By Andrea McCoy-Naperstkow, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

As Ontarians embrace more time outdoors, recreational trails have become increasingly popular places to hike, bike, ski or snowmobile. Many of these trails run through farmland or active agricultural areas — places where crops are growing, livestock may be nearby, and farming activities are underway.

Farmers who live and work alongside these trails know that with public access comes shared responsibility. Trail users need to understand how to stay safe, respect private property, and protect the land and animals around them. And farmers need tools to help communicate this clearly, in a friendly and welcoming way.

At the same time, trails present an opportunity to reconnect Ontarians with where their food comes from by providing information about the crops and farming activities happening around them.

That’s where the Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s Revive Fund is helping. Two recent projects — one in Waterloo Region and the other in Renfrew County — are using trail signage to connect rural and urban communities, highlight local food production, and foster safe, respectful trail use.

I farm in Eastern Ontario and represent farmers from Arnprior, Lanark, Ottawa and Renfrew on the OFA board. OFA established the Revive Fund during the pandemic in 2021 to help our local organizations support meaningful projects in their communities at a time when many of our usual activities weren’t possible – and it’s been a popular program ever since.

In Waterloo Region, the local federation of agriculture worked with the Guelph to Goderich Rail Trail Committee and Grand River Conservation Authority to develop and install a series of six interpretive signs along the Guelph to Goderich Rail Trail. This well-travelled 30-kilometre stretch includes the scenic Kissing Bridge Trail and is popular with urban residents seeking time in nature.

Recently officially unveiled by Ontario Senator Rob Black, the signs invite trail users to learn more about the crops and farms that surround them, offering a “window into agriculture” that is informative, inclusive and accessible — even to young children and those using mobility devices.

In Renfrew County, the local federation partnered with the county’s Agricultural Economic Development Committee to create a system of high-quality, permanent signage along the 219-kilometre Algonquin Trail. The goal: to help trail users understand the importance of respecting farmland by staying on marked trails, keeping themselves and farmers safe, and learning more about local agriculture.

Larger signs are located at rest stops and trailheads, with smaller signs positioned near working farms, sensitive zones or livestock areas. These signs balance friendly messaging with clear safety reminders and fun facts about the agricultural products grown and raised in the region — from dairy and beef to vegetables and grains.

Both projects reflect the deep connection that farmers have with their land and their communities. Through simple, engaging signage, they are helping bridge the rural-urban divide — one trail user at a time. By embracing our shared responsibility for the land, trails can become more than just pathways, they become places of learning, respect and connection.

Many other Revive Fund projects also focus on safety, from road safety and slow moving vehicle signage to first aid training for farmers and community members and agricultural emergency training for rural first responders. In my area, for example, a local federation used funds left over after hosting a first aid course to purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED) for the local community.

To date, more than $1.2 million has been invested in a wide range of local community-building projects by OFA, local federations of agriculture and other partners. More information about Revive Fund projects is available at ofa.on.ca/revive-fund.

For more information, contact:

Tyler Brooks
Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-994-2578
comms@ofa.on.ca