GUELPH ON [November 27, 2024] – Drew Spoelstra, a dairy and crop farmer from Binbrook within the southeast nook of town of Hamilton, was re-elected to a second one-year time period as president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) right now.
Spoelstra has been on the OFA board because the director representing farmers from Halton, Hamilton/Wentworth and Niagara since 2013. After serving as OFA Vice President, he was first elected to steer the group final yr.
“I appreciate the trust and confidence that my fellow board members have placed in me to lead this organization for another year,” says Spoelstra. “Food and farming touches all Ontarians in many different ways. It’s a major pillar of the provincial economy so it’s important for Ontario agriculture’s voice to be heard by decision-makers and we will continue to make that a priority in the year to come.”
Sara Wooden was re-elected by the membership to a second three-year time period as a Director-at-Massive on the board, operating towards Matthew Porter for the place.
She joins Spoelstra on the OFA Government Committee, the place she’s going to serve a second yr as Vice President. Ethan Wallace, who beforehand held the Government Member place, was elected as Vice President, and Paul Maurice joins the Government Committee as Government Member this yr.
Paul Vickers, who served one yr as Vice President and one yr because the Government Member, opted to not run once more this yr for a place on the Government Committee.
“We appreciate Paul’s contributions to the Executive over the past two years and wish him well with his future endeavours,” provides Spoelstra.
Spoelstra farms together with his household, milking cows, rising corn, soybean, wheat and hay, and elevating beef cattle and horses. He additionally has a dealership for Satisfaction Seeds, is an lively volunteer on behalf of agriculture, and is a graduate of the Superior Agricultural Management Program.
Wooden is a fourth-generation farmer from Perth County, the place she and her household elevate broiler chickens and develop crops, and Wallace is a dairy farmer from close to Seaforth, who represents farmers in Huron and Perth counties.
Maurice has been an OFA director since 2021, representing farmers in Peel, Simcoe and York. He and his spouse Louise farm with their son Alex within the small bilingual neighborhood of Lafontaine simply west of Penetanguishene, the place they elevate broiler chickens and develop crops.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the most important normal farm group in Ontario, representing 38,000 farm households throughout the province and serving because the main advocate and strongest voice of Ontario’s farmers. As a dynamic farmer-led group primarily based in Guelph, the OFA represents and champions the pursuits of Ontario farmers by way of authorities relations, farm coverage suggestions, analysis, foyer efforts, neighborhood illustration, media relations and extra.
For extra data, contact:
Chris Thomson, Communications Coordinator
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883 ext. 236
