Grain Farmers of Ontario Announces New Leadership Program in Partnership with Corteva and OMAFA

Guelph, ON – Grain Farmers of Ontario, the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers, announced the launch of the Grain Farmers of Ontario-Corteva Farmer Leadership Program, with support from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA).

“Grain farmers in Ontario now generate over $4.1 billion in production and over $27 billion in total economic output, a testament to their leadership and success” said Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Through the Farmer Leadership Program, we are supporting their efforts to cultivate the next generation of agri-food leaders who will ensure the long-term success of the sector.”

The Grain Farmers of Ontario-Corteva Farmer Leadership Program will provide a cohesive level of training at the world-renowned Ivey Business School (London, Ontario) for Grain Farmers of Ontario delegates – providing them with the skills they need to be strong advocates for grain farmers and the agriculture industry. The program is designed to develop confident speakers, foster inspiring leaders, and create a strong network for participants.

It will foster a shared sense of purpose and connection amongst farmers from different regions, creating a strong, unified voice for our organization and the grain sector.

“Growing leadership within our farmer-members is critically important to the future of grain farming in Ontario. We are thrilled that Corteva and OMAFA are joining with us in this vital initiative. We know both organizations recognize the importance of developing leadership skills in agriculture. Investing in our delegates is an investment in the future of our organization,” says Jeff Harrison, Chair, Grain Farmers of Ontario.

“At Corteva Agriscience we recognize the importance of leadership within our agriculture industry here in Ontario. We are excited to sponsor this initiative with Grain Farmers of Ontario to help provide training to farmers who are willing to represent their local agricultural community to help grow their leadership skills to help the future of our industry.” says Jean Caron, Sales Director, Eastern Canada.

Grain Farmers of Ontario would like to extend its heartfelt appreciation to both Corteva and OMAFA for their ongoing commitment to fostering agricultural leadership and supporting the growth of future leaders in Ontario. The first class of the program is scheduled for March 2025.