In This Issue

• FFCO's Annual Speakers' Conference returns April 9 in Elora with limited spots remaining
• Breakfast on the Farm - Binbrook, June 13, 2026
• FFCO on the road in March
• New FarmFood360 educators' guides now available
• International Year of the Woman Farmer webinar recording now available
• Tackling Misinformation: Tools for Evidence-Based Communication webinar recording now available
• Order your "Canadian Farmer and Proud of it" T-shirt. Kids' sizing available!
• FFCO's 2026 Resource guide
• Member accolades
• Platinum member testimonial: Ontario Federation of Agriculture
• FFCO welcomes new members

FFCO's Annual Conference and Speakers' Program

With just days remaining, Farm & Food Care Ontario’s (FFCO) Annual General Meeting and Annual Conference returns on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the GrandWay Events Centre in Elora. Limited capacity remains, and we encourage those who have not yet secured their ticket to register and join us.

This year’s theme, Farming in Focus: Real Stories, Real Impact, highlights the power of authentic agricultural storytelling to build public trust and strengthen the connection between farms and consumers.

The conference will feature a dynamic lineup of speakers shaping how agriculture is shared with the public, including keynote speaker, presented by FCC, Tyler Heppell (Potato Ty), a fifth-generation farmer and social media creator who will share how digital platforms can turn everyday farm life into engaging, educational content.

Attendees will also hear from the creators of the Canadian comedy series The Cows Come Home, presented by Caldwell Securities, who will explore how cinematic storytelling and humour can bring farming realities to life for wider audiences.



In the final panel, guests will hear directly from Ontario farmers who regularly open their gates to the public. Kevin Vallier, CEO of Agritourism Ontario will co-moderate a panel featuring Chris Hiemstra of Clovermead Adventure Farm, Korb Whale of Mapleton’s Organic Dairy Farm and John Zekveld of Zekveld’s Garden Market. They will lead a discussion on why high-quality storytelling and other agricultural education components are vital to the success of on-farm events and tours – and what they need from the industry to support their work. 

Highlights of the day will include:

• Taste of Ontario lunch presented by Ontario Mutuals
• Food & Farming Champion Award presentation
• Overview of FFCO Initiatives

Breakfast on the Farm - Binbrook, June 13, 2026

The first Breakfast on the Farm location for 2026 is set for June 13 in Binbrook, Ontario, hosted by the Spoelstra family of Roy-A-Lea Farms. This family-run dairy, beef, and grain farm is home to 60 milking Holstein cows supported by robotic milking and feeding technology, along with a herd of beef cattle. The family also farms 1,900 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay, raises Clydesdale horses, and supplies corn and soybean seed to local growers.



Breakfast on the Farm events showcase the diversity of agricultural commodities, careers and opportunities in modern farming and food production. Guests will enjoy interactive displays and exhibits highlighting food produced in Ontario. Visitors can also get up close with livestock displays, explore farm equipment, and have all their farming-related questions answered by farmers and industry experts.

To get involved and support this important outreach event, contact FFCO to explore partnership opportunities and help bring the story of Ontario agriculture to a wider audience.

Volunteer registration is now open, sign up today and be part of this event.

FFCO on the road in March

FFCO’s staff team crisscrossed the province in March, participating in a wide mix of events including AGMs, farm shows, and media training sessions. Throughout the month, the team connected with members and built new relationships with farmers and industry partners, strengthening connections and supporting FFCO’s resources and initiatives. Thank you to the many members and partners who stopped by our booths and took part in training opportunities.

Pictured above: The team showcases FarmFood360 videos at the Ottawa Valley Farm Show.

Pictured above: Lauren Miller at the Grain Farmers of Ontario March Classic.

Pictured above: Kelly Daynard and Bernard Tobin leading an agricultural media training session for FFCO members.

Pictured above: The team showcases the FarmFood360 Field tomato tour at OPVG's Tomato Day.

New FarmFood360 educators' guides available

Building on the success of FarmFood360 as an outreach and engagement tool, new FarmFood360 educator guides are now available, offering fresh ways to bring Canadian agriculture into the classroom. The latest additions - grain corn, apple orchard, and field tomatoes - provide engaging, curriculum-connected content that helps students explore how food is grown and produced in Canada.


Developed by Agriculture in the Classroom Canada, these ready-to-use guides are now available as accessible educator resources, supporting interactive agriculture learning in classrooms across Canada.

International Year of the Woman Farmer webinar recording now available

In recognition of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Farm & Food Care Ontario hosted a webinar focused on the women behind Ontario’s food and farming system. This engaging panel brought together women farmers and agricultural leaders to share their stories, day-to-day roles, and career journeys.

Panelists Julie Maw (grain farmer), Amanda Dooney (apple grower) and Andrea Veldhuizen (chicken farmer) explored innovation on the farm, as well as the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry. They also highlighted the importance of community and shared their perspectives on the future of farming, offering valuable insight and encouragement for women and young people interested in agriculture and related careers.

The recording of this inspiring discussion is now available to watch.

Tackling Misinformation: Tools for Evidence-Based Communication webinar recording now available

Today’s online food and nutrition space is increasingly crowded with viral wellness claims and confusing food safety narratives. In this webinar hosted by Farm & Food Care and Canadian Food Focus, participants explored how social media algorithms can amplify misinformation, and why it matters for public health, consumer trust, and the future of our food system.

The session highlighted common misinfluencer tactics, including fear-based messaging, the appeal-to-nature fallacy, and the selective use of science. Attendees also gained practical, evidence-based tools to assess questionable claims, respond with confidence, and support more informed conversations about food and nutrition.



The recording of this informative session is now available to watch.

Order your "Canadian Farmer and Proud of it" T-Shirt

Our new for 2026 Canadian Agriculture t-shirts have arrived! Show your pride in Canadian farming with this heathered red, unisex classic-fit tee featuring a crisp white design that celebrates the hardworking farmers behind Canada’s food system.

Choose from:

• Adult: “Canadian farmer and proud of it”
• Children: “Canadian farmer in training”

Designed for comfort and everyday wear, these tees are perfect for the farm, industry events, or casual outings. Available in a full range of adult and children’s sizes, they’re a meaningful way for the whole family to celebrate agriculture together.

Just $25 each, orders can be picked up at no cost from the Guelph office or shipped for a flat rate of $5.



Order yours today and wear your Canadian farming pride wherever you go!

FFCO's 2026 Resource Guide

FFCO’s 2026 catalogue has expanded with new additions, offering a wide range of engaging educational resources that help audiences connect with farming and food production in Canada. These include print materials, signage, interactive displays, and hands-on activities that make learning about agriculture informative and accessible for all ages.

Supporter-level members and above can also access a library of lendable resources, including:

• Eye-catching farm fact signs
• Interactive speech bubbles for photo opportunities
• Professionally designed ag education signage
• And more!

These materials attract attention, spark conversations, and share accurate food and farming information in a fun, approachable way across fairs, classrooms, events, and outreach activities.

Member accolades

Charlie Elliott Honoured with Get Cracking Award

Congratulations to Charlie Elliott, Ontario Poultry Business Manager at Masterfeeds Inc., who was recently awarded the prestigious Get Cracking Award from Egg Farmers of Ontario. The award is given to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the egg and pullet industry and was presented at EFO's AGM in March.



Above: Charlie Elliott speaking after receiving Get Cracking award from EFO Chair, Scott Helps.

Greenhouse Goodness Campaign wins Platinum Summit International Award

Congratulations to the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) for winning a Platinum Summit International Award for their Tennessee Tested, Summertime Approved campaign. The award recognizes the campaign’s creative, engaging approach to promoting greenhouse-grown produce.

Platinum member testimonial - Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Farm & Food Care Ontario plays a vital role in helping people better understand where their food comes from and the work that farmers do every day. Through the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), we’re proud to be connected to that work because it reflects something we strongly believe in — building trust and transparency between farmers and the public.

OFA represents farmers across Ontario, advocating for policies that support strong, sustainable farm businesses today and for future generations. An important part of our work is helping people understand agriculture, and that’s where our partnership with Farm & Food Care Ontario is so important. Our organizations are closely aligned.

OFA represents the voice of farmers, and Farm & Food Care Ontario helps share that story in a way that resonates with people, especially in urban communities. Together, we’re working to bridge the gap between farms and food, between urban and rural – and making sure people have clear, accurate information about how food is grown and raised.

FFCO welcomes new members

FFCO welcomes the following new members:

Gold Members

• Moonfleet Poultry Inc.

Silver Members

• Bayer Crop Science
• Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

Supporter Members

• Stirling Agricultural Society
• Coldwater & District Agricultural Society
• Gloucester Agricultural Society
• Windyview Farm
• Hoenhorst Farm
• New Liskeard Agricultural Society
• Oliver 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.