From
Ontario Pork
Wilma Jeffray from
Grey Bruce County was elected as Chair of Ontario Pork for a one-year term at
the organization’s Board of Directors meeting in Guelph
yesterday. This was the
first time in the 63-year history of the Board that a woman was voted in as
Chair. Together with Vice Chair, Mary-Ann Hendrikx from Middlesex, they
will lead the 2009 Board of Directors.
“This will be a significant
year in our history. We have a strong Board that is focused and prepared
to lead our industry forward says Jeffray. “We recognize the challenges that lie ahead and want to
work with all our partners to do what is best for producers and the market in
general.”
Ontario
Pork also elected its Executive Committee. In addition to Wilma
Jeffray and Mary-Ann Hendrikx, Beth Clark of Simcoe County, Oliver Haan of
Northumberland-Quinte, Steve Illick of Wellington County, and Curtiss Littlejohn of the Golden Horseshoe make up the
Executive.
Yesterday’s meeting saw a new Zone A
Director and four new District Directors at the Board table following
elections.
Former Huron County Director, Teresa Van Raay takes over
districts one through six as Director of Zone A. Doug Ahrens is the new
representative for Perth County,
District 4, replacing Phil Anwender. Together Doug and his wife Kim have
three children and four grandchildren. He operates a 600 sow
farrow-to-partial finish farm on 400 acres of land. As Director and
Adjuster for Tradition Mutual Insurance in Sebringville and a Councillor for
the Perth County Pork Producers, Doug brings several years of experience to his
new role.
Amy
Cronin of Huron County is the
new representative for District 3, taking over for Teresa Van Raay. Amy farms with her husband Mike and
six young children near Bluevale. She enjoys and understands the
challenges of owning and operating a 3500 sow operation and in April will
graduate with class 12 of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program
(AALP). Amy brings her experience of the North American hog market to the
Board.
Greg
Haskett was elected as the new representative for Oxford
County, District 5. He replaces Jasper Vanderbas. Greg has two
children and operates a 500 sow farrow-to-weaner farm. His involvement in
the community includes volunteering with the local fire department and Red
Cross. As a previous AALP graduate, Greg has been an active member of Oxford
County as a Councillor and the Ontario Pork Industry
Council as a Director.
John
Lamers from Lambton County was elected to represent District 1. He takes
over for Bill Wymenga. John and his wife Teresa of
24 years farm 700 acres of land and a 500 sow farrow-to-finish
operation. John’s involvement in the Lambton Pork Producer Association
and the Lambton County Soil and Crop Improvement Association have prepared him
for his new role as Director.
Ontario Pork represents the
2800 farmers who market hogs in the province in many areas, including hog
marketing, research, government representation, environmental issues, consumer education
and food quality assurance. The pork industry in Ontario
accounts for 33,000 jobs, and it is estimated that
total industry output from farm gate
sales is worth $4.7 billion to the Ontario economy.
Visit Ontario Pork’s website: www.ontariopork.on.ca
