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Generations of farming at the 2013 March Classic

GUELPH, ON (February 28, 2013) – Grain Farmers of Ontario’s farmer panel will be a highlight of this year’s March Classic in London that will address the theme, Ontario’s Grain Industry: Generations of Success.

The farmer panel will discuss the topic: “what will farming look like in the future”. The goal of the panel is to give attendees of the March Classic a variety of perspectives from farmers at various life and business stages. Panelists will provide their personal insights into what their future success might look like and how they define success for the industry as a whole.

The panel will be moderated by Elaine Froese, who is the keynote speaker on succession planning prior to the panel that day. On the panel, Froese will be accompanied by young prospective famer Chris MacFarlane from District 10 who just completed the January 2013 Grains in Action program. Also to sit on the panel as an active farmer is Jeff Barlow of District 6, who is a 6th generation cash crop farmer from the Binbrook area. The third panel participant is Harry Buurma of District 3, who will represent the transitioned farmer. In addition to the three farmers, Chad Lins from MNP will present a macro perspective of the future based on the findings from Grain Farmers of Ontario’s recent Scenario Planning Survey and discussions that took place at the January district meetings across the province.

This 45 minute panel will answer a variety of questions posed by the audience as well as addressing a number of hot topics in agriculture that effect farmers today and in the future. Having three generations of farmers together answering the same questions at various stages in their farming careers should provide an interesting look at what the future of farming might hold.

To pre-register online for the Monday March 18th conference in London, Ontario at the London Convention Center, visit www.gfo.ca/marchclassic or call  the office at 1 800 265 0550. 

Grain Farmers of Ontario

Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 corn, soybean and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover 6 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $2.5 billion in farm gate receipts, result in over $9 billion in economic output and are responsible for over 40,000 jobs in the province.

Contact:

Barry Senft, CEO – 1-800-265-0550; bsenft@gfo.ca