For immediate release
Mark Wales elected as new OFA president
Guelph, ON [November 24, 2011] – Alymer vegetable producer and long-time board member, Mark Wales won the election to lead the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) as its new president.
More than 250 delegates representing agricultural commodities and Ontario farmers recently came together at OFA’s 76th annual meeting and convention in Toronto November 21 and 22 to discuss farm issues and the sustainability of Ontario agriculture.
Rounding out the new executive is Don McCabe of Inwood, a grain farmer and Debra Pretty-Straathof from Arnprior, a dairy farmer who were both elected as vice presidents. Keith Currie of Collingwood, will remain as the fourth executive member. Joe Dickenson of Brigden, was re-elected to the director-at-large position. All officers who ran for executive positions will also remain on the OFA Board as directors.
“This next year provides a terrific opportunity for OFA to continue the momentum of delivering results on issues that matter to our members,” says Mark Wales, newly-elected OFA president. “I expect Open for Business and regulatory reforms to headline the issues we’ll continue to champion in the coming year on behalf of our members.”
In total, OFA’s Board of Directors is made up of 18 positions representing regions across Ontario. Five zone director positions and one director-at-large position are elected yearly. Each position is held for a three-year term with annual executive elections. Zone 15 director Peggy Brekveld from Murillo (in northwest Ontario) will be replacing former director, Ken Tomlinson from Desbarats.
Sustainability and its importance to farming and food was the theme of the 2011 convention. Newly-elected Ted McMeekin, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs welcomed OFA delegates to the annual meeting and discussed the importance of sustaining Ontario agriculture.
A silent auction was held, raising more than $8,000 in funds for the Agri-Skills Abroad program, providing assistance to farmers in Africa, Central and South America.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 37,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more. OFA is the leading advocate for Ontario’s farmers and is Ontario’s voice of the farmer.
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For more information contact:
Mark Wales
President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
mark.wales@ofa.on.ca
519-773-6706
Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
neil.currie@ofa.on.ca
519-821-8883
