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Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization,
representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers.
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Ontario Grain Farmer Magazine

Grain Farmers of Ontario welcomes Vice President of Strategic Development

GUELPH, ON (December 7, 2010) – Grain Farmers of Ontario is pleased to welcome Jaye Atkins to the role of Vice President, Strategic Development.  

The Vice President, Strategic Development position will provide leadership and guidance to the Public Affairs/Communications, Market Development and Research pillars by seeking opportunities for Ontario’s producers of corn, soybean and wheat to work with grain industry stakeholders, government and the general public both domestically and internationally to add value to members.

When making the announcement, Barry Senft, CEO of GFO stated that “filling this role completes our competent and dedicated management team with a talented and enthusiastic individual who will make a significant contribution to our organization.”

Jaye was raised on a cash crop, beef, tobacco and vegetable farm in Norfolk County.  Upon graduation from Ridgetown College with a major in field and horticultural crops, he returned to his father’s farm and farmed full time for the next five years.  Jaye then returned to school to attend the University of Western Ontario and graduated with a degree in Economics. 

Jaye’s experience in agriculture has included various positions with Farm Credit Canada including Loans Officer, Marketing Manager for Ontario, Marketing Manager for Canada East and eventually to Director of Marketing – Agribusiness and Farm Finance Canada.  Jaye also has past experience working with many of the GFO members as General Manager for the Ontario Wheat Producers Marketing Board when he was instrumental in the move from Chatham to Guelph and the implementation of the off-board marketing options.  Most recently, Jaye was the CEO of FS PARTNERS, a partnership between Perth, Norfolk, Simcoe and Waterloo Oxford Co-ops and their supplier GROWMARK.

Jaye is married to Karen with two teenage daughters Celine and Nicole and lives in Delhi, Ontario.  

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

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Grain Farmers of Ontario
Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover over 6 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $4.1 billion in production value, result in over $27 billion in economic output and are responsible for over 90,000 jobs in the province.