District Meetings

Each January, Grain Farmers of Ontario supports its 15 districts in holding District Meetings. These meetings serve as annual elections for district representation, and District Director elections are held every other year (even numbered districts in even numbered years, odd numbered districts in odd numbered years).

Grain Farmers of Ontario provides organizational updates to attendees and districts are encouraged to bring forward any new resolutions for discussion.

2023 District Meetings

The date and time of your district meeting has been confirmed and is noted below. Information is subject to change.

The Annual District Meetings are called to elect voting delegates and alternates for the coming year. All farmer-members who have sold grain (barley, corn, oats, soybeans, or wheat) within the past two years are eligible to let their name stand for delegate. If you would like more information on being a delegate, please contact your current district director or Rachel Telford, manager of Member Relations, at rtelford@gfo.ca. You can learn more about the role of a delegate and alternate here.

Nominations for delegate will be taken from the floor during the meeting. Online participants, and those unable to attend their district meeting, can let their name stand for delegate by confirming their intent in writing (text message or email your district director noted below, or contact Grain Farmers of Ontario Member Relations). Written confirmation must be received by 9 a.m. the day of your district meeting.

Directors will be elected in odd-numbered districts to serve a two-year term. Only elected delegates vote for the district director.

Please note that voting for district delegates will be done in-person only.

Online participation

Meetings will have a Zoom option. Links to all meetings can be obtained by clicking on your District below. District-specific meeting information will be sent to all farmer-members via a postcard mailer in December. 

Grain Farmers of Ontario is offering a Zoom option for farmer-members who are unable to attend their January District Meeting in-person. Please note that anyone who utilizes this courtesy offering will have limited interactive capabilities with the meeting. Online participants will be able to hear the presenters, view the presentations, and ask questions via the chat feature. You will not be able to directly voice a question. In the event of a technical difficulty online, the in-person meeting will not be halted, and portions of the meeting may be missed online. Voting is not available to those attending their district meeting online.

If you have any questions or concerns about the January District Meetings, please contact Rachel Telford, manager, Member Relations, 226-979-5581 or rtelford@gfo.ca.

2023 Annual District Meeting Schedule

DISTRICT	DATE/TIME	LOCATION / DISTRICT DIRECTOR
DISTRICT 1 Essex Zoom link	Jan 13 – 9 a.m.	St. John’s Parish Hall County Road 46, Woodslee, ON Director: Brendan Byrne, GFObrendan@gmail.com
DISTRICT 2 Kent Zoom link	Jan 17 – 3 p.m.	Hidden Hills Golf and Country Club 25393 St. Clair Road, Dover Centre, ON – dinner provided Director: Gus Ternoey, gus@dashwheelfarms.ca Speaker: Hugh Loomens, CEO of Sylvite
DISTRICT 3 Lambton Zoom link	Jan 19 – 4 p.m. (registration: 3:45 p.m.)	Wyoming Fair Grounds 595 Main Street, Wyoming, ON – dinner provided Director: Emery Huszka – GFODist3Emery@gmail.com Speaker: Spirits Canada
DISTRICT 4 Middlesex Zoom link	Jan 16 – 9 a.m.	Coldstream Community Centre 10227 Ilderton Road, Ilderton, ON Director: Steve Twynstra, steve@twilightacrefarms.ca
DISTRICT 5 Elgin, Norfolk Zoom link	Jan 18 – 9 a.m.	Malahide Community Place 12105 Whittaker Road, Springfield, ON Director: Scott Persall, spersall.sp@gmail.com
DISTRICT 6 Haldimand, Brant, Hamilton, Niagara Zoom link	Jan 10 – 9 a.m. (registration: 8:30 a.m.)	Mutual Room, Riverside Exhibition Centre (Caledonia Fairgrounds) 151 Caithness Street E, Caledonia, ON – lunch provided Director: Jeff Barlow, jeff@barlowfarms.ca
DISTRICT 7 Waterloo, Oxford Zoom link	Jan 16 – 9 a.m.	Innerkip Community Centre 695566 17th Line, Innerkip, ON Director: Kevin Armstrong, armstrongacres@execulink.com Speaker: Spirits Canada
DISTRICT 8 Huron Zoom link	Jan 12 – 9 a.m.	Holmesville Community Centre 180 Community Centre Road, Clinton, ON Director: Keith Black, bkblack@hurontel.on.ca
DISTRICT 9 Perth Zoom link	Jan 20 – 5:30 p.m.	Mitchell Golf and Country Club 81 Frances Street, Mitchell, ON – dinner provided Director: Josh Boersen, jboersen@gmail.com Speaker: Spirits Canada
DISTRICT 10 Grey, Bruce, Wellington Zoom link	Jan 20 – 9:30 a.m.	Clifford Community Hall 2 William Street, Clifford, ON – lunch provided Director: Steve Lake, lake.steve@gmail.com
DISTRICT 11 Dufferin, Simcoe, Halton, Peel, York Zoom link	Jan 9 – 10 a.m. (registration: 9:30 a.m.)	St. John’s United Church 27 Yonge Street, Elmvale, ON – farmers lunch/pie provided Director: Leo Blydorp, leo.blydorp@gmail.com Speaker: Greg Stewart, Maizex
DISTRICT 12 Durham, Northumberland, Kawartha, Peterborough, Hastings Zoom link	Jan 10 – 9:30 a.m.	The Best Western Plus 930 Burnham Street, Cobourg, ON Director: Jeff Harrison, jeffh.gfo@gmail.com
DISTRICT 13 Prince Edward, Lennox, Addington, Frontenac, Lanark, Leeds, Grenville, Renfrew, Ottawa Zoom link	Jan 11 – 10 a.m. (coffee: 9:30 a.m.)	Elgin Lions Club 19 Pineview Drive, Elgin, ON – hot lunch/pie provided Director: Lloyd Crowe, gfolloyd@gmail.com Speaker: Donna and Peter Archer
DISTRICT 14 Prescott, Russell, Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry Zoom link	Jan 12 – 9 a.m.	North Stormont Place 16299 Fairview Drive, Avonmore, ON – lunch provided Director: Scott Fife, scott.fife@outlook.com Speaker: Spirits Canada
DISTRICT 15 Northern Ontario Zoom link	Jan 19 – 9 a.m.	Earlton Conference Center, Coeur du Village 18 – 10th Street, Earlton, ON Director: Chuck Amyot, charlesamyot@gmail.com