While delegates to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture will be celebrating the Future of Food at their 2010 annual convention later this month, Ontario’s young farmers will be discussing their future in the agriculture industry.
We Are the Future is the theme of the annual gathering of young people ages 18 to 40 who are passionate about the opportunities that await them in the field of agriculture.
The annual forum is co-hosted by the Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario (JFAO), the Canadian Young Farmers Forum (CYFF) and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). This year’s event, to be held at the Doubletree by Hilton in Toronto on Nov. 21 and 22, will focus on technology.
“This year’s Young Farmers Forum is an excellent opportunity for young people to have their voices heard” said Joe Dickenson, OFA director-at-large and Ontario-Quebec CYFF representative. “The discussion of the future of food cannot happen without the future producers sitting in the room.”
Participants will also have the opportunity to network and share their own experiences as they navigate their future as farmers in Ontario. Keynote speaker Dr. Ron Hanson from the University of Nebraska will speak about Multi-generational Farming – a topic that is pertinent to many young people as they embark upon a career in agriculture. Young farmer delegates will also have the opportunity participate in the annual OFA convention, by taking part in debates on resolutions and sitting in on the OFA leadership elections. “The opportunity to network with OFA leaders and be part of the process of policy development is an excellent one for young farmers” said Mary Feldskov, JFAO past president and coordinator for this year’s event.
Registration information is available at www.oyff.ca. Sponsorship to attend may be available from local federations of agriculture.
