Junior Farmers' Association of Ontario (JFAO) www.jfao.on.ca
Directors: James McMillan, Brad Found, Angie Gilles

JFAO provides opportunities for young people age 15-29 of all backgrounds, but especially those in rural Ontario, to take on the challenge of exploring their individual talents and potential to develop personally while being involved in bettering their communities, networking, and having fun.  JFAO’s mission is “To Build Future Rural Leaders Through Self-Help and Community Betterment.”  

Self-directed programs and opportunities provided by JFAO and its 25 affiliated clubs help to develop in members a sense of social and environmental responsibility, the ability to provide effective leadership, and an awareness of good citizenship within the community and world around them.

Members across the province have the opportunity to participate in exchanges with seven countries and two provinces, as well as provincial sport, cultural, and skills competitions. Leadership Camp, Communications Workshops, March Conference, Director’s Training, and the Ontario Young Farmers Forums round out JFAO’s personal development opportunities, not including the many locally organized inter-club challenges and events. JFAO also works with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, 4-H Ontario, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, and its own alumni to further increase the opportunities for youth in Ontario.

JFAO is an educational charitable organization established in 1944 with the support of the rural extension branch of the Ontario government, although it was forced to become self-sufficient as of 2000. JFAO also operates the Ontario Century Farm recognition program, which began as a centennial project in 1967.

Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) www.ofa.on.ca
Director: Joe Dickenson

For 73 years the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has been a farmer-lead dynamic provincial lobby which works to represent the interests of its farm members to government.  

As the largest, voluntary general farm organization in the country, OFA has more than 39,000 members, as well as 32 organizational members and affiliates representing most agricultural commodity groups.  Today the OFA continues to work hard to ensure that all levels of government hear Ontario farmers' concerns.

With 49 County and regional federations providing strong, local leadership, and 32 organizational members and affiliates the OFA is leading the way into the new millennium for
farmers.

Canadian Young Farmers Forum (CYFF) www.cyff.ca
Ontario-Quebec Representative: Joe Dickenson

Mission: To promote the exchange of ideas and to foster collaboration between the young and future farmers of Canada.

The Purpose: To provide a multi-faceted educational and development opportunity for young and beginning farmers from across Canada.