In This Issue

• Breakfast on the Farm: Dublin, September 14, 2024
• Canada's Outdoor Farm Show, September 10 - 12, 2024
• FarmFood360 at the CNE
• Upcoming webinar: Putting your best foot forward
• FarmFood360 Educators' Guide now available
• Ontario Agriculture Week, October 7 - 13, 2024
• Ontario's Harvest Gala, November 28, 2024
• Resources and lending library
• Order your "Life is Better on the Farm" T-Shirt
• FFCO welcomes new members
• The Real Dirt on Farming testimonial

Join us for a unique experience at Hillmanor Farms on September 14

Come and explore the future of farming at Hillmanor Farms. Discover how robots are changing the way people farm, helping with tasks like milking and feeding.

Take a tour of a state-of-the-art dairy barn designed with animal comfort in mind and equipped with solar panels that provide more than half of the farm's energy needs.

Enjoy a delicious all-Ontario breakfast, wander through dozens of interactive displays focused on different types of farms and food grown in Ontario, capture special family moments, and witness firsthand why the farm, with its 340 dairy cattle, was named one of Canada's top 25 best-managed dairy herds in 2022.

Farm & Food Care and the Louwagie family look forward to welcoming you to Perth County for an unforgettable day on the farm.

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

Canada's Outdoor Farm Show, Woodstock, Ontario

Canada's Outdoor Farm Show is just around the corner, and FFCO will again be located in the Federation House from September 10 - 12, 2024.

We invite you to visit with FFCO board members and staff, who will be on hand to discuss our organization's latest initiatives and share insights about the exciting projects and events we have planned for the remainder of the year.

As a token of our appreciation for your support and interest, members who stop by will receive a delicious treat. We look forward to seeing you there and sharing all the latest developments.

Recap FarmFood360 at the Canadian National Exhibition

FFCO, along with several of its members, spent 18 days at the CNE this August, where FFCO introduced an all-new theatre-style FarmFood360 kiosk. This interactive exhibit enabled visitors to explore real working Canadian farms through immersive virtual reality experiences.

The FarmFood360 exhibit drew in over 7,000 viewers, providing a unique and immersive way to experience farm life. The kiosk featured four virtual reality headsets that simultaneously played FarmFood360 tours, while the same video was projected onto a large screen, allowing parents, guardians, and other attendees to watch alongside. The kiosk moved throughout the farm exhibit building, partnering with Beef Farmers of Ontario, Egg Farmers of Ontario, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Turkey Farmers of Ontario, and Dairy Farmers of Ontario, each showcasing videos tailored to their specific commodities.

This activation provided an engaging way to connect with the public. The casting feature, in particular, encouraged conversations with parents and guardians whose children were participating in the virtual reality experiences, making them active participants in the learning process.

The FarmFood360 kiosk will be a key attraction at FFCO's Royal Agricultural Winter Fair booth. Stop by and check it out this November.

Above: FarmFood360 set up with Egg Farmers of Ontario.

Above: FarmFood360 set up with Turkey Farmers of Ontario.

Upcoming webinar: Putting your best foot forward

FarmFood360 Educators' Guides now available

FFCO in partnership with Agriculture in the Classroom Canada is pleased to announce the release of two new e-learning modules to accompany virtual reality experiences launched in 2023.

• Berry Tour: Explore an Ontario berry farm and learn from a fifth-generation farm family.
• Dairy Tour: Visit a Canadian dairy farm with a voluntary milking system which enables the cows to decide when they want to be milked.

These virtual reality tours allow Canadians to explore real working farms from the comfort of their own homes or classrooms. The accompanying e-learning modules augment student experiences by testing their knowledge using interactive quizzes at the end of each tour.

Both tours are in English and French and are linked through FarmFood360.ca or listed as FarmFood360° in the Classroom resources in the AITCC Resource Library.

Check out the tours at the buttons below.

Ontario Agriculture Week 2024

From October 7 - 13, 2024, join FFCO in celebrating Ontario Agriculture Week and highlight the incredible array of fresh, locally-grown, high-quality food and products that our province has to offer.

Ontario Agriculture Week is an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the bounty of food produced by our farmers, the dedicated individuals employed in the industry, and the vibrant rural communities that benefit from agriculture.

Show your support for Ontario’s food sector by using the hashtag #ONTAgWeek and #LoveONFood across your social media platforms. Be sure to check out and use the graphics from FFCO's Ontario Agriculture Week social media library to amplify your message and celebrate the amazing contributions of our local farmers.

2024 Ontario's 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.

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.

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.

FFCO welcomes new members

FFCO is pleased to welcome the following new members:

Silver member

• Gowans Feed Consulting
• Jefo Nutrition
• King Cole Ducks Ltd.
• Koskamp Family Farms Ltd.
• Walinga Inc.

Supporter member

• DSM - Health, Nutrition & Bioscience
• Hanover, Bentinck & Brant Agricultural Society
• Plympton Wyoming Agricultural Society
• Spencerville Agricultural Society
• St. Lawrence Valley Agricultural Society
• Vankleek Hill Agricultural Society
• Walkerton Agricultural Society
• Wellesley North Easthope 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.

The Real Dirt on Farming testimonial

About me & "The Real Dirt on Farming"



"Growing up, I never envisioned a career in agriculture. It wasn't until I stumbled upon the Farm & Food Care Ontario magazine "The Real Dirt on Farming" during my final years of high school that my perspective changed. This magazine opened my eyes to the array of career opportunities within the agriculture industry. It wasn't just the diverse career paths that intrigued me; the stories within the magazine instilled a passion for the industry and its importance in our daily lives. Inspired, I pursued a degree in agriculture and have since worked with Canadian crop and poultry farmers. Discovering "The Real Dirt on Farming" was a pivotal moment for me, guiding my decision to pursue an education and career in agriculture. I’m grateful for that chance encounter, which set me on a path to a fulfilling and meaningful profession in a field that feeds the world."

~ Gabby Gosselin, Communications & Project Coordinator at Poultry Industry Council

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.