18 An update on Grain Farmers of Ontario news and events FROM THE CHAIR A Q&A with Brendan Byrne, chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario. Are initiatives like the Women’s Grain Symposium and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training working? Is Grain Farmers of Ontario better for having invested in these programs? Yes, we are better and yes, they are working. This year we marked a welcome change in our board dynamics with the election of Julie Maw and Angela Zilke. Julie and Angela have important and unique life experiences that have never been voiced by women at our board table before. Interestingly, Julie really made her decision to put her name forward for Director at the Women’s Grain Symposium. The community at that event was showcasing the need for more women voices in leadership and both Julie and Angela have taken up that mantle, so I think events and programs like the Women’s Grain Symposium are definitely helping to encourage women to larger roles in our organization and highlighting the importance of their skills and expertise as part of Grain Farmers of Ontario leadership. It’s also important to me that we acknowledge that EDI doesn’t stop at gender. It’s about creating an inclusive environment for everyone and I look forward to continuing to work towards the day where everyone feels seen, respected, and represented. Grain Farmers of Ontario’s commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in our policies, procedures, and values benefits all farmers by encouraging people from all backgrounds, with varying skills and experience to be part of our conversations and to be more involved in the organization. • Do you have a question for our chair? Email GrainTALK@gfo.ca. YOUR GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO TEAM Here is our next installment of profiles of your Grain Farmers of Ontario Staff to help introduce you to the team. ALEXANDRA DACEY, AGRONOMY PROJECT ASSISTANT Alexandra Dacey joined Grain Farmers of Ontario in April 2023 as agronomy project coordinator. Previously, Dacey worked for the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association as a programs analyst, assisting with the development and delivery of several costshare and applied research programs, including the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Ontario On-Farm Climate Action Fund, and the On-Farm Applied Research and Monitoring program. Dacey graduated with an M.Sc. from the University of Guelph in 2020, where she studied the integrated pest management systems for carrot insect pests at the Holland Marsh. Before that, Dacey completed a B.Sc. in Environmental Sciences and four co-op work terms, working for the University ofGuelph, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, local co-ops, and DuPont Pioneer on projects related to entomology, plant science, and sustainable agriculture. In her role, Dacey is excited to collaborate with agricultural specialists and researchers on issues related to DON testing and pesticide drift to support our farmermembers, as well as contribute to the continued success of the Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network, expanding the program and connecting researchers and agronomists across the world with innovativefarmers in Ontario and the U.S. AINSLEY LEBLANC, COMMUNICATIONS INTERN Ainsley LeBlanc joined the team in May as a communications intern. In this one-year contract position, LeBlanc will represent Grain Farmers of Ontario at summer events with the Grain Discovery Zone trailer and support communications projects. LeBlance graduated in June 2023 with an Associate Diploma in Agriculture from the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. She grew up on her family’s broiler chicken and cash crop farm in Perth County and has previously worked at a local Case IH dealer in the parts department and as a crop scout. In her free time, LeBlanc enjoys taking pictures and spending time with her family and dogs at the cottage. She looks forward to travelling to parts of Ontario she has never been to and meeting many new people with the Grain Discovery Zone! CONNOR MCCULLOCH, MARKET DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT Connor McCulloch joined Grain Farmers of Ontario in May 2023 as market development assistant for an eight-month co-op placement. McCulloch is a third-year student at the University of Guelph studying Food, Agriculture and Resource Economics. He grew up in the rural township of Minto in southwestern Ontario, and as a result, he has been exposed to agriculture from a young age. Much of his past work experience has been spent in the agricultural industry, including with C&M Seeds Wheat Company, where he gained a strong perspective of the Ontario wheat industry.
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