In This Issue

• Breakfast on the Farm: Dublin, September 14, 2024
• FarmFood360 at the CNE
• Save the Date: 2024 Ontario Harvest Gala, November 28, 2024
• Lambton Culinary Student Tour
• Resources and lending library
• Order your "Life is Better on the Farm" T-Shirt
• Member accolades
• Silver member testimonial: South West Vets

On September 14, visit Hillmanor Farms to see how robots handle tasks like milking and feeding, showcasing the Louwagie family's commitment to efficiency and sustainability. Tour the new dairy barn designed for animal comfort and equipped with solar panels, which provide more than half of the farm's power.

Hillmanor Farms has been in the family since 1960 and is home to 340 animals. The farm features modern technology and innovation in agriculture. In 2022, Hillmanor Farms was recognized as one of Canada's top 25 best-managed dairy herds.

Guests will enjoy an all-Ontario breakfast, a farm tour, interactive educational displays, family photo opportunities, and a memorable experience.

Farm & Food Care and the Louwagie family are excited to welcome visitors to Perth County and are looking for volunteers to help make this event a success.

Volunteers will assist with:

• Serving an all-Ontario breakfast
• Guiding tours of the modern dairy barn, highlighting innovation and technology
• Facilitating conversations with local farmers
• Managing family-friendly interactive exhibits

If you interested in being a part of this event, please reach out to events@farmfoodcare.org

FarmFood360 at the Canadian National Exhibition

Farm & Food Care is pleased to be joining members at the CNE this year in an exciting new capacity. Over the course of the event, FFCO will be in various members' booths in The Farm building with a theatre-style FarmFood360°kiosk.

This kiosk includes an all-new system that allows for FarmFood360° videos to play synchronously on four different virtual reality headsets while the same video is cast to a large display monitor. The casting feature will allow for partners and FFCO staff to engage in conversations with the parents waiting while their children take part in the virtual tours.

The FarmFood360° kiosk will act as a pop-up experience moving between exhibits in The Farm building including time spent with with Beef Farmers of Ontario, Egg Farmers of Ontario, Grain Farmers of Ontario and Turkey Farmers of Ontario.



Save the date: 2024 Ontario Harvest Gala

Join FFCO on November 28, 2024, in Guelph for an event celebrating the harvest and excellence across all sectors of Ontario agriculture.

The annual Farm & Food Care Ontario Harvest Gala brings individuals from all areas of agriculture, together in one room to celebrate our successes of the previous year.

The night will include:

• Cocktail reception & hors d’ourves
• Buffet dinner featuring Ontario’s finest foods
• Program featuring the presentation of the annual Paul Mistele Memorial Award

FFCO is currently seeking partners for this event, including general event sponsors, cocktail hour hosts, and dinner hosts. This year's theme, Boots & Bows, invites guests to dress in their finest boots and most stylish bows or bow ties to celebrate the harvest season.

Lambton Culinary Student Tour

FFCO’s annual farm tour program supports objectives of providing credible information on food and farming to key target audiences. Each tour is designed to take guests on an educational journey from the process of farm to fork in Ontario.

This summer and fall, FFCO is hosting farm tours for culinary students attending Fanshawe, Lambton, Centennial and Niagara colleges as well as for food industry professionals in Toronto and Ottawa. 

Grain Farmers of Ontario partnered with FFCO to deliver a full-day tour to Lambton college culinary students on September 19th. The day started at Parkland Farms in Sarnia; a grain farm, licensed grain elevator and seed grower. The group then visited the Pelleboer family's dairy goat farm and Zekveld’s Garden Market.

These tours are funded, in part, by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.

Above: First stop of the day at Parkland Farms in Sarnia.

Above: Second stop of the day at Pelleboer family's dairy goat farm.

Above: Third stop of the day at Zekveld's Garden Market.

Above: Group photo at Parkland Farms.

Resources and lending library

Do you have an event coming up this fall? FFCO has ambassador resources for those promoting agricultural awareness through events, fairs, etc.

Information sheets cover topics ranging from educational livestock displays to making sure important messages are displayed.

A library of lendable or custom resources is available for FFCO members at a supporter level or above. These include farm fact signs, speech bubbles, ag education signage, FarmFood360 kiosk and access to FarmFood360 videos.

Order your "Life is Better on the Farm" T-Shirt

"Life is Better on the Farm" t-shirts, designed for FFCO, are now available to order for $20.00.

Show your love for the farm life and your support for FFCO with these stylish and comfy tees. Order now and feel the farm vibes wherever you go!

Member accolades:

CFO donates 4,000 meals to the Cambridge Food Bank

Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) have donated 440 kg of chicken to the food bank that will go on to feed around 4,000 people in the community. The donation of chicken was made through the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Bank program which enables local farmers to donate any extra chickens they have to help the community. 

Farmer Wellness initiative now available for agricultural workers in the province

The federal and provincial governments are expanding the Farmer Wellness Initiative to Ontario farm workers including the delivery of services in Spanish.

Delivered by Agriculture Wellness Ontario, a suite of free programming managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division, the Farmer Wellness Initiative provides farmers, farm workers and their family members in Ontario with unlimited access to a free, 24/7 phone line that connects them to tailored mental health counselling.

Meet a Silver Member: South West Vets

"Everyone connected to this industry knows the importance of agriculture. But FFCO has made it their mission to advocate for the ag industry and educate the public about why we do what we do everyday. They showcase our sectors contribution to the economy, our steadfast dedication to animal welfare and our constant attention to food traceability. FFCO is an organization that provides creditable information about local food and farming.

For all these reasons, South West Vets is a proud Silver member of Farm & Food Care Ontario. Through our membership, we have been able to participate in the Faces Behind Food campaign and give viewers a glimpse into what our day-to-day operations look like here at the vet clinic. We have also had the opportunity to volunteer at Breakfast On The Farm, which was a chance to connect with the community and build trust in your local farmers (and vets). We believe our membership with FFCO is a great way to help sustain the future of agriculture. We are better together."

Lindsay Kieffer, CPE, South West Vets

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.