The Ayrshire Canada Annual General Meeting was held March 8th-11th, 2016 in Moncton, QC.
Annual General Meeting
The conduct of this Annual General Meeting was skillfully carried out by your President, Mr. François Beaudry. This is how I would summarize your Association’s 116th AGM.
Changes on the Board of Directors
Mary-Ellen Trueman,
Robert Powell,
Mario Lacerte, Vice-president,
François Beaudry, President,
Jonathan Lemay,
Robert Saville. Missing of the photo : Duane Tolhurst and Caroline Couture
Ms. Mary-Ellen Trueman is one of our new recruits on the Board. From Sackville, New Brunswick, she is replacing Mr. Peter Rossiter as Eastern Director. Ms. Trueman co-owns Prospect Acres Farm and has extensive experience sitting on various agricultural committees. Ms. Caroline Couture, from Compton, Québec, is also joining the Board, in replacement of Mr. Jean-Philippe Daunais, who sat on the Board Member for many years. Ms. Couture is also a Board Member of Ayrshire Québec and co-owns Ferme Coubert (1987) SENC (Du Petit Lac prefix).
Mr. François Beaudry was re-elected President (East). The vice-presidency is now occupied by Mr. Mario Lacerte (East). The other Executive Committee Members are Mr. Duane Tolhurst and Mr. Robert Powell, from Ontario (West), and Mr. Jonathan Lemay, from Québec (East). Mr. Robert Saville (West) and Mr. Hendrick Larouche (East) complete the Board of Directors.
Prizes and Awards
The Highest Composite BCA Herd Average Award was given to Kellcrest Farms, with a BCA of 283. Saguenayenne Academie (Reality), from Ferme Saguenayenne in Jonquière, received the Wes McConnell Memorial Award for the Highest Composite BCA at 1386. Florent, Vicky & Bianca Foley won the “Allister MacArthur Award” for the Highest classification with Vieux Village BB Cerise EX-7E-93.
Master Breeder Award, the Association’s most prestigious title, was presented to the following herds, Ayr-Ouelle, Visserdale, and De La Tour. It was Ferme Visserdale’s second Master Breeder Award. Exceptionally this year, three (3) members received the Honorary Life Member Award. Mr. Frank Waterston, from Penobsquis (NB), and Mr. Georges-Aimé Lavoie, from St-Basile (NB) as well as Ms. Anne Spaull, from Warren (ON). For the Award of Merit’s 20th anniversary, the recipient was Mr. Peter Rossiter, from St-Peter’s Bay, PEI. Incidentally, this award was given to him by the first recipient, Mr. Alex McCaig.
An Ambitious Tour and Many Visits
Thanks to a great team effort, welcoming breeders, and a very efficient organizing committee, the challenge was successfully met! We visited a total of nine (9) herds and all of the families – Lavoie, Helder, Hornbrook, Waterston, Trueman, Girard, Scott, Buttimer, and Riordon – were present and more than ready for us.
Admittedly, this was a lot of ground to cover for the participants, but many good memories were made, which will be with us for a long time.