In line with “Strength in Unity,” the OFA’s annual general meeting theme, Sara Wood and Ethan Wallace return for a second year as Vice-Presidents, and Paul Maurice was re-elected as the Executive Member.

Why it matters: The OFA election results continue to build stability, representation, and a collaborative approach to address the pressing challenges facing the Ontario agricultural sector.

“Over the course of the past year, we’ve seen a huge emphasis on taking a team approach to achieve the best results – from buy Canadian promotions to political leaders working together to tackle issues like tariffs and interprovincial trade barriers and more,” said Spoelstra, in a release. “The work at OFA is also a team approach, from county federations to partners across the sector and beyond, and I appreciate the opportunity to serve as the OFA’s president for another year.”

Spoelstra spent 12 years with the organization, starting as a director overseeing Halton, Hamilton/Wentworth, and Niagara, before becoming vice-president and, in 2023, being elected president.

He and his family operate a mixed farm in Binbrook, including dairy, beef, cash crops, and horses. The Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) graduate also manages a Pride Seeds dealership.

Wood, a Director-at-Large and AALP alumnus, is a fourth-generation farmer from Perth County and a University of Guelph graduate. Wallace farms outside Seaforth and represents farmers from Huron and Perth Counties, while Maurice, who farms with his family near Penetanguishene, represents Peel, Simcoe, and York.

Strathroy livestock and crop farmer Maaike Campbell joined the board as the Zone 6 – Lambton and Middlesex director earlier this fall after Crispin Colvin retired following nine years of board service.

Marnie Wood, a second-generation farmer from Cannington, took on the Zone 10—Durham, Peterborough, and Kawartha Lakes/Haliburton director role following Steve Brackenridge’s retirement after nine years on the board. Dashwood’s Teresa Van Raay is re-elected for a third three-year term as Director-At-Large, and Angela Field from Renfrew was elected to serve a one-year term as Director-At-Large.

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The program, run by the Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) is an “an experiential executive leadership program” for those interested in taking on leadership roles in different aspects of agriculture.

Alumni gathered at the special events tent to hear reflections on the program and its continued importance over the past 40 years.

Doug Pletsch, who worked with the first two graduating AALP classes sang the program’s praises.

“It’s amazing, really, in terms of the potential that it has had on agriculture,” he said. “With the number of people who have gone through the program and who have made an impact on whatever part of the industry that they were in.”

Cathy Young, who worked for the program between classes one and seven, said that AALP has had a far-reaching impact across the province.

“I think no matter where you go in Ontario, you meet somebody who has been impacted by the program or been a grad, and it’s really fantastic to see,” she said.

ROI Leadership Programs Director Gabrielle “Gabe” Ferguson kicked off the afternoon’s speeches.

“AALP creates an experiential leadership opportunity like no other,” she said, “where graduates become our sector voices, on farms, in organizations and with industry.”

AALP prioritizes diversity in its members, with the goal of representing different sectors and businesses across the agriculture value chain. The current class includes representatives from the dairy, poultry, finance and seed sectors, among others.

“There are many leadership programs, and none of them have the across the agriculture and food sector perspective and hands-on experiential journey that AALP gives its participants,” she said.

Following Ferguson’s introductions, Alumni Ken Knox delivered a recorded video greeting.

Knox spoke about his experience in the U.S. with the AALP pilot program in 1980. “We came back so enthused that we could do something like that in Ontario, and four years later, the program was born.”

He also mentioned how he has seen agriculture leadership change since the program began in 1984.

“Technology and the changes with technology just blow me away as to how that’s changed how leadership is done among agriculture professionals today.”

Ferguson was later joined onstage by Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) General Manager Cathy Lennon and Ontario Minister of Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson, alumni of classes six and nine respectively.

Both spoke about how AALP helped them chart a path forward in their careers.

“No matter what we do,” Thompson said, “everything we learned in AALP has certainly paved the way.”

The program is now recruiting for its next class, the 21st for the program. Each class takes about 18 months. The deadline for application is Oct. 30, 2024.

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