Know an Outstanding Young Farmer in Ontario?

November 25, 2013

Written by Dave Harrison

Nov. 25, 2013 — Nominations are being accepted for the Ontario Outstanding Young Farmer (OOYF) 2014 program.

Nominees may be individuals, partners or couples who derive a minimum of two-thirds of their gross revenue from farming and are under the age of 40 as of Jan. 1 in the year of competition.

Nomination forms can be downloaded from the OOYF website at www.oyfontario.ca and must be received by Dec. 15.

Celebrating its 34th year, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ program is an annual competition to recognize young farmers who exemplify excellence in their profession and promote the tremendous contribution of agriculture, and rural Canada.

Demonstrating leadership in the agricultural industry, nominees are judged according to the following criteria:

•      Progress made in their agriculture career.

•      Environmental and safety practices.

•      Crop and livestock production history.

•      Financial and management practices.

•      Contributions to the well-being of their community, province and the nation.

The 2014 winner will be selected at the Ontario regional event being held Guelph from March 24-26, 2014. They will then represent Ontario at the national awards program, to be held in Quebec City next November.

OOYF is sponsored by Farm Credit Canada, Dupont-Pioneer, Better Farming, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Grain Farmers’ of Ontario and GROWMARK.

The national competition is sponsored by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Bayer Crop Science, CIBC and John Deere.