
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