FEBRUARY 2024 THE RIDER /13 New Ontario Federation of Agriculture Board


Ontario’s largest general farm or- ganization elects new leadership – City of Hamilton farmer be- comes new Ontario Federation of Agriculture president


GUELPH ON [November 22, 2023] – Drew Spoelstra, a dairy and crop farmer from Binbrook in the southeast corner of the city of Hamilton, was elected as the new president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) today. Spoelstra has served on the OFA board as the director representing farmers from Hal- ton, Hamilton/Wentworth and Niagara since 2013 and has most recently held the role of Vice President. “I’m honoured to serve


Ontario farmers as the president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and I appreciate the trust that my fellow board mem- bers have placed in me to lead this organization,” says Spoel- stra. “Agriculture, as one of the largest sectors in the provincial economy, plays a key role in is- sues that matter to all Ontarians, from food security and climate change to housing and health- care, making it critical that our voice is heard by decision-mak- ers.”


Spoelstra farms with his


family, milking cows, growing corn, soybean, wheat and hay, and raising beef cattle and Clydesdale horses. He also has a dealership for Pride Seeds, and is an active volunteer on behalf of agriculture. Spoelstra, a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program, serves as


Obituary Donald


Robertson September 16, 1954 -


January 1, 2024


Chair of Hamilton’s agriculture and rural affairs sub-committee and is past president of both the Binbrook Agricultural Society and the Hamilton-Wentworth Soil and Crop Improvement As- sociation. Spoelstra assumes the


presidency from outgoing OFA president Peggy Brekveld who led the organization for the past three years. Joining Spoelstra on the OFA executive are Vice Pres- idents Sara Wood and Paul Vick- ers, and Executive Member Ethan Wallace. Sara Wood, a Director-at-Large on the board, is a fourth-genera- tion farmer from Perth County, where she and her family raise


broiler chickens and grow crops. Dairy farmer Paul Vickers, who represents Bruce and Grey coun- ties on the OFA board, farms with his wife and son near Meaford. Ethan Wallace, a dairy farmer from near Seaforth, represents farmers in Huron and Perth coun- ties.


New directors joining the


OFA board are Brian Crews, who was elected by Zone 12 farmers in Hastings, Lennox & Adding- ton, Northumberland & Prince Edward; Clint Cameron as the representative of Zone 11 farmers in Dundas, Frontenac, Grenville and Leeds; and Andrea McCoy- Naperstkow, who represents Zone 8 farmers in Arnprior, La-


nark, Ottawa and Renfrew. Crews, Cameron and


McCoy-Naperstkow replace ex-


iting directors Bruce Buttar, Jackie-Kelly Pemberton and Jen- nifer Doelman respectively. Also joining the board as a


new Director-at-Large is Angela Cammaert, who was elected at the OFA annual general meeting earlier today. Cammaert, a fifth generation beef and crop farmer from Elgin County, replaces Brekveld and ran successfully for the position against Andy Kuyvenhoven, Julie Danen and William Orford. “We welcome all new di-


rectors to the OFA board and look forward to working with you,” says Spoelstra. “We’d also like to thank the candidates who let their names stand for a direc- tor position this year and to all of our members who took the time to vote and participate in the democratic process of electing the leaders of our organization. We appreciate the high level of


engagement and interest in the future of the OFA.” The Ontario Federation of


Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in On- tario, representing 38,000 farm families across the province and serving as the leading advocate and strongest voice of Ontario’s farmers. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA represents and champions the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, commu- nity representation, media rela- tions and more. For more information,


contact: Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 ext. 218 tyler.brooks@ofa.on.ca


Do you love Fergus? Visit his website at: http://www.fergusthehorse.com


With deep regret we are


announcing the sudden pass- ing of Donald Robertson. A longtime major part of our business. He dedicated 49 Years of service to David Carson along with his many friends & customers. As a mark of respect our offices will be closed until Monday, January 8th, 2024. Don Robertson of


Newry, passed away sud- denly at his home on January 1, 2024 at the age of 69.


8782 Longwood Rd, Mount Brydges, ON, N0L1W0


www.viatrailer.ca


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