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Issues Hitting “Close to Home” Discussed
at Ontario Cattlemen’s Association AGM: 2009 Leaders
Announced
March 3, 2009 (Guelph) – Over 500 beef farmers and
industry representatives from across Ontario congregated
in Toronto last week for the Ontario Cattlemen’s
Association (OCA) Annual General Meeting, themed
“Close to Home”. Guest speakers at the meeting
included: Pierre Lemieux, Parliamentary Secretary for
Agriculture and Agri-Food, Al Mussel of the George
Morris Centre, and Dr. Bill Dymond of the Centre for
Trade Policy and Law. Presentations included OCA’s
Young Farmer Strategy, and a report on the Ontario
Corn-Fed Beef program, as well as other industry
updates.
This year’s AGM also included a special panel discussion
entitled “How I Will Manage in 2009”. Panelists
included cow/calf producer, Matt Bowman of Temiskaming,
feedlot producer Joe Hill, of Wellington County, and
backgrounder producer Dean Ribey of Bruce County. Given
the financial crisis in the beef industry, each panelist
spoke about what they are doing to face personal
business challenges.
Leading the 2009 Board of Directors again this year is
President, Gord Hardy of Middlesex County. Along with
his family, Hardy operates a feedlot near Lucan.
In keeping with the “Close to Home” theme of the AGM,
Gord Hardy said in his President’s Address: “In Ontario,
we are in a better position than the other provinces in
that we have the largest consumer base right here,
Close to Home. We need to focus on how we can market
Ontario beef to Ontario consumers.”
Re-elected to the Board was Dan Darling, representing
Cow/calf producers. Curtis Royal, was acclaimed as
feedlot sector. Dan and his family live and operate
their farm in Northumberland County, while Curtis and
family farm in Creewater.
Matt Bowman was elected as Director from the North,
replacing Jim Martin who stepped down this year. Hank
Hiddink, Eastern Director, also stepped down this year.
That position was filled by newly-elected Gerald Rollins
of Renfrew County. John Gillespie was acclaimed as
Director-at-Large. John farms in Waterloo County.
Continuing to serve out their terms are cow/calf
producers Rick Hobbs from the Ottawa District and Kim
Sytsma of Leeds County.. As well, Feedlot Directors,
Paul Sharpe of Wellington County, and Doug Kaufman of
Oxford continue to sit on the Board. Gord Hardy of
Middlesex County continues to serve as Director from the
South. Rounding out the 2009 OCA Board are
Director-at-Large, Bob Gordanier of Wellington County
and Bill Herron of Grey County (backgrounder
representative).
Following a 2003 restructuring of the organization,
OCA’s Board of Directors consists of 12 elected
officials – three from the cow/calf sector, three from
the feedlot sector, one from the backgrounder sector;
three representing geographic regions of Ontario and two
elected on an At-Large basis. Directors are elected for
three-year terms on a rotating basis. Each year, voting
delegates to the AGM elect three members to the Board.
The Ontario Cattlemen’s Association represents the
interests of 19,000 Ontario beef producers. The complete
2009 OCA annual report can be viewed on the OCA Web site
at www.cattle.guelph.on.ca after March 5th.
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For Further Information:
Gord Hardy, OCA President: (519) 227-1113
Lianne Appleby, OCA Communications Manager: (519)
824-0334 |
