OFA Convention, Niagara Falls ON – November 23-25 2014
My wife and I arrived Sunday Nov 23 2014 and got settled into our motel room. I got registered for the convention then we went to reception and saw exhibitors displayed talked with various people and found them very interesting .they had several silent auction gifts. Later there was an all candidates reception for a few hours.
Monday we were up bright and early to breakfast then Mark Wales gave his opening remarks about agriculture in Ontario, funding land taxes tillage and chemical use and neonics.
Sue Anne Staff talked wine and soy planting ,she compared selling wine against imported wine.
Then they had a video of Micheal Bourgons through the years and about his retirement.
Directors running gave info about themselves on what they want to happen if they a re elected. Next we were introduced to the electronic voting of offices and voting for directors at large several votes were required to get to the result of Peggy Brekveld and Pat Jilsen.
Don Langford talked about getting H20 in Haiti, all money made in silent auction goes toward supporting this project.
We were running late so we only got to do one workshop and we went to WSIB – very interesting on what is required to run a business with staff and do it properly with WSIB.
Meals were excellent with plenty of food for all.
Kelly Daynard spoke on-the real dirt on farming, and Henry Banack 1st vice spoke on his time in CFA.
Food safety, risk management, farm labour wages, crop transportation, bee health.
Election of President of OFA – Don McCabe won.
Aron Gamble of Scotia Bank spoke on oil and US dollar, saying long term outlook on farming is good.
Hon. Jeff Leal – minister of Agriculture – would like to work with OFA, safe food, and farmland preservation.
We had a wonderful harvest celebration Monday evening good food and good music was enjoyed by all.
Tuesday morning had breakfast and did all the resolutions, OFA video challenge winners presentation was given.
Next was election of vice president of OFA – Peggy Brekveld and Keith Currie.
Presidents closing remarks and it was then adjourned for this year.
~Jim McLachlan~