In This Issue

• Happy New Year from FFCO
• Egg and sheep virtual reality tours added to FarmFood360.ca
• Best wishes to Bruce Kelly on his retirement
• Registration open for agricultural media training
• Save the date: FFCO's annual meeting and speakers' conference, April 10, 2025
• Nominate a Food & Farming Champion
• FFCO speaker services
• Call for Breakfast on the Farm hosts
• Member accolades
• Testimonial
• FFCO welcomes new members

Happy New Year from FFCO!

Wishing you a joyful New Year from the Board of Directors and team at Farm & Food Care Ontario!



We hope you and your family enjoyed a lovely holiday season. As we reflect on the accomplishments of 2024, we look forward with anticipation to the opportunities and possibilities that 2025 holds. May the coming year bring you happiness, good health, and success.

New egg and sheep virtual reality tours added to FarmFood360.ca

Four new Virtual Reality tours, filmed in 2024 on Ontario’s egg and sheep farms, are now live on the FarmFood360 website. The site attract more than a million visitors each year. These immersive experiences join a growing collection of 26 engaging farm and food processing tours, offering a truly unique window into the world of agriculture.

This latest project was developed in partnership between Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO), Egg Farmers of Ontario (EFO), Burnbrae Farms, Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF), the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) and AAFC's AgriCompetitiveness program of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a collaborative federal, provincial, and territorial initiative.

A special thank you to videographer Nelson Dunk and the talented team at Skylight Productions, as well as project managers Andrew Campbell and Steph Towers from Fresh Air Media, for their exceptional work in bringing these immersive 360° tours to life.

Best wishes to Bruce Kelly on his retirement

In December, FFCO staff and board hosted a retirement party for longtime employee Bruce Kelly, FFCO’s Program Consultant.

Bruce began working for FFCO in January of 2013, brought on to manage a large scale water program called the Water Resource Adaptation and Management Initiative (WRAMI) and later the subsequent Water Adaptation Management and Quality Initiative (WAMQI). Both were created to help Ontario farmers adopt water conservation and efficiency practices to address issues of managing water supply.

In the years since, Bruce has played a key role in managing the organization’s animal care and environmental programming with areas of focus including livestock transportation emergency preparedness for first responders, barn fire prevention, land use tenancy agreements, solutions to livestock on the loose, soil health initiatives and more.

Bruce has been a great member of the team and the board and staff wish him much happiness in his retirement.

Registration open for agricultural media training

Farm & Food Care will offer two day-long agricultural media training sessions on Tuesday, March 27 or April 4, 2025 in Guelph.

Designed specifically for Ontario agriculture by experienced Ontario agriculture communication specialists, this engaging, full-day workshop uses real-world scenarios relevant to participants' specific agricultural sectors to teach practical strategies for effective media and public communication. Participants will gain the tools and hands-on experience needed to confidently handle interviews and public speaking engagements, from crafting key messages to mastering interview techniques. Participants will benefit from two realistic interview simulations, preparing them for real-world scenarios.

The cost is $400 per person (FFCO member rate) or $500 per person (non-member rate) and includes coffee breaks, lunch and workshop materials.

This program is designed for board members and staff of farm organizations and agribusinesses, as well as primary producers who engage with the public through farm tours, municipal council meetings, or other events.

To register, email info@farmfoodcare.org and indicate which date you would prefer.

Save the date: FFCO's annual conference

FFCO's annual general meeting and speakers' program will be held at the Grandway Events Centre in Elora on Thursday, April 10, 2025.

The AGM will begin early in the morning, exclusively for members, and will be followed by a comprehensive program featuring engaging sessions, networking opportunities, and insightful presentations.

More details on speakers and registration will be announced in late January.

Nominate a Food & Farming Champion

FFCO is now accepting nominations for its annual Champion Award, which honours individuals, organizations, or businesses that have made a significant impact in educating consumers about agriculture in Ontario. This award celebrates those who have worked to clarify misconceptions, promote agricultural practices, and raise awareness about the importance of the farming industry.



Nominations are open until March 7, 2025. If you know someone who deserves this recognition, we invite you to submit a nomination through the form provided.

FFCO speaker services

 Tailored training and speaker services from Farm & Food Care Ontario

Farm & Food Care Ontario provides organizations with valuable opportunities for staff training and development through specialized programs and speaker services tailored to the unique needs of the agri-food industry.

Featured training:

• Agriculture Media Training: Media training gives participants a basic understanding of both urban and agricultural media as well as how to develop key messages and pose and answer questions. Advanced media training goes a step further and participants enroll in a full day session that includes two facilitators and a videographer.
• Social Media Sessions: Discover the dos and don’ts of online engagement and how to effectively advocate for agriculture.
• Boothmanship Training: Ensure your trade show presence is impactful with strategies for effective branding and engagement.
• Ag 101: A must for anyone looking to understand the basics of Ontario agriculture and engage confidently with clients.

Interested in booking a session or learning more? Discounted rates are available for all FFCO members. Please contact us at info@farmfoodcare.org

Call for Breakfast on the Farm hosts

Are you interested in participating in one of Ontario's largest agricultural outreach events? Consider hosting a Breakfast on the Farm in 2025.

FFCO is seeking host farms and agricultural societies across various regions of Ontario. Our team will take the lead, collaborating with you and a local volunteer committee to ensure a successful event.

Interested in learning more? Contact the FFCO office to discuss your farm or organization and the role of a host. Call 519-837-1326, ext. 221, or email events@farmfoodcare.org with any questions. Applications are available for download and can be submitted directly to Farm & Food Care.

Applications will be accepted until January 30, 2025.

Member accolades:

Egg Farmers of Ontario donate 310 dozen eggs to Listowel Salvation Army

Egg Farmers of Ontario have donated 310 dozen eggs to the Listowel Salvation Army’s Christmas hamper program, marking their ongoing support since 2017. Tonya Haverkamp, a local egg producer, highlighted the importance of the donation amid a 30% rise in demand at the food bank this year. “Eggs are a versatile and essential item, and we’re proud to give back to our community,” Haverkamp said. This contribution is part of a broader initiative that has seen over 14.5 million eggs donated to Ontario food banks since 2015.

Dairy Farmers of Ontario partners with the PWHL's Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres

Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) has become the Official Dairy Partner of the PWHL’s Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres. This partnership aims to promote women’s hockey in Ontario while encouraging healthy, active lifestyles. DFO will support grassroots initiatives and community events to raise awareness about nutrition and the importance of sport.

Ontario Apple Growers name new chair

Congratulations to Chris Hedges on his election as chair of Ontario Apple Growers (OAG). Hedges, a first-generation apple grower from Norfolk County, has served on the OAG board since 2005 and was vice chair in 2023. He also manages Ontario Orchard Supply. Hedges takes over from Brian Rideout, with Cathy McKay now serving as vice chair. 

Breakfast on the Farm guest testimonial

"The host farm and family put on a very welcoming experience and I really appreciate their opening their property for this event. It was very generous. The volunteers and display presenters couldn't have been more welcoming and generous with sharing their knowledge and answering questions."

- Ottawa Breakfast on the Farm attendee

FFCO welcomes new members

FFCO welcomes the following new members:

Supporter member

• Kingston & District Agricultural Society
• Harrcroft Acres Ltd.

Individual members

• Gabrielle Ferguson
• Kendra Keels
• Martin Harry

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.

Renew your membership for 2025

It's time to renew your FFCO membership for 2025. Individual and supporter members can visit the link below to renew your membership. Continue your support of the important work for Farm & Food Care Ontario and help build public trust and shared understanding of agriculture in Ontario.