Over 300 agriculture enthusiasts attended the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) Dream Auction on Feb. 20 – an event that raised over $90,000 towards leadership development training.
The AALP Dream Auction featured 375 live and silent auction items generously donated by program alumni and other industry and individual supporters. A South African safari package, a Real Dirt on Farming speakers’ bureau training session and a week-long escape to Florida were among the top selling items.
“The Ontario agriculture industry really came together to support this event through donations, ticket orders and auction sales,” said Tom Farfaras, event co-chair and AALP Class 15 graduate.
“The level of support demonstrates the importance of the leadership programming to our industry.”
Co-chair and AALP Class 15 graduate Kate Hyatt adds, “Members of two AALP classes joined together to plan and coordinate the event and we appreciate their dedication and hard work.”
The AALP Dream Auction is held every second year in Guelph in support of the current class of program participants.
The event has raised more than $715,000 since it was introduced in 1997.
AALP is a 19-month executive development opportunity for men and women who want to shape the future of the agriculture and food industry and make a positive difference in rural communities across Ontario.
The program has graduated nearly 450 leaders and currently has 26 participants enrolled in Class 16. AALP is a program of the Rural Ontario Institute.
