January 2021 President’s Report

What a year 2020 turned out to be!

Taking over as President of the Lambton Federation of Agriculture in January we had great plans and did a lot of planning before we were all locked out of in-person meetings and events.

Looking back at our website calendar is a sobering reminder of all the events we had set up and were going to help out on, and then had to cancel.

• Soil Health Round Table Discussion (Wyoming) – March 25
• Agriculture Night at Western Fair Raceway – March 27
• Lambton-Kent Ag In The Classroom Gala (Ridgetown) – April 3
• Lambton Cattlemen’s Association Producer Night (Wyoming) – April 8
• Locally Lambton Movie Night presents: Before the Plate – April 17
• Progressive Ag Safety Day – July 2
• Lambton County 100th Anniversary Plowing Match – September 5

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture was and is closely monitoring updates and recommendations from government and public health officials.

We understand these are uncertain and challenging times for everyone. Closures and emergency measures are impacting our day-to-day activities and no community or sector is immune.

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Rather than focusing on the negative, we’d like to highlight our accomplishments over the last year. Here are some of them:

Website Upgrades

Both lambtonfederation.ca and locallylambton.com are operated by the Lambton Federation of Agriculture, and earlier in the year we were able to revamp and significantly redesign both sites.

• If you haven’t seen the changes, check them out.
• If you have any suggestions for improvement, let us know

Professional videos produced:

• “Agriculture Across Lambton County” – January 10 premiere
• “This is Farming in Lambton County” – April 17 premiere
• “COVID-19 Lambton County Crop Update” – August 20 premiere
• “Technology in Agriculture in Lambton County” – to be premiered

Lambton “Ag Link” Newsletter

• The Lambton Ag Link was created to fill that void in communicating agricultural news and events between Lambton County Commodity and Agricultural Groups and the community.
• Past issues are available at https://lambtonfederation.ca/aglink/

Monthly Radio Broadcast

• The latest in Lambton County’s agricultural news and events are reported on CFCO (630 AM and 92.9 FM) every 3rd Wednesday and CHOK (103.9 FM & 1070 AM) every 4th Wednesday.
• Past episodes are at: https://lambtonfederation.ca/tag/blackburn-radio/

Letters to Government

• STANTEC Consulting Open House Request – Enbridge pipeline expansion in Dawn-Euphemia
• Internet Instability in Rural Communities
• Reducing the Burden on Local Abattoirs
• Impact of COVID-19 in Lambton County Unstable

Chatham-Kent Farm Show – January 29-30

Bill 156 Roundtable – February 5

• Meeting with the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, MPP Bob Bailey and neighbouring Federation presidents and OFA representatives in Wyoming to discuss Bill 156 – the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2019

Innovative Farmer of the Year – February 19

• Every year, the Innovative Farmers of Ontario chooses a farmer who exemplifies great soil stewardship, progressive thinking, and a drive to explore ways to improve their farming practices.
• Our VP Mike Belan received his award at the IFAO Conference Banquet on February 19 in London.

Federation Forecast Workshop – February 25

• Together, Federations and OFA field staff participated in an interactive and thought-provoking workshop in Dutton Ontario, leading to some concrete plans to effectively support local Federations in 2020 and beyond.

Changing Faces of Agriculture (Western Fair) – February 27

• The London Chamber of Commerce held this breakfast with many key note speakers, highlighting how they have continued to adapt.

Movie Matinee with the Lambton Cattlemen – March 1

• “Guardians of the Grasslands” was premiered at the Lambton County Library Theatre

Lambton OPP Public Safety Meeting – March 10

• The Lambton Farm Safety Association and the Lambton Federation of Agriculture invited members to join us when we host Constable Katie Hill, Lambton OPP’s Media Officer for a public safety meeting.

Topics included:

• Protecting farms from burglary
• Farm invasions (activists)
• Road safety

Donation to the Lambton County Food Banks – April 6

Mental Health First Aid Webinar – June 25

• The LFA hosted a one-on-one Mental Health First Aid Webinar with the Do More Ag Foundation and director Lauren Van Ewyk in order to gain a better understanding of mental health and wellness and learn strategies to help support well-being.

Fields to Forks #AskTheExperts – June 18 and July 7

• OFA President Keith Currie and LFA director Lauren Van Ewyk were on NewsTalk 1290’s Ask the Experts segment on June 18. The topic discussed was mental health and the mental health resources available to those in the agriculture industry.
• Lauren was also on #AskTheExperts on July 7 with Janine Lunn from the OFA

LFSA Poster Contest in lieu of the Progressive Ag Safety Days:

Virtual Crop Tour with County politicians and Staff – August 12

• Featuring the video “COVID-19 Lambton County Crop Update” and discussion afterwards.

Scholarships handed out at the OFA Regional Meeting – August 20

• Six Regular Federation scholarships and two scholarships by outside organizations were awarded.
• More information at https://lambtonfederation.ca/scholarships/

Starlite Drive-In

• The Lambton Federation of Agriculture’s “This is Agriculture” video was featured in the show line-up at the Starlite Drive-In Theatre in Crediton, Ontario all summer.

Donation to the United Way Sarnia-Lambton – November 4

Mental Health Resources Webpage – November 13

2020 Lambton County Agricultural Hall of Fame – November 17

• Bert Vandendool received the honours virtually with local dignitaries and dozens of family, friends and college classmates on the video conference.
• More info at https://lambtonfederation.ca/hall-of-fame/

Ontario Federation of Agriculture AGM – November 23

A busy year was had by the Lambton Federation of Agriculture, and we expect a busy year to come in 2021. Keep in touch and let us know what is going on and if you need help.

~Gary Martin~
President, Lambton Federation of Agriculture