In this issue

• Breakfast on the Farm -Newburgh recap
• Breakfast on the Farm Hosts - Application Deadline
• Ontario Agriculture Week, October 5 - 11, 2026
• Tickets available now: 2026 Ontario Harvest Gala
• FFCO at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, November 6 - 15, 2026
• Member Forum meeting summary
• FFCO at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show 
• FFCO at the International Plowing Match 
• Order your “Canadian Farmer” shirts while supplies last.
• National communicators workshop
• AgScape’s Ontario Agriculture Week Resource Kit
• CCFI 2026 Public Trust Summit
• The Farmer’s Voice survey: we want to hear from you
• Accolades
• Breakfast on the Farm Newburgh, guest testimonial 

Breakfast on the Farm - Newburgh recap

Under clear skies and fall colours, the third and final Breakfast on the Farm event of 2026 took place on Saturday, September 26, at River Valley Cattle Co. The Embury family welcomed 1350 visitors to their globally-recognized beef farm.

This Breakfast on the Farm event was the perfect way to wrap up a year of incredibly successful engagement with Ontarians from Hamilton to Huron, and now Lennox and Addington, and all areas in between.

Some of the most exciting highlights of the day included a livestock exhibit with 10 different breeds of cattle as well as goats and sheep, a live stuffed animal auction that was a massive hit with kids and adults alike, more than 34 industry partners on-site with games, activities, educational information and giveaways, cattle clipping demonstrations, a sprawling equipment display and so much more.

The day brought farmer-to-non-farmer connections and a deeper understanding of each other’s communities and the importance of our Ontario and Canadian food systems.



We sincerely thank the Embury family for their generosity and willingness to welcome their community to their gorgeous property, and our partners, without whom these events would not be possible. Visit our website to see a full list of partners and photos from BOTF Newburgh.

Breakfast on the Farm Hosts - Application Deadline

Now that BOTF 2026 events are complete, FFCO is looking forward to what is to come in 2027.

With strong interest already, we know next year will bring more incredible farm families and important conversations. Breakfast on the Farm is a critical event that lets local communities see what is really happening on Ontario farms and provides a space to answer questions, dispel myths, and address concerns. Breakfast on the Farm is also a heartwarming family event that generates lifelong memories and builds trust with our non-farming neighbours.

If you are interested in partnering with Farm & Food Care Ontario to host an unforgettable event in your community, or if you'd like more information, please reach out to our team. We need Ontario farms and farm families to help us in sharing the message about the importance of agriculture and food in Ontario.

Due to the volume of interest, we are asking that any interested Breakfast on the Farm hosts complete a brief application and submit it to events@farmfoodcare.org by December 1, 2026.

Ontario Agriculture Week, October 5 - 11, 2026

Tickets available now: 2026 Ontario Harvest Gala

Your invitation to An Enchanted Evening has arrived. FFCO is excited to celebrate all of Ontario agriculture with all of you on Thursday, November 26, 2026, at a new location, The Embassy Room at Bingemans, in Kitchener.

We welcome you to dress in your most enchanting attire and join us for an elegant evening of delicious food, music and camaraderie.

FFCO’s Annual Harvest Gala also serves as an important fundraising event for FFCO’s upcoming activities and will support our work, growing confidence in Ontario’s farming and food.

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

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.

Early bird rates available for a limited time.

FFCO at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair,

November 6 - 15, 2026

Join FFCO at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) in Toronto from November 6 to 15, 2026.



Visit the FFCO booth in the Education Zone at Booth #4009 in Hall B to explore the latest FarmFood360° Virtual Tours, including five brand-new series on greenhouse vegetables, grapes, farming in Northern Ontario, salmon farming, and beef farming in BC.



FFCO Member Forum meeting summary

FFCO’s third Member Forum meeting of 2026 had a packed agenda and a packed room. On September 23, at the Grandway in Elora, a record number of attendees joined together to hear from industry representatives and guest speakers and to share updates around the room. Special thanks to Member Forum Co-Chairs Emily Haramule and Dave Stanfield for chairing the event.

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.

Speakers included:

• Taylor Henderson, CEO & Janet Horner, Chair, Country Heritage Park - future vision and how the industry can support CHP’s evolution into a modern hub for food, farming, education, and community events.
• Inge Koskamp, Kampkreek Dairy – spotlighting the water buffalo industry
• Jackie Fraser, Vice-Chair, Ontario Food Terminal - the massive scope of the OFT, which facilitates the distribution of over two billion pounds of produce each year.
• Lindsay Dykeman, Executive Director, Ontario Dairy Goat Cooperative – spotlighting milking goats in Ontario
• Campaign Update: Protect Supply Management – updates from Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Egg Farmers of Ontario, and Turkey Farmers of Ontario on Protect Supply Management campaign progress and ways to support next steps.

The forum also included a member-around-the-room session, where representatives shared updates on market conditions, initiatives, and emerging sector issues.

FFCO at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show

FFCO attended Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show alongside many of our members and partners from September 15-17.

FFCO staff and directors spent all three days connecting with members from all over the province and catching up with industry colleagues. The event allowed our team to connect around current and past events and provide updates on initiatives including FarmFood360, Faces Behind Food, The Real Dirt on Farming, and more. Through our conversations, we identified future opportunities and areas of concern for members, and reinforced the impact of our current work. These conversations help focus our work in the year ahead.



Thank you to all of our members and friends who stopped by the Farm & Food Care Ontario booth.

From left to right: Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonanld, Alicia Becker (FFCO), Jessica McCann (FFCO), Jeff Harrison (GFO), Drew Spoelstra (OFA)

FFCO at the International Plowing Match

Many of FFCO’s resources, including digital, print and lendable, made their way to the IPM this past weekend. From Farm Fact signs to the FarmFood360 kiosk, FFCO resources made an impact at IPM in the Hydro One Education Centre. Hundreds of visitors to the IPM, including students, politicians, and local community members, interacted with FFCO’s educational exhibits. The photo backdrop was even featured briefly in CTV’s coverage of the event.

Order your “Canadian Farmer” shirts while supplies last.

FFCO has released annual t-shirts for several years now; each year launches an exciting new design, which also means retiring the previous one.

Our 2026 “Canadian Farmer” t-shirt inventories are getting low. If you’ve been waiting to order one, are just seeing them for the first time now or are thinking ahead for the holidays, you should order now while supplies last because numbers are very limited and we will not be making any more.

Choose from:

• Adult: “Canadian farmer and proud of it”

• Children: “Canadian farmer in training”

A brand new t-shirt design will be released in early 2027.

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.

AgScape’s Ontario Agriculture Week Resource Kit

CCFI 2026 Public Trust Summit

Conversations shape trust, and trust shapes the future of Canada's food system.



That's why Farm & Food Care is pleased to support the 2026 #PublicTrustSummit, hosted by the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity. The event will bring together industry leaders, researchers, and communicators to explore the ideas and strategies needed to lead in an era of

scrutiny.

October 6-7, 2026 | Toronto

#TrustUnderPressure

The Farmer’s Voice survey: we want to hear from you

This is an opportunity for our entire food system to share knowledge and benefit from effective communication.

What’s working on your farm? What isn’t? And what would make a real difference?

The Farmer’s Voice is a new anonymous survey inviting Canadian farmers to share their experiences with the technology, services and support available to them today — and what they wish was available.

The survey asks about everything from technology adoption and artificial intelligence to government programs and challenges farmers are working to solve.

The goal is simple: to hear directly from farmers and better understand what they need.

The survey is 100% anonymous and takes just a few minutes to complete.

The first 100 producers to respond can claim a $30 Tim Hortons gift card.

Anonymous findings will be shared in a free public report, giving everyone working in Canadian agriculture an opportunity to learn directly from farmers’ experiences and perspectives.

Accolades

Congratulations to the newest Grape King

Grape Growers of Ontario announced that Niagara-on-the-Lake grower Steve Pohorly has been chosen by his peers as the 2026 Grape King.

Deeply dedicated to the future of Ontario agriculture, Steve has served as a Director on the Grape Growers of Ontario for nearly two decades, sits on the Board of the Niagara Peninsula Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association, and actively participates in numerous industry committees and research groups. 

Ontario minister of rural affairs, pleased to celebrate the inaugural Rural Ontario Week 

The inaugural Rural Ontario Week took place September 20-26, 2026.

Rural Ontario Week is a celebration of what makes rural Ontario strong: families who put down roots, businesses that invest for the long term that strengthen our local economies, and communities that continue to find new ways to grow and create opportunity. Rural families and businesses are creating jobs, investing in their communities and building opportunities for the next generation, to help ensure that rural Ontario remains vibrant, resilient and ready to grow.

Meet the first beans designed with help from AI

A new "super bean" developed with help from artificial intelligence could reach farmers within a few years, the result of University of Guelph research using AI to speed up the plant breeding process and increase productivity. 

It's thanks to BeanGPT, a platform designed to help producers uncover the best beans to grow in their local conditions. 



BeanGPT is built on more than 314,000 scientific articles, along with archives of anecdotal observations and notes from more than 40 years of dry bean breeding research here at U of G.  

Breakfast on the Farm guest testimonial

"It was great to see how organized this event was and the friendliness of all of the staff and volunteers were. It was a wonderful family event and heartwarming to see all of the smiling faces. It was also a great opportunity for people from larger urban centers to have a glimpse into todays farming culture."

BOTF Newburgh attendee

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.