More than 50 young and future farmers are expected at the 2009 Ontario Young Farmers' Forum (OYFF) taking place November 23-24, 2009 at the
Doubletree by Hilton in Toronto, Ontario.

Hosted by the Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario (JFAO), the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and the Canadian Young Farmers’ Forum, the
one and a half day conference will build on last year’s program by focusing on business planning and farm succession planning for participants age 18-40 from all areas of Ontario. The theme of this year’s conference is “Driving to Success.”

This year's program has been finalized with keynote speaker Betty Hansen C.A., President of Crossroads Planning Group, is set to highlight Sunday
afternoon's session. Her address will focus on the importance of communication in Succession Planning.

Monday's program will feature Moe Agostino of Farms.com who will provide an overview of successful commodity marketing programs. The afternoon will feature a panel discussion with innovative farmers and dialogue on programs that assist with farm transitions – whether it is taking over the family farm or taking the farm they currently own to the next level.

The Forum is an excellent opportunity for young and future Ontario farmers who are looking for new ideas and advice to develop their operations
amidst changing economics and an increasingly challenging industry. Many delegates are receiving individual sponsorship of their participation costs from local federations of agriculture and industry groups, a list of which is being compiled on the OYFF website at www.oyff.ca. Participants are encouraged to contact their local agricultural groups for support, as developing strong future agricultural leaders is the primary goal of the OYFF.

More information on the 2009 Ontario Young Farmers’ Forum is available from the OYFF website www.oyff.ca or the JFAO Office at 519-780-5326,
local Federations of Agriculture, and OFA Member Service Representatives.  Anyone still interested in participating is encouraged to e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact the JFAO office as soon as possible.

Funding for the 2009 OYFF keynote speakers is being provided in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Adaptation Council's CanAdvance Program and by the Canadian Farm Business Management Council. The vision of OYFF is to create an opportunity where young
farmers can learn, network and lead with a mission of providing an educational and leadership development opportunity for young and future farmers of Ontario.

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For Further Information:
Don McGugan – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 519-847-5097
Sarah Van Engelen – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 519-780-5326