Ancaster, ON – Seven entrepreneurial farm couples from across Canada vie for top recognition as Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) at the organization’s annual event in Regina, SK on Friday, November 15.
These regional honourees have been chosen from their home regions, and will present highlights of their operations at the national event. Bringing together OYF alumni and the larger agricultural industry, OYF’s event includes a special forum and concludes with a gala banquet to announce Canada’s 2013 national OYF winners.
The day-long OYF event is open to the public and includes an information forum entitled “Who is the Voice of Agriculture in 2013?” featuring Dr. Cami Ryan from the University of Saskatchewan, and other speakers to be confirmed. Held at the Delta Regina, pre-registration is required at www.oyfcanada.com and includes the forum (9:15 – 11:00 am), honouree presentations (1:00 – 4:15 pm) and gala awards reception and banquet (6:30 pm). All times Central Standard Time.
Honourees presenting for the 2013 event include: James and Amanda Kinsman, Berwick, NS, dairy and cash crop production; Dana and Adam Thatcher, Rockwood, ON, mixed farm; Gervais and Kim Brunelle, Herouxville, QC, dairy; Tyler and Dorelle Fulton, Birtle, MB, cow/calf/feeder operation; Chad and Darlene Krikau, Waldheim, SK, grain production; Michael Kalisvaart and Karen Jansen, Gibbons, AB, grain production; and Troy and Sara Harker, Cawston, BC, tree fuit/ground crops. Two of these farm couples will be chosen at the gala banquet as Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2013. Tickets must be purchased to attend the banquet.
Pre-registration is required to attend the OYF event in person – forum/presentations/lunch are $50 (adults) and $30 (students) and the evening banquet is $100 per person. For tickets, visit www.oyfcanada.com. The forum and the honouree presentations can also be viewed live as an online webcast, sponsored by Farm Management Canada. There is no charge for the webcast, but pre-registration is required at www.agriwebinar.com before the event start time of 9:15 am CST on November 15. The honouree presentations will begin immediately after lunch on this same site starting at 1:00 pm CST.
Celebrating 33 years, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ program is an annual competition to recognize farmers that exemplify excellence in their profession and promote the tremendous contribution of agriculture. Open to participants 18 to 39 years of age, making the majority of income from on-farm sources, participants are selected from seven regions acrossCanada, with two national winners chosen each year. The program is sponsored nationally by CIBC, John Deere, Bayer CropScience and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and supported nationally by AdFarm and Farm Management Canada.