For the second year in a row, a contest is being launched to select one farmer or farm family to appear in the 2014 edition of the Faces of Farming calendar.
The calendar, now in its ninth year, has featured the faces and stories of about 125 farmers and farm families since it was first published in 2005. Each year, the calendar is distributed to thousands of Ontario media, grocery retail outlets and politicians and is sold through the Farm and Food Care office. The goal of the project is to break down stereotypes of who Ontario’s farmers are and what they look like. It also works to introduce consumers to the farmers who work 365 days each year to provide quality, local Ontario products.
Thelma Trask of Alma was among those featured in the 2013 calendar.
While most of the calendar’s participants are chosen with input from sponsoring commodity groups and agribusinesses, this is the second year that the contest will help select the farmer(s) that appear on one of the pages.
Kelly Daynard, communications manager for Farm and Food Care, said last year’s contest attracted 31 entries from across Ontario. She added, “We were so impressed with both the quality and quantity of the entries we received. Without exception, each entry showed a strong passion for this industry and for the calendar project.”
Last year’s winning entry was submitted by hog farmers Bob McMillan and Julie Moore and their family of Perth County. Their entry was chosen by a panel of urban reporters.
Farmers or farm families are encouraged to enter the contest by submitting both a family photo and short essay (maximum 500 words) describing their family. Candidates must make their primary income from agriculture. Essays must include the following to be considered:
– names and ages of all family members;
– address including county or region of residency;
– a description of the farming operation, including types of crops grown and/or livestock raised;
– history of the farm (number of generations farming, etc.);
– any other details that make their story unique, including community involvement, environmental initiatives, unusual hobbies, etc.; and
– why they’d be good candidates for the Faces of Farming calendar project.
All entries must be received at the Farm and Food Care office no later than May 31 when they will be judged. The winning family will participate in a photo shoot in July, receive complimentary copies of the calendar and two tickets and accommodation for the 2013 Ontario Harvest Gala and calendar launch planned for Oct. 24, 2013 in Guelph. Entries can be emailed to info@farmfoodcare.org or mailed to 100 Stone Road West, Suite 106, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 5L3.
