In This Issue

• Breakfast on the Farm - Newburgh, September 26, 2026
• Save the date: 2026 Ontario Harvest Gala, November 26, 2026
• Brussels Breakfast on the Farm recap
• Visit FFCO at the CNE
• FFC national communicators workshop
• The Real Dirt on Farming - free resources for your event
• Wear your Canadian farming pride this summer
• Resource guide and lending library
• Farmers' Markets Ontario week Aug 2-9
• FFCO is hiring a Digital Media & Communications Coordinator
• Member accolades
• Breakfast on the Farm guest testimonial

Breakfast on the Farm - Newburgh, September 26

The final Breakfast on the Farm event of the 2026 season is just around the corner. Join Farm & Food Care Ontario on Saturday, September 26 at River Valley Cattle Co. in Newburgh for a behind-the-scenes look at a modern Ontario beef farm.

Hosted by the Embury family, River Valley Cattle Co. is home to approximately 140 purebred Hereford cows and has earned national and international recognition for its award-winning genetics. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the farm, meet local farmers, learn how Ontario crops and livestock are raised, and discover the technology and care that go into producing high-quality food.

The event also features an all-Ontario breakfast, interactive exhibits, farm equipment displays, family-friendly activities, and the chance to connect with farmers and agri-food organizations from across the province.

Registration is now open for the Newburgh event. To reserve tickets, volunteer, or learn more about partnership opportunities, visit www.farmfoodcareon.org or contact events@farmfoodcare.org.

Save the Date: 2026 Ontario Harvest Gala

Save the date for FFCO's 2026 Ontario Harvest Gala on Thursday, November 26, 2026, at The Embassy Room at Bingemans in Kitchener.

Step into an Enchanted Evening as we gather to celebrate the people, partnerships, and achievements that continue to strengthen Ontario agriculture. This elegant evening will bring together farmers, industry leaders, and supporters from across the province to recognize excellence while celebrating the collective efforts that grow public trust in food and farming.

Guests will enjoy:



• A cocktail reception & hors d’oeuvres
• A buffet dinner featuring Ontario’s finest foods
• Networking with leaders from across the agri-food sector
• Presentation of the Paul Mistele Memorial Award

While we gather to celebrate another remarkable year for Ontario agriculture, we also look toward the future. Your participation helps FFCO continue creating meaningful opportunities for people to experience farming firsthand, discover trusted resources, and build lasting connections with the farmers who grow and raise our food.

FFCO is currently welcoming event partners, including general sponsors, cocktail hour hosts, and dinner sponsors. Your support will help make this memorable evening a success while advancing our shared mission of growing public trust in food and farming. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Alicia at alicia@farmfoodcare.org.

Brussels Breakfast on the Farm

On July 25, Farm & Food Care Ontario welcomed 2,300 guests to Cranbrook Farms near Brussels for the second Breakfast on the Farm event of the 2026 season. Visitors spent the morning connecting with local farmers, learning about agriculture, and enjoying a delicious all-Ontario breakfast.

Hosted by the Terpstra family, guests toured the dairy farm, where they could see the modern rotary milking parlour and meet the 400 Holstein cows. The event also featured more than 40 interactive exhibits and displays showcasing the diversity of Ontario agriculture, opportunities to meet farm animals, explore modern farm equipment, and connect with farmers and agri-food professionals from across the province.

The event's success was made possible by the dedication of more than 200 volunteers and exhibitors as well as the generous support of event partners and commodity organizations. Their collective efforts helped create an engaging and educational experience for visitors of all ages.

Farm & Food Care Ontario extends its thanks to the Terpstra family for opening their farm to the public, as well as to everyone who contributed their time, expertise, and enthusiasm to make the event a success.

A complete list of event sponsors and partners is available on the FFCO website here:

Visit FFCO at the CNE

FFCO and some of its members will once again be part of The Farm at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) this August, helping thousands of visitors learn about Canadian food and farming.

Throughout the CNE, visitors are invited to stop by the FFCO booth to experience FarmFood360° through immersive virtual reality headsets, offering a unique, 360-degree look inside modern Canadian farms.The virtual tours provide an opportunity to see firsthand how food is grown and raised by farm families across the country.

The booth will also feature a selection of interactive resources from FFCO’s Lending Library, including the Barnyard Buffet bean bag toss, Hanging Farm Fact signs, the Farmland Frenzy game, an Agriculture Careers photo pop-up, and a farm-themed photo backdrop with speech bubbles. Together, these hands-on activities will give visitors new ways to test their knowledge, explore careers in agriculture, and learn more about the people, practices, and innovation behind Canada’s food system.

Be sure to visit The Farm building during your time at the CNE.

Farm & Food Care national communicators workshop

Farm & Food Care is partnering with the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association (CAMA) to present a new Communications Workshop on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, in conjunction with the CAMA Level Up Conference in Calgary.

Designed for communications professionals working across Canada's agriculture and food sector, this interactive professional development workshop will explore practical approaches to building trust, engaging audiences, and communicating effectively in today's rapidly evolving communications landscape.

The afternoon will feature a keynote presentation by Isaiah Robinson, Deputy Chief Councillor and CEO of the Kitasoo Xai'xais Development Corporation, who will share how communication, public perception, and policy have shaped the future of aquaculture in his community. Attendees will also participate in an interactive workshop led by communications expert Matt Quin, focusing on creating authentic, audience-first messaging that cuts through the noise and builds meaningful connections.

Whether you work in communications, marketing, member engagement, or public outreach, this workshop offers valuable insights and practical tools that can be applied immediately within your organization.

The Real Dirt on Farming — Free resources for your events

FFCO is clearing out inventory of the existing stock of The Real Dirt on Farming magazine to make room for the new edition, arriving in the fall of 2026. 

This award-winning booklet answers common questions Canadians have about food and farming in a simple, easy-to-understand format. This resource explores the roots of Canadian agriculture through farmer and researcher profiles from across the country from the Yukon to Newfoundland and everywhere in between.

Cases can be picked up free of charge from the FFCO office. Shipping is also available at cost, with payment accepted by cheque, e-transfer, or credit card.

Please email admin@farmfoodcare.org to reserve your case today.

Wear your Canadian farming pride this summer

Proud to farm. Proud to wear it.

Available in a heathered red unisex classic-fit design, the 2026 FFCO collector edition t-shirt celebrate the hardworking farmers behind Canada’s food system and are perfect for summer events, family gatherings, or working on the farm.

Choose from:

• Adult: “Canadian farmer and proud of it”

• Children: “Canadian farmer in training”

These tees are great for the farm, industry events, or casual outings. Available in a full range of adult and children’s sizes, they’re a fun way for the whole family to celebrate Canadian agriculture together.

T-shirts are $25 each. Orders can be picked up at no cost from the Guelph office or shipped for a flat rate of $5. They'll also be available at the FFCO booth in Federation House at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show.



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

Resource guide and lending library

Whether you're planning a fair, farm tour, agricultural society event, or community festival, FFCO's Resource Guide can help you create an engaging and memorable experience.

From eye-catching signage and interactive displays to educational activities and conversation starters, FFCO offers a growing collection of resources designed to help you connect with the public and share Ontario agriculture's story with confidence. Members at the Supporter level and above can borrow a wide variety of displays and materials, making it easier than ever to build an informative, professional-looking exhibit.

Explore the lending library, reserve your resources, and let FFCO help make your next event a success.

Farmers' Market Week, August 2-9, 2026

Farmers' Market Week, taking place August 2–9, is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the people who grow, raise, and produce food close to home.

With more than 180 farmers' markets across Ontario, these vibrant community spaces offer fresh, seasonal food while providing a direct connection between consumers and the farmers and food producers behind it. Whether you're shopping for fruits and vegetables, meats, baked goods, flowers, or handcrafted products, every visit supports local farms, small businesses, and rural communities.

Visit FarmersMarketsOntario.com to find a farmers' market near you and discover all that local agriculture has to offer.

Job Opportunity: Digital Media & Communications Coordinator

Love creative storytelling, creating graphics, and social media content? FFCO is hiring a tech-savvy Digital Media & Communications Coordinator in Guelph to help bridge the gap between farms and food lovers.

What You’ll Do

• Drive FarmFood360 VR: Program headsets and coordinate kiosks for immersive virtual farm tours.
• Run FarmPhotos.ca: Curate our photo library showcasing local agriculture.
• Lead Social Media: Create and boost content on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.
• Support the Team: Maintain brand consistency and assist with high-profile events.

What You Bring

• Degree/diploma in Communications, Marketing, Agriculture, or a related field.
• 1+ years in communications, marketing, or agricultural outreach.
• Proficiency in Canva, CapCut, Adobe Creative Suite, and video editing tools. Photography/videography is a plus but not essential!
• Valid driver’s license, vehicle access for travel, and flexibility for occasional seasonal evening/weekend events.

The role includes competitive pay, benefits, and a matched RSP program.

Member accolades

CFO cares continues to make an impact on local communities

Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) continues to make a meaningful difference in communities across the province through its CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks program. Recent donations include 650 kilograms of frozen chicken to the Elliot Lake Emergency Food Bank—providing the equivalent of approximately 5,500 meals, and more than 1,500 kilograms of locally raised chicken to Hamilton Food Share, enough to provide an estimated 14,000 meals to individuals and families in need.

Delivered in partnership with Feed Ontario and Maple Leaf Foods since 2015, the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks program helps ensure food banks across Ontario have access to high-quality protein while demonstrating the commitment of Ontario's chicken farmers to supporting the communities they serve.

Breakfast on the Farm guest testimonial

"I had a lot of questions and they were all answered. I honestly highly value this experience today. It was enjoyable! I learned a lot! The breakfast was great! I had an awesome conversation with the local fire chief about the challenges with some of these rural fires ( like the one that unfortunately hit that particular farm). And the weather was great!"

"I’m absolutely impressed with what you and your teams were able to supply that much information, with such grounded support people. It was a great experience I want to share in the future, with more friends and neighbours. We consumers just don’t have a clear enough vision of what’s required to operate within the agri business. This tour helped me to better understand!"

BOTF Brussels attendees

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 ($1880+) can access free training and workshops

Not a member yet? Learn why others have joined FFCO.