Tractor cab telephone town halls

GUELPH, ON (May 21, 2014) – Grain Farmers of Ontario is pleased to offer a series of Tractor Cab Telephone Town Halls over the next 3 weeks.

“These Telephone Town Halls will ensure our farmer-members can be part of the election discussions,” says Henry Van Ankum, Chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario. “With planting delayed across the province, our members will be working the fields during the election campaigns and will not be able to attend many of the election activities and events.”

The Progressive Conservative party has confirmed their involvement in the upcoming Telephone Town Halls. At this time, Grain Farmers of Ontario is awaiting confirmation from the other parties.

“We feel this is an important opportunity for the candidates to communicate with our members,” reinforces Van Ankum. “Our members represent rural Ontario and raise important issues as they consider new leadership for the province – and we want to support the election process through facilitating dialogue.”  

The Telephone Town Halls will allow farmer members to call-in to the meetings from the cab of their tractors, as they plant the important acres of grain Ontario relies on. The schedule and details of these Town Halls will be posted on www.gfo.ca shortly. 

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

Henry Van Ankum, Chair – 519-835-4200; henryvanankum@sympatico.ca

Meghan Burke, Communications – 519 767-2773; mburke@gfo.ca