President

Camille Black

Camille is very excited to be the 68^th president of the Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario. Camille is from what she thinks is the most beautiful county in Ontario - Grey County, nestled in the small community of Markdale, Ontario. She is the third eldest of six children in her family and very proud to have been born and raised on a third generation beef farm. Camille is a recent graduate of Sir Sandford Fleming College where she graduated with an advanced diploma in the Biotechnology Technologist Technology Forensics Program, with the plans of pursuing a career in policing. Camille is very active in her community and is always seen volunteering with several agricultural programs as she has a strong passion for the future of agriculture here in Ontario. She is looking forward to an exciting year working with a wonderful executive and hopes to offer the best for the 2011 Junior Farmer year! Camille is looking forward to acting on this year’s theme “Imagine the possibilities” – and make them happen!

Past President

Shannon Kelly

After a super fantastic year as President, Shannon is excited to be taking the next step in her Junior Farmer career as Past President and Chair of the Board of Directors. Shannon graduated from McMaster University in 2009 with an Honours Bachelor of Science and is continuing her education at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto. She hopes one day to work as a Doctor of Chiropractic in a rural community. While Shannon grew up in a small farming community in Bruce County, she is not from a farm - proving you don't have to be a farmer to take advantage of the great leadership opportunities JFAO has to offer! She has been a member in Bruce County since 2004. Shannon enjoys travelling and feels she has especially benefited from the opportunities within JF to experience other cultures through visiting Wales in 2006 and El Salvador in 2008.

Executive Director of Finance

Krista McAvoy

Krista started Junior Farmers when she was 15 and has loved every minute of it!  She has been a member of Durham West and Kawartha, as well as Niagara while attending university. She grew up on a dairy farm in the small town of Sunderland with her two sisters and brother. Her family has now grown to include two brothers-in-law, a sister-in-law and two nephews.  Krista graduated from Brock University with her Accounting Co-op Honours and currently works full time with BDO Canada whilst completing her exams to become a Chartered Accountant.  Krista is ecstatic about being on executive and is looking forward to meeting more members and learning more about the various agricultural groups that support JFAO in so many ways.

Executive Director of Membership

Sarah Harrigan

Sarah graduated from the University of Guelph in 2010 with a degree in Environmental Toxicology. Sarah grew up on a cash crop farm in Oxford county, and has been a JF member for 8 years. She has held past positions as provincial director, secretary and newsletter editor for Oxford and University of Guelph Junior Farmers. She has also been the food booth director for the Embro Tractor Pull Committee for the past 4 years. Sarah hopes to continue working with all Junior Farmer members in hopes of furthering their growth in JF by making workshops more accessible to the members.

Executive Director of Community & International Programs

Rachel Haney

Rachel has been a member of the Huron Junior Farmers for two years and has been the Treasurer since joining the club in January of 2009. Rachel's family runs a cow calf Charolais operation while having a few extra goats, horses, and chickens running around the farm to keep life interesting. Rachel went to Conestoga College for Business Administration Accounting in the Co-op stream and graduated December 2009.  Rachel works as a Real Estate Law Clerk in her home town and enjoys reading, working with animals and travelling. Rachel is looking forward to meeting the incoming exchange delegates for 2011 and keeping up the interest in outgoing exchanges.

Executive Director of Fund Development

Sarah McLaren

Sarah McLaren comes from a dairy operation in Renfrew County.  She attended the University of Guelph for Agricultural Science and graduated in 2008.  Currently, Sarah resides in Courtice of Durham Region and works at the Sunderland Co-op.  She has been an active member of Durham East Junior Farmers and is currently a member of Kawartha Junior Farmers.  She hopes with this role that she will be able to generate new funding while maintaing current funding to benefit JFAO and continue the organization well into the future.

Executive Director of Marketing

Claire Bunnik

Claire has been a member of York Junior Farmers for four years.  She has held the position of Vice President for one year, President for two years, as well as being the Provincial Director in 2010.  Claire thoroughly enjoyed taking care of media relations for her club and put forth thorough effort to have articles and photos of all their events published locally.  Claire has grown up on a beef and sheep farm, where they raise Hereford cattle and Suffolk sheep, as well as several ducks, chickens, and peacocks.  Her family owns and boards horses and ponies and Claire has spent many years training and showing them.  Claire received an Honours Degree in Health Studies and Environmental Science from Queen’s University in 2008, after which she attended UOIT to receive her Bachelor of Education and is currently working for Durham District School Board as a Primary/Junior school teacher.  Claire has always maintained been actively involved in Junior Farmers at the provincial level and is very enthusiastic to be taking on the role of Director of Marketing!      

Alumni Representative

Brad Ward

Brad joined Junior Farmers when he was 15. He has been the President and Provincial Director of Oxford JF in the past couple of years and is currently the Assistant Provincial Director. Brad is one of the organizers of the Embro Truck and Tractor Pull that Oxford JF has run for the last five years and he has been Oxford's Most Outstanding Member for the last two years. Brad comes from a dairy farm in Oxford County and works off the farm part time as a custom applicator at Oxford Agropro. He went toLambton College and received a diploma in the Sports and Recreation Administration program where he developed business and marketing skills. He has been able to transfer these skills to his local club. Brad is looking forward to getting the alumni database back on track and working with the alumni to help JFAO in various ways.