18 ANDREW GRAHAM, LONG-TIME executive director for the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), retires in June 2023. With 33 years of experience in the organization, eight of which were in the executive role, Graham says he is proud EFP - a winning model ANDREW GRAHAM REFLECTS ON OSCIA’S SUCCESS Matt McIntosh ANDREW GRAHAM RETIRES FROM OSCIA AFTER 33 YEARS. PHOTO COURTESY OF OSCIA. of OSCIA’s longevity, outreach and program delivery model, and particularly its flagship initiative — the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP). Graham came to OSCIA after beginning his career at Upper Thames River Conservation Authority in London, followed by a stint at the Oxford County office of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in Woodstock. His initial role with OSCIA involved designing and delivering numerous stewardship education and incentive programs, as well as other special projects for the farm community. “There have been dozens and dozens of government-funded programs, applied research projects, incentive type programs, since I moved to OSCIA in 1990,” says Graham. “OSCIA was building a tremendous reputation for capacity and ability to deliver programs. The farm community was very accepting of that approach. It brought a lot of credibility and stability.” “There are always unknowns when delivering government programs as a third party — if it’s going to come through, and what it is going to look like — but we have had significant opportunity over the years to influence program designs both on the educational side and incentive program side.” SUCCESS OF THE EFP Graham considers the Environmental Farm Plan program one of OSCIA’s greatest successes. “I was there when the idea was first being discussed. At the time, we didn’t even know what an EFP would entail. It was the start of quite a journey to figure out what the EFP would be for Ontario. We leaned on a program that was being delivered in Wisconsin at the time called Farm Assist. We got Industry News
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