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In This Issue Register today: FFCO AGM and speakers' conference April 13, 2023 Breakfast on the Farm: Farm crawl edition, June 17th, 2023 The Real Dirt on Farming photo contest open In case you missed it: Virtual field trips FFCO on the road Manure Management project FFCO welcomes new members

Table Talk: Shifting Perspectives - FFCO's AGM and speakers' conference FFCO's annual general meeting and speakers' conference will be held at the GrandWay Events Centre in Elora on Thursday April 13, 2023. Enjoy a day-long program for the Ontario agriculture industry, featuring speakers and collaboration around growing public trust. Be part of the conversation with like-minded industry leaders on the future of agriculture. The main program will begin at 10:30 a.m. There will be a members-only business meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m. which will include elections for the FFCO Board of Directors.

Steph Roy McCallum, CPF, CNTC A facilitator, coach, trainer and leader of the most difficult conversations of our lives. With her heart on her sleeve and a deep breath for courage, she wades into the messy, important, beautiful conversations that can bring us together - or tear us apart. Steph believes that brave, honest conversations are how we solve the challenges in our world, together. Michael von Massow, OAC Chair in Food System Leadership at University of Guelph Mike von Massow is a faculty member in the Department of Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph. His research focuses on consumer perception of and demand for food in both retail and food service contexts. He also studies value/supply chains that bring food to the market. Hayden Fox, TikTok Star and Agriculture Influencer   Hayden is a Canadian TikTok star famous for posting comedic videos often telling a story as he works on his fourth-generation cash crop farm in southern Ontario. His haydenjfox account has gained 1.8 million followers and 20 million likes since he began posting on the platform in April, 2020.

Get your tickets here

Breakfast on the Farm: farm crawl edition FFCO has announced its first date for Breakfast on the Farm in 2023. Breakfast on the Farm: Farm Crawl Edition takes place on June 17. For the first time ever, guests will have the chance to see two farms during the day - a beef farm and a dairy farm. Huron County is taking hosting duties with the event taking place at Grazing Meadows Wagyu near Brussels and Hallahan Dairy Farm, 10 minutes up the road near Blyth. Volunteers are essential to the success of Breakfast on the Farm events- sign up through the link below. Sign up to volunteer

The Real Dirt on Farming photo contest Farm & Food Care is launching a nation-wide farm photo contest with $4,000 in cash prizes available for winners in six categories. Winning photos will be used by the organization in the upcoming sixth edition of The Real Dirt on Farming, a publication that answers common questions about food and farming practices in Canada. For more information on this publication and to view the latest edition, visit www.RealDirtonFarming.org. Photos may also be used in other Farm & Food Care initiatives. CATEGORIES 1. Canadian Farm Scenes – Capture the beauty of Canada’s rural landscape; 2. Faces Behind Food & Farming – From farmers to chefs and everyone in between – all the people who make food & farming possible doing what they love. 3. All about Animals – Farm animals in the barn or field; 4. Farm Innovation – Technology at work on Canadian farms; 5. Crazy about Crops – Photos of crops being grown in fields, orchards or greenhouses across Canada; and 6. Farm to Plate – Showcasing the fresh, delicious and nutritious food grown and produced right here in Canada. More information, including contest rules, eligibility, format, identification and judging are posted at the link below.

Photo contest details available here

In case you missed it: virtual field trips  This past month FFCO hosted three virtual food and farm field trips - to a sheep farm, a sugar bush and a chicken farm. Thanks to farmers Quintin McEwen, Justin Williams and Andrea Veldhuizen for hosting these on-line events. Catch up on the tours and all past virtual field trips through the FFCO website. FFCO is always looking for new hosts for tours. If you would like to do a tour, please contact [email protected]. 

Watch them here

FFCO on the road in March

This winter has been a busy farm meeting season, with FFCO staff on the road and attending a variety of events from AGMs to farm shows. The Ask-A-Farmer kiosk also made its way to different parts of the province allowing farmers to record themselves answering questions from consumers. These videos will be posted on the Faces Behind Food Facebook and Instagram pages in the future.

Pictured above: Kelly giving a Speak Up training session to egg farmers at the Egg Farmers of Ontario Annual General Meeting in Niagara Falls.

Pictured above: Alicia and Amber ready with resources while attending the Grain Farmers of Ontario's March Classic in London.

Pictured above: Kelly, Christa, Lauren, and Alicia in Eastern Ontario for the Ottawa Valley Farm Show.

Manure Management videos

With CAP funding and through OMAFRA, FFCO hosted several industry meetings and developed a new manure stewardship video series. The series was highlighted to the industry in the winter of 2023 in a meeting series across the province on manure stewardship. The series highlights best practices and new technology in manure storage and application systems to improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas production. The three videos cover: Storage & Handling; Application; and Moving Manure off the Farm. All are available on FFCO's website for famers and applicators to view. They will also be used by the University of Guelph in the training program for custom manure applicator licensing.

View the Manure Innovation series on YouTube

Farm & Food Care Ontario welcomes new members for 2023

FFCO is excited to welcome the following new members: Silver members Ontario Bean Growers Elanco Animal Health Canada Norfolk Agricultural Society Supporter members Bonnechere Haven Farms - Farmer's Daughter Honey  Erin Agricultural Society Grazing Meadows Waygu M&J Chromczak Farms Inc. Markham Agricultural Society Navan Agricultural Society  Thank you for your membership and support as we continue to educate and bring awareness of food and farming to consumers in Ontario and across Canada.

Become a Member Did you know? You, your farm or your business can become a member of FFCO Your support in membership makes FFCO's work possible Corporate members ($1800+) can access free training and workshops   Not a member yet? Learn why others have joined FFCO.

Join FFCO Today

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