ISSUE 2014-11|  November, 2014
November 2014 E-News
IN THIS ISSUE
SAVE THE DATES
Real Dirt on Farming Twitter Party - November 18 7-8 p.m. EST. Register at
  
Farm & Food Care's
2015 Annual Meeting:
April 14-15, 2015
FIND US ONLINE
For consumers:
www.facesoffarming.ca
www.RealDirtonFarming.ca
 
Ag Ambassador Tip
of the Month - Pick your message

Make sure you reinforce a key message in your presentations. When talking to students, for instance, consider what ideas will stick with them, and what they will tell their parents when at home.

      Industry News:
Egg Farmers of Ontario receives Paul Mistele Memorial Award

The Ontario Association of Food Banks has given Egg Farmers of Ontario the Paul Mistele Memorial Award for its food bank contribution of 144,000 dozen eggs. 

From left: Foundation Vice Chairman Ian McKillop, EFO Chairman Scott Graham, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeff Leal and Amanda King, Manager of Membership and Communications for OAFB.

 

Named for the late farm leader who founded Ontario Pork's Donate-A-Hog program in 1998, the Paul Mistele Memorial Award recognizes agricultural partners who have shown a significant and enduring commitment to ending hunger in Ontario. 

 

In March, Egg Farmers of Ontario announced a donation of 12,000 dozen eggs per month to the Ontario Association of Food Banks. The award was presented to the commodity organization on October 30 at the Farm & Food Care Foundation's annual

Harvest Gala.

New on our Websites
  
  
Do you have a unique way to deal with an everyday challenge? If so, then you might be eligible from a cash prize from Farm & Food Care.
  
The Farm Invention Challenge is an Ontario-wide competition for farmers who have found innovative ways to deal with issues in farm animal care and water use on their farm. 

There are six categories in total:
  • Large farm gadgets and gizmos
  • Small farm gadgets and gizmos
  • Farm hacks
  • Water quality and nutrient management
  • Water use efficiency
  • Community/other
All entries must be original and produced by the participant. The contest is open to all residents of Ontario, and the deadline for submission is January 2, 2015. 

Visit Farm & Food Care's website for more information.
Ontario Agriculture Week a big success
Visitors to Breakfast on the Farm

Farm & Food Care partnered with Foodland Ontario to coordinate several events for Ontario Agriculture Week (October 6 to 12). 
 
Leading the week was a second Breakfast on the Farm event of 2014, this one held at Wilmot Orchards in Newcastle, where over 1,000 people braved the wind and rain to learn about the farm, and feast on an all-Ontario breakfast. On the same day, hundreds attended Soup Fest in the Holland Marsh, receiving an "I Love Local" soup mug as part of the event. 
  
Another featured event that week was Farm & Food Care's Tribute to Farmers Night at the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats October 10 football game. The evening, which was attended by 160 farmers and industry representatives, started off with a tailgate party, and culminated in a video tribute to Ontario's farmers during the game's fourth quarter.
Farmers pose with Jason, the Toronto Argonauts mascot.
Also included in the week's activities was the second food writers' tour of the year, where 50 different journalists, authors, culinary instructors, chefs, bloggers and professional home economists toured both an Ottawa area grain farm owned by the Leduc family and sheep farm owned by the Acres/Bazinet family. The tour generated a lot of positive feedback, and was a big hit for both attendees and the hosting farm families. 

Ottawa area food writers pose for a group photo at Wanna Make It Farm near Moose Creek. They were hosted there by the Leduc family.
An Ottawa food writer poses with a young lamb at Maple Meadow Farms near Osgoode.  

New "Faces of Farming" calendar now available

Add a description The tenth anniversary edition of the "Faces of Farming" calendar was unveiled last week at the Farm & Food Care Foundation's Harvest Gala in Kitchener, Ontario. This calendar annually highlights the diversity of Ontario's farmers and farming families, and is designed to show the public the passion and hard work that goes into producing the food we all enjoy.

Since its inception in 2006, the "Faces of Farming" calendar has showcased almost 140 different farmers and farm families
from across the province. The farmers featured in 2015 are:
  • Ryan Schill of Wallenstein
  • Sandra Aspden of Tillsonburg
  • Jan and Evert Veldhuizen of Oxford Centre
  • Lynn, Véronique, Jessica and Valérie Longtin of Fournier
  • Amanda and Jason O'Connell of Carleton Place
  • Josée Séguin of Noëlville
  • Brian, Silken, Theo and Eli Ricker of Dunnville
  • Sheila Sheard of Brampton
  • Clarence Nywening of Thamesville
  • Krista Patterson of Appin
  • Kenny Forth of Lynden
  • Annette MacKellar of Alvinston
  • Glen, Monica, Ryan, Rick, Kevin, Jill, Emma and Cohen Howe of Aylmer
A group shot of most of the participants and the creative team for the 2015 Faces of Farming calendar
Further information on all of them and their farms can be found at this link.

Almost 4,000 politicians, grocery stores, butcher shops and media sources will be mailed copies of the calendar, and the
soon-to-be-released 2014 edition of The Real Dirt on Farming booklet in November. Farm & Food Care members and Foundation donors will receive their copies in the mail by mid November. 

Copies can be ordered by filling out the on-line order form at www.farmfoodcare.org, or by calling 1(519) 837-1326. A list of retailers selling the calendar is also posted on the Farm & Food Care website.
The Real Dirt on Farming - Twitter Party launch
 

Join us on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00pm EST when Farm & Food Care, Burnbrae Farms, Canada Beef Inc. and Farmers of Canada, together with farmers and agriculture groups from coast to coast host a Real Dirt on Farming Twitter Party to celebrate the launch of the new Real Dirt on Farming publication. There will be more about the publication in Farm & Food Care's December newsletter.

 

Lots of great prizes will be up for grabs from farmers and ranchers including tickets to a January 2015 Toronto Maple Leaf game. You must RSVP for the chance to win. Tell your family and friends who may be interested in an evening of fun. Register online at www.RealDirtonFarming.ca.

 

We're ready to dish the dirt on food and farming in Canada so let's all get together and join FarmFoodCare, @BurnbraeFarms, @FarmersofCanada, @CanadaBeef at a #RealDirt Twitter Party!

The Real Dirt on Farming - Speakers' Bureau training spots available
Real Dirt on FarmingIn conjunction with the publication of a new edition of The Real Dirt on Farming booklet this November, Farm & Food Care will also be launching a free farmers' Speakers Bureau program this fall.
  
Presentation skills workshops will be given across the province to farmers and agri-food industry professionals interested in learning how to give effective presentations on farm topics. The theory is that these speakers would then be equipped to give customizable presentations to local service clubs, school groups, and other audiences. The speakers would also be given copies of the new Dirt on Farming booklet to leave with their audiences.
  
 Space is still available for five scheduled workshops:
  • November 18 - Metcalfe Fairgrounds, Ottawa
  • November 20 - Peterborough Lions Den, Peterborough
  • November 25 - Ridgetown Municipal Centre, Ridgetown
  • January 27 - Guelph (venue TBA)
  • January 29 - Stratford (venue TBA)
If you would like to register or be put on a list for information about courses in your area, email info@farmfoodcare.org or call 519-837-1326. 
Farm & Food Care Foundation News:
Foundation chair reaches summit of Mount Kilimanjaro
Bruce Christie at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro

It was described as a "gruelling ascent" and an even tougher descent, but Bruce Christie, chair of the Farm & Food Care Foundation, has made it back from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, raising money for the Foundation in the process.

Christie and his daughter Jennifer Tani tackled the 19,341 foot summit in order to raise money for the foundation.  Thanks to their efforts, donors have already contributed nearly $8600, and that number continues to climb. 

Donations are tax deductible, and can still be made by visiting the Farm & Food Care Foundation's website:
http://farmcarefoundation.ca/donate-now

CropLife Canada donates $100,000 to

The Real Dirt on Farming

 

CropLife Canada presented the Farm & Food Care Foundation with a $100,000 dollar cheque at the annual Harvest Gala in Kitchener last week. 

Ian McKillop (right), Vice Chairman of the Farm & Food Care Foundation, accepts a cheque for $100,000 from Ted Menzies, President and CEO of CropLife Canada. CropLife Canada has become a major partner in The Real Dirt on Farming initiative which will be unveiled in November. 

Ted Menzies, president and CEO of CropLife Canada, presented the cheque to Ian McKillop, vice chair of the Farm & Food Care Foundation. It is the largest single donation to the charity to date, and will be used to fund The Real Dirt on Farming initiative.

 

"The funds committed by CropLife Canada will significantly help to further the reach of our Real Dirt on Farming project," says McKillop. 

 

"As an industry, we are proud to play a role in helping farmers grow safe and healthy foods. Partnering with the Farm & Food Care Foundation to update The Real Dirt on Farming is one way we hope to help consumers learn more about the exciting and complex world of modern farming," said Menzies.

 

The 2014 initiative includes a booklet (which will be released in early November), a digest version and a series of Speakers' Bureau training workshops.

 20's themed Harvest Gala had lots of swing

Nearly 300 people attended the Farm & Food Care Foundation's annual Harvest Gala at Bingeman Park in Kitchener on October 30, helping to make the event the best-attended gala to date. 
The ballroom at Bingeman Park was filled with industry attendees.

The 1920's-themed evening featured cocktails and dinner, live music, Ontario food gourmet tasting stations, three classic cars, the unveiling of the  2015 Faces of Farming Calendar, and other announcements including the $100,000 donation to the Foundation from CropLife Canada. 
Three classic vehicles were on display to help with the 1920's theme.
The Harvest Gala Celebration is a unique chance for people from across the agriculture and food industry to celebrate and enjoy the incredible food we produce, and the people who make it happen. 
 
Past attendees come back year after year with many saying it is one of their favourite annual events.
Foundation Christmas cards available

Does your organization or company send Christmas cards or make donations for the holidays?  The Farm & Food Care Foundation will create a customized Christmas card graphic for you.  It's perfect for emailing or mailing. 

 

The cards can be customized to include your company's logo and message for a donation of $500.
 

Farm & Food Care can also coordinate the printing of the cards at cost.

   

For more information about the cards and to see sample designs please email info@farmcarefoundation.ca.

  

All monies raised will go directly to Foundation initiatives.

If you've misplaced a copy of the newsletter or want to check an item from a past issue, they're all archived on our website under the Media Centre section.

We encourage you to forward this newsletter to other members of your company or organization who might be interested. They can also subscribe directly by emailing info@farmfoodcare.org.

100 Stone Road West, Suite 106
Guelph, ON
N1G 5L3
519-837-1326
www.farmfoodcare.org
Twitter: @farmfoodcare
Email: info@farmfoodcare.org
© Farm Food Care Ontario
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