In This Issue

• Strickland's Automart supports FFCO
• Norfolk Breakfast on the Farm
• Canada's Outdoor Farm Show, September 9 - 11, 2025
• FARMtoberfest - Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, October 10, 2025
• The Real Dirt on Farming photo contest open
• Save the Date: 2025 Ontario Harvest Gala on November 27, 2025
• Recap FarmFood360 at the CNE
• Ontario Agriculture Week, October 6 - 12, 2025
• FarmFood360 Educators' Guide now available
• Resources and lending library
• Order your "If Found Please Return to the Farm" T-Shirt
• The Real Dirt on Farming exclusive case sale
• Burnbrae Farms supports FFCO through annual golf tournament
• Member accolades
• Breakfast on the Farm guest testimonial

Strickland's Automart supports FFCO

Farm & Food Care Ontario extends sincere thanks to Strickland’s Automart / Stratford Toyota for their generous support of Ontario agriculture through the donation of the use of a 2025 Toyota Tundra for the busy winter season. This vehicle will play a key role in FFCO's outreach efforts across the province.

We're grateful for partners like Strickland’s who help us connect Ontarians with the people and stories behind their food.

Spot the truck on the road? Tag us @FarmFoodCareON in a photo for a chance to win tickets to the 2025 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair this November.

Left (L-R): Joost van der Heiden, FFCO board member, Kelly Daynard, FFCO Executive Director, Lon Eeley, General Manager Strickland's Automart / Stratford Toyota, Elaine McDougall, FFCO Finance Manager.

Norfolk Breakfast on the Farm

On August 23, under bright sunshine and amidst the vibrant sights and smells of fresh apples, watermelon, and strawberries, Norfolk County proudly hosted Breakfast on the Farm at two beautiful locations.

Guests began their day at the Norfolk County Fairgrounds, where they enjoyed a hearty all-Ontario breakfast before exploring livestock exhibits, checking out the latest farm equipment, and engaging with our partners through a variety of interactive displays. The day continued at Schooley Orchards and Apple Hill Lavender, where visitors toured scenic Ontario apple orchards and fragrant lavender fields.

This event showcased the rich diversity of Ontario’s fruit and vegetable industry to an estimated 1,500 guests.

Farm & Food Care Ontario thanks the Schooley family and Norfolk Agricultural Society, volunteers, sponsors, and all participating partners for making this event both memorable and educational for everyone involved.

You can use this link to see a full list of event partners: https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Norfolk-Partners_Breakfast-on-the-Farm.pdf

Canada's Outdoor Farm Show, Woodstock, Ontario

Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show is just around the corner, and Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) will be located in Federation House from September 9–11, 2025.

We invite you to stop by and connect with FFCO board members and staff. We’ll be available to chat about our latest initiatives and provide updates on the exciting projects and events planned for the rest of the year.

Members who visit the FFCO booth will receive a delicious treat. We look forward to seeing you there and sharing what’s ahead for FFCO.

FARMtoberfest - Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, October 10, 2025

Breakfast on the Farm is set to take on 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 am – 3 pm.

This event offers an exceptional opportunity to showcase agriculture to a massive and diverse 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 learn how they're raised
• 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.

As the final Breakfast on the Farm event of 2025, FARMtoberfest is a chance to experience the sights, sounds and stories behind farming in Ontario — as part of this already highly successful event.

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.

The Real Dirt on Farming photo contest now open

Farm & Food Care is inviting photographers from across Canada to enter its nation-wide farm photo contest, with $4,000 in cash prizes up for grabs across six categories. Whether you’re drawn to rolling fields, fresh-picked produce, hard-working people, or the latest ag tech, we want to see your perspectives on Canadian agriculture.

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. Selected images may also appear in national Farm & Food Care campaigns, bringing your photos to life in print, online, and beyond. To learn more or explore past editions, visit www.RealDirtonFarming.org.

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. Entries are due by November 30, 2025.

Save the date: 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 — from developing educational resources and hosting impactful farm tours to advancing meaningful conversations about food and farming with the public. In 2025, with your support, we’re aiming even higher.

The evening will include:

• Cocktail reception & hors d’oeuvres
• Buffet 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.

Recap FarmFood360 at the Canadian National Exhibition

This August, Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) again joined members at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), bringing the popular FarmFood360° virtual reality kiosk back to The Farm building.

The kiosk enables up to four people at a time to take in 360° virtual farm tours through VR headsets, while the same content is simultaneously cast to a large screen — giving parents and other visitors a chance to watch along and connect with FFCO staff and partners during the experience.



Over the 18-day event, the kiosk rotated between exhibits hosted by:

• Dairy Farmers of Ontario
• Egg Farmers of Ontario
• Grain Farmers of Ontario
• Beef Farmers of Ontario

The immersive exhibit drew in more than 3,500 viewers, continuing to be a standout attraction that helps bridge the gap between farmers and consumers in a hands-on, meaningful way.

The FarmFood360° kiosk will be featured again at FFCO’s booth during the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

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.

FarmFood360 ginseng educator guide now available

Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO), in partnership with Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) and the Ontario Ginseng Growers are pleased to announce the launch of a new virtual reality tour and e-learning module focused on ginseng farming in Ontario.

Step onto a Canadian ginseng farm and learn about this unique and valuable crop, from planting and harvesting to the challenges of growing ginseng in Ontario’s climate.

This immersive FarmFood360° VR experience gives Canadians a behind-the-scenes look at a real working ginseng farm — perfect for classrooms or at-home learning. The accompanying interactive e-learning module helps reinforce key concepts with engaging quizzes and knowledge checks.

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.

Explore the world of ginseng farming today with this new digital resource.

Resources and lending library

If you're organizing an event, fair, or agricultural awareness activity this fall, Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) has a range of resources available to support your 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 "If Found, Please Return to the Farm" t-shirts, designed for FFCO, are now available for $25. Show your love for the farm life and support for FFCO with these stylish, comfortable tees. Orders can be picked up at no cost from the Guelph office or shipped for a flat rate of $5. They will also be available in the FFCO booth in Federation House at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show in September.

Order yours today and bring the farm vibes wherever you go.

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.

Driving change: Burnbrae Farms supports FFCO through annual golf tournament

A heartfelt thank you to Burnbrae Farms for hosting its annual golf tournament and choosing to support Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) through this wonderful event. Thanks to the generosity of Burnbrae Farms, participating egg farmers, and agribusiness staff, an incredible $3,000 was raised in support of FFCO's work. We are truly grateful for their ongoing partnership and commitment to strengthening Ontario’s agriculture community.

Member accolades:

Parrish & Heimbecker Named “Farm Management Solution Provider of the Year” In 2025 AgTech Breakthrough Awards Program

Congratulations to Parrish & Heimbecker (P&H) for being recognized by AgTech Breakthrough for P&H Central, your innovative desktop and mobile platform that is helping to digitize and streamline grain marketing.

P&H is the parent company of FFCO gold member New-Life Mills, a division of Parrish & Heimbecker Ltd.

Breakfast on the Farm guest testimonial

"Being able to share with our children (ages 3 and 5) where food comes from is such a valuable experience and this event was so much more than I expected. All of us learned so much and we all had a great time. I will certainly be encouraging my family/friends to use this event as a wonderful learning experience."

BOTF Norfolk 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.