OFA’s 2018 Annual General Meeting provided members with a full slate of activities over the two-day event. This year’s theme, Prosperity Grows Here, led the discussions, speakers, presentations and workshop topics. The theme of Prosperity Grows Here focused on continuing the conversation of rural economic growth and served as an extension of the Producing Prosperity in Ontario concept that was unveiled at OFA’s 2017 AGM.
The annual meeting was held Monday, November 19 and Tuesday, November 20 at the Hamilton Convention Centre. OFA members and interested parties who were unable to attend but would like to watch highlights of the event, click here to access a recorded version of the live stream.
Delegates were engaged in grassroots policy and politic discussions, award presentations, voted on OFA leadership positions, heard from guest speakers including Ernie Hardeman, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Premier Ford via recorded video and Andrea Horwath, leader of the NDP party and official opposition and participated in interactive workshops.
Keith Currie was acclaimed by the delegates to serve in the position of OFA president for a third one-year term. Currie, OFA’s 31st president, is a Collingwood-area hay and sweet corn farmer.
Peggy Brekveld and Mark Reusser were re-elected as OFA’s two vice presidents. Brekveld, a northern Ontario dairy farmer, returns for her fifth one-year term, while Reusser, a Waterloo County turkey farmer, will be serving in the position for a third term. Drew Spoelstra was re-elected by the board as the fourth executive member.
Delegates elected Hugh Simpson (Grey County) as Director-at-Large for a three-year term on the OFA Board of Directors. Melissa Schneider, representing Zone 4 – Elgin and Oxford counties will also be joining the OFA board. Two long-time directors have retired from OFA’s board this year, Mark Wales and Peter Lambrick.
Keynote speaker Doug Griffiths delivered an exciting and engaging speech on 13 Ways to Kill Your Community, focusing on the importance of building communities from within.
OFA announced the winners of the 2018 student bursary award – Megan Wright from Simcoe County, Lauren Benoit of Perth County and Tamara Hamilton from Prescott-Russell. Each recipient was awarded $2,000wards their continuing agricultural education. Also announced at the annual meeting were the winners of OFA’s Proud to Farm photo contest and the OFA Honda ATV Member Draw Contest.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2018 Annual General Meeting. Thanks to all of our members, guests, sponsors, exhibitors and speakers for making it another successful annual meeting. We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2019.
For more details, click here for the news release.