In This Issue

• FARMtoberfest - Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, October 10, 2025
• Ontario Agriculture Week, October 6 - 12, 2025
• Virtual Food & Farm Field Trips
• Tickets on sale for 2025 Ontario Harvest Gala on November 27, 2025
• FFCO at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, November 7 - 16, 2025
• The Real Dirt on Farming photo contest open
• FFCO hosts fall farm tours for key audiences
• FFCO Member Forum meeting summary
• Resources and lending library
• Order your "If Found Please Return to the Farm" T-Shirt
• The Real Dirt on Farming exclusive case sale
• 2025 CCFI Public Trust Summit
• Member accolades
• Ottawa Food Industry Professional tour guest testimonial

FARMtoberfest - Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, October 10, 2025

Breakfast on the Farm is set to take place with an urban twist. The third and final event of 2025, FARMtoberfest, is taking place during Oktoberfest in Kitchener-Waterloo. This family-friendly event will transform the city’s streets, bringing the best of Ontario’s farms to the heart of Kitchener on Friday, October 10, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

This event provides a unique chance to present agriculture to a large and varied urban audience. FARMtoberfest will be joining the Willkommen Platz, which welcomes over 35,000 urban and suburban visitors annually.


Scheduled on a P.A. day and coinciding with Thanksgiving weekend, FARMtoberfest will have something for everyone to enjoy.

• Guests can get up close with modern farm equipment
• Meet real farm animals and discover how they are raised
• Attendees will explore food and farming exhibits that connect them with where their food comes from
• Take home educational materials and lots of other fun giveaway items

Above all, guests will have a chance to connect directly with Ontario's farming community.

Sign up to volunteer and be part of an exciting event. Have questions? Feel free to reach out at events@farmfoodcare.org.


Interested in partnership opportunities or hosting a booth or exhibit? Contact alicia@farmfoodcare.org to learn more.

Celebrate Ontario Agriculture Week 2025

From October 6 - 12, 2025, join Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) and all of Ontario agriculture in celebrating Ontario Agriculture Week.

This week is an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the bounty produced by Ontario’s farmers, the hardworking people behind the scenes in our agriculture industry, and the vibrant rural communities that thrive because of local food production.

Show your support for Ontario’s local food sector by sharing your stories on social media using the hashtags #ONTAgWeek and #LoveONFood. Don’t forget to check out and use the ready-made graphics from FFCO’s Ontario Agriculture Week social media library to help amplify your message and celebrate the contributions of our local farmers.

Virtual Food & Farm Field Trips

In celebration of Ontario Agriculture Week, FFCO and AgScape are offering a series of Virtual Food & Farm Field Trips. These interactive sessions give students a unique opportunity to explore real Ontario farms, meet local farmers, and ask questions, all without leaving their desks. Each field trip highlights a different aspect of Ontario agriculture and is perfect for educators looking to enrich their curriculum with real-world learning.

Schedule of Virtual Field Trips:

Soil health on Monday, October 6 at 1:30 p.m. EST

Pig farm on Tuesday, October 7 at 10:00 a.m. EST

Hazelnut farm on Thursday, October 9 at 10:00 a.m. EST

These virtual experiences are free for all classrooms across the province and will also be streamed on FFCO’s Facebook and YouTube channels for on-demand viewing.

Tickets on sale for 2025 Ontario Harvest Gala

Join FFCO on November 27, 2025, in Guelph for an evening celebrating the harvest, showcasing excellence across Ontario agriculture, and supporting vital work to grow public trust in food and farming.

Last year, this event raised more than $31,000 to support FFCO’s initiatives. In 2025, with your support, we’re aiming even higher.

The evening will include:

• Cocktail reception & hors d’oeuvres
• Dinner featuring Ontario’s finest foods
• Presentation of the Paul Mistele Memorial Award

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 — and drive our shared mission forward. If you're interested in partnership opportunities, please reach out to alicia@farmfoodcare.org to learn more.

FFCO hosts fall Food Industry Professionals and Culinary School Tours

Fall is a busy season for Farm & Food Care Ontario's farm tour program, and this September has proven no exception. With culinary students, educators, and food professionals taking part in immersive farm-to-fork experiences across Ontario, these tours have once again demonstrated the power of connecting people with the sources of their food.

Each tour is designed to educate and inspire by offering firsthand insights into agriculture, innovation, and sustainability—all made possible by the trust and hospitality of Ontario’s farmers.

Georgian College Culinary Tour

On September 18, 37 students and faculty from Georgian College’s Food & Nutrition Management program participated in a full-day, four-stop tour of mushroom, apple, grain and beef farms. The group was highly engaged throughout the day, particularly impressed by the use of innovation in traditional farming practices.

Georgian College Culinary students at Kell Farms.

Ottawa Food Industry Professionals

On September 23, 25 food industry professionals took part in a tour of farms in the Ottawa area, supported by OMAFA, the Ontario Dairy Goat Cooperative, and Mushrooms Canada. The morning began at Berkamp Farm in Cumberland, where John, Bev, and Erik Luchtenberg gave an itour of their dairy goat farm. In the afternoon, the group visited Carleton Mushrooms, hosted by co-owner Mike Medeiros. The tour also featured insights on the Canada Food Systems initiative from the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity.

Ottawa Food Industry Professionals tour guests at Carleton Mushrooms.

Algonquin College Culinary Tour

On September 29, culinary students from Algonquin College toured a dairy farm, grain farm and tomato greenhouse. They were accompanied by agronomist, Kelsey Banks, who provided expert commentary and answered questions throughout the day, helping participants better understand how farming connects to culinary practice.

Two more tours are scheduled this fall for students at Lambton College and George Brown College.

Algonquin College Culinary students at Blackrapids dairy farm with Peter Ruiter.

Farm & Food Care Ontario’s tour program depends on the generosity, openness, and time of our farmer hosts. Their commitment to sharing their knowledge and experiences continues to make these tours impactful and memorable for all who participate.

Thank you to all our hosts, speakers, and supporters for making these tours possible.

FFCO Member Forum meeting summary

FFCO’s third Member Forum meeting of 2025 took place on September 25 at the Grandway in Elora. These meetings are open to representatives from FFCO's Platinum, Gold and Silver level membership groups. FFCO extends thanks to the Grand River Agricultural Society for providing the venue.

The September meeting brought together 50 members for one of the most interactive and engaging sessions to date. Special thanks to Member Forum Co-Chairs Alice Van Vught and Dave Stanfield for chairing the event.

Speakers included:

• Dr. Ali Dehghantanha, founder of the Cyber Science Labs at the University of Guelph, who presented on cybersecurity and facilitated a tabletop exercise on threat response.
• Dr. John Cranfield, Dean of the Ontario Agricultural College, who invited members to identify skill gaps among new graduates entering the agri-food workforce.
• Dr. Kayla Price of Alltech, who shared insights into the making of A World Without Cows, Alltech’s feature-length documentary exploring the future of livestock and food production.



The forum concluded with a member roundtable, where representatives shared updates on market conditions, initiatives, and emerging sector issues.

Above left: Dr. Ali Dehghantanha, founder of the Cyber Science Labs at the University of Guelph, presenting on cybersecurity and facilitated a tabletop exercise on threat response.

Above right: Dr. Kayla Price of Alltech, sharing insights into the making of A World Without Cows, Alltech’s feature-length documentary exploring the future of livestock and food production.

Left: Round table discussion lead by Dr. John Cranfield, Dean of the Ontario Agricultural College, who invited members to identify skill gaps among new graduates entering the agri-food workforce.

FFCO at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

Join FFCO in celebrating 103 years of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) from November 7 to 16, 2025.

Visit the FFCO booth in the Education Zone at Booth #4009 in Hall B, where you can explore the latest FarmFood360° Virtual Tours, including three brand-new series on grain, field tomato, and apple farming.

The Real Dirt on Farming photo contest now open

Farm & Food Care is inviting photographers from across Canada to enter a nation-wide farm photo contest, with $4,000 in cash prizes up for grabs across six categories.

Winning photos may be featured in the upcoming seventh edition of The Real Dirt on Farming — a publication that answers common questions about how food is grown and raised in Canada. The booklet is due out in 2026. Entries are due by November 30, 2025. Photos may also be used in other Farm & Food Care initiatives.

CATEGORIES

1. Canadian Farm Scenes – Capture the beauty of Canada’s rural landscapes, from sweeping fields to quiet farmyards.
2. Crazy About Crops – Feature crops being grown in fields, orchards, or greenhouses across Canada.
3. All About Animals – Showcase farm animals in barns or pastures — candid, playful, or hard at work.
4. Canadian Food – Celebrate fresh, delicious, and nutritious Canadian-grown food from farm to plate.
5. Day in the Life – Share moments that reflect daily life on the farm and the people who make it all happen.
6. Equipment & Technology – Highlight the tools and tech driving innovation on Canadian farms — from drones to robotics.

More information, including contest rules, eligibility, format, and judging criteria, is available at the link below.

Resources and lending library

If you're organizing an event, fair, or agricultural awareness activity this fall, Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) has a catelogue of resources available to support outreach efforts.

FFCO offers information sheets with practical tips on everything from setting up educational livestock displays to ensuring your key messages are clear and engaging.

Members at the Supporter level and above also have access to a library of lendable resources designed to enhance ag education displays.

These include:

• Eye-catching farm fact signs
• Interactive speech bubbles for photo ops
• Professionally designed educational signage
• And more!

These materials are perfect for drawing attention, starting conversations, and promoting accurate farm and food information in a fun, approachable way.

Farm proud? Wear it loud! Order your 2025 FFCO

t-shirt today

These exclusive, limited-edition “If Found, Please Return to the Farm” t-shirts — designed specially for Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) are now available for just $25!

Show your love for farm life and support for FFCO with these stylish, ultra-comfy tees.

Please note: At this time, pickup is the only option for orders due to the Canada Post strike. Shirts can be collected from the FFCO office in Guelph.

Start your Christmas shopping and order yours today,

The Real Dirt on Farming exclusive sale

FFCO is offering a special discount on cases of the sixth edition of The Real Dirt on Farming. This award-winning booklet answers the top questions Canadians have about food and farming in a simple, easy-to-understand format.

This edition dives deep into the roots of Canadian agriculture, featuring farmer and researcher profiles from across the country—from the Yukon to Newfoundland and everywhere in between. Available in both English and French, the booklet comes in two versions: full and digest.

Order today and choose pick-up to receive a FREE cardboard tabletop stand with your purchase! Shipping is also available if you prefer. Payment can be made by cheque, e-transfer, or credit card.

2025 Canadian Centre for Food Integrity Public Trust Summit

The 2025 Public Trust Summit is coming to Toronto on October 28 & 29, bringing together leaders from across the food system to tackle one of our biggest challenges: misinformation.

With 91% of Canadians concerned about food misinformation — but few verifying what they see or hear — the risk of “fear-fluencing” continues to grow. This year’s Summit will explore how fear-based narratives take hold, and how we can respond with transparency, trust, and better communication.

Member accolades:

Augusta Van Muyen Selected as the 67th Grape King

Congratulations to Lincoln’s Augusta Van Muyen on being crowned Ontario’s 2025–2026 Grape King. Selected by peers and industry judges, Augusta will represent Ontario’s grape and wine industry at events across Canada.

Augusta is an active member of the Grape Growers of Ontario’s Next Generation Committee and serves on the Board of Directors for Farm & Food Care Ontario, nominated by Grape Growers of Ontario.

Kendra Keels honoured with the 2025 Carl Block Award by Animal Health Canada

Congratulations to Kendra Keels, named the 2025 Carl Block Award recipient by Animal Health Canada. This prestigious honour recognizes her lifelong leadership and dedication to the Canadian livestock sector. As Industry Development Director at Veal Farmers of Ontario for nearly 20 years, Kendra has been a strong advocate for animal health and welfare, producer support, and cross-sector collaboration within the veal, dairy calf, and broader livestock industries.

Ottawa Food Industry Professional tour guest testimonial

"Thank you for a wonderful and restoring experience into Canada’s food and farms. Each of the speakers are knowledgeable, thoughtful and extremely welcoming. The movement you have created, restoring Canada's knowledge on food is inspiring and I would love to be a part of future tours!"

Ottawa Food Industry Professional tour guest

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.