A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA website: www.ontario.ca/omafra.
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR ONTARIO’S OUTSTANDING YOUNG FARMER
The Ontario Young Farmers program begins each year with the nomination of farmers at the local level. Anyone can nominate a young farmer/farm couple for the regional recognition award and title of Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmer as long as they meet the following program eligibility requirements:
– must be between the ages of 18 and 39;
– be farm operators; and
– derive a minimum of two-thirds of their income from farming.
Nominations for the 2017 Award are now open. The nomination form is found at http://www.oyfontario.ca/Nomination%20Form%202017.pdf.
Forms are due no later than Jan. 15.
Step one: regional level
If these eligibility requirements are met, a nomination form must be fully completed and returned to the OOYF coordinator by Jan. 15 in order to be eligible for review.
The coordinator will then contact the nominees and provide them with more details on the program and an application form.
The deadline for short application forms is Feb. 15. Completed short application forms are sent to a preliminary judging panel, consisting of past OOYF winners who select the top five or six candidates based on the following criteria:
– progress in agriculture career;
– extent of soil, water and energy conservation practices;
– crop and/or livestock production history;
– management practices; and
– contribution to the well-being of the community, province and nation.
The top six finalists will then fill in the national application form which is sent to the program coordinator by March 30. The farm photos, PowerPoint presentation and financial information is sent to the program coordinator by Aug. 1. Top candidates will participate in an interview and presentation process at the regional event where the regional winner will be selected.
Step two: national conference
The winner of the regional competition is invited to represent the region at the National Conference to be recognized and be judged by a distinguished panel which selects the two honorees to receive Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer Award. More information about OYF can be found at http://www.oyfontario.ca.
If you have questions about the nomination process contact: Dianna Forth, regional coordinator:
Phone: (905) 628-8415
Email: diannaforth@sympatico.ca.
COMING EVENTS
Jan. 20 – CompactionSmart – RIM Park in Waterloo at 2001 University Ave. E. For more information and to register visit farmsmartconference.com/farmsmart-friday/ or call 1-877-424-1300.
