Ontario Federation of Agriculture announces director election results

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) welcomes two new and one returning director to its board table following elections in three of its zones.

Larry Davis of Burford was re-elected as the provincial director for Zone 3, representing farmers in Brant, Halidmand and Norfolk. Davis, an OFA director since 1989, farms with his wife and son, growing crops and raising sheep. Davis ran against chicken and beef farmer Henry Lise and beef and crop farmer Steve Sickle.

Maaike Campbell joins the board as the new director for Zone 6, representing farmers in Lambton and Middlesex counties. Together with her family, she farms near Strathroy, producing chicken and beef and growing crops. Campbell replaces Crispin Colvin, a beef and crop farmer who had represented Zone 6 on the board since 2016.

Marnie Wood has won the election to represent Zone 10 – Durham, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes/Haliburton – on the OFA board. A second generation dairy farmer in Cannington, she fills the seat formerly held by Steve Brackenridge, who stepped down after nine years on the board. Wood ran against Matthew Porter, a beef and crop farmer and university researcher from Millbrook.

“We congratulate all successful candidates and look forward to working with them as part of our OFA board team,” says OFA President Drew Spoelstra. “We also appreciate and thank all members who let their name stand for a board position and participated in our election process. The strength of our organization comes from the commitment and passion of the farmers who step forward to take on these leadership roles, and it was great to see such a healthy interest in board positions this year.”

Greg Dietrich of Mildmay was acclaimed as Zone 2 director representing Bruce and Grey counties, and Spoelstra, who farms near Binbrook growing crops, raising horses and producing beef and milk, was acclaimed as the Zone 5 representative for farmers in Halton, Hamilton/Wentworth and Niagara.

All new directors will officially begin their new roles on the OFA board following the OFA annual general meeting, which will take place November 25 – 26 in Toronto.

Nominations for one of the OFA’s two Director-at-Large positions will be accepted October 15 – 27, 2025. The election for this position will be held at the AGM.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) represents 38,000 farm families across the province and serves as the leading advocate and strongest voice of Ontario’s farmers. As a dynamic farmer-led organization, the OFA represents and champions the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more.