Ontario Forage Master Places Second in National Forage Spokesperson Competition

June 29, 2011 - Guelph, ON.  Congratulations to the 2010 Ontario Forage Master, Evert Veldhuizen Jr, who has placed second in the National Forage Spokesperson Competition, hosted by the American Forage and Grassland Council. “I was very pleased to hear of Evert’s success at the AFGC’s National Forage Speaker’s competition.  Evert’s complete knowledge of his presentation along with his relaxed delivery was sure to help him connect with his audience.  OSCIA was proud to have Evert represent Ontario at this high-profile event,” says Max Kaiser, President of the Ontario Soil and Crop Association (OSCIA).

French Lick, Indiana, was this year’s host for the annual forage competition held in June.  Each competitor gave a fifteen minute presentation, providing an overview of their farm while touching on their farm objectives, marketing strategy and the value of forages on their farm.

First place in the 2011 competition went to Weldon Hawkins of the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council.  Perry Clutts of the Ohio Forage and Grassland Council placed third.

The Ontario Forage Master is chosen each year out of a pool of competitors that emerge from local Forage Master county winners.  Each winner can choose to compete in the Ontario Forage Master competition, and a short presentation outlining the value of forages on their farm operation is pre-sented in November to a team of judges.  The Ontario Forage Master is then eligible to compete in the (American) National Forage Spokesperson Competition the following June. 

In November 2010, Evert was chosen as the winner for the 2010 Ontario Forage Master Competition.  He is the general manager of Veldale Farms, and has been recognized as the 2009 Family Farm of the Year Award by the Township of Norwich Chamber of Commerce, as well as hosting the 2010 Annual Forage Expo.

For 2011, twenty-four counties are registered in the Ontario Forage Masters’ Program representing 193 producers competing, 21 of which are 4-H members.  The Ontario Forage Master Competition is sponsored by Pickseed Canada, Agri-Food Laboratories, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the OSCIA.

For further information, contact OSCIA at www.ontariosoilcrop.org, 1-800-265-9751.