HURON-PERTH – Huron Perth Junior Farmers have had an eventful first quarter in 2022. The year started virtually and slowly moved to in-person events.
In January, we held our Annual General Meeting (AGM), re-electing Jolande Oudshoorn as president and co-representative of social platforms and media (SPAM). Nick Vinnicombe was elected as vice-president and co-rep of SPAM. Lauren Bos was re-elected as provincial director, continues to hold the past-president role, and joins Amber Siertsema as co-fundraising coordinator.
Luke Splettstoesser is our 2022 treasurer, and Cam Smith is our secretary. Kasey Siertsema is the club’s assistant provincial director, with John Neutel being elected as social events coordinator and agriculture representative. To round out elections, Jeanette Schramm and Cassandra Bos are our 4-H representatives. Thank you to alumni Crystal Blake and Amanda Brodhagen, for being the night’s scrutineers.
At our AGM, we take the time to recognize our membership through awards. Smith and Splettstoesser won the club’s Novice Member Rose Award for always bringing new ideas to meetings, helping others, and being involved in the club. Oudshoorn won the Current Member Rose Award for always being welcoming of new members, organizing socials, and helping out provincially.
We had no retiring members in 2021. Our 2021 Darryl Vorstenbosch Spirit Award winner is Neutel. This award is given to the member who has shown an outstanding, encouraging attitude and enthusiastic participation in any event. The Margaret Keith Pletsch Outstanding Member Award winner is Siertsema, and is given to the member who shows enthusiasm at all JFAO and Huron Perth Junior Farmer events.
February
In February, the club invited members across the province to join in on a presentation from Maitland Conservation. We learned about invasive species, pollinator habitats, and riparian buffers and how they play an important role in preventing erosion. We were able to ask lots of questions, learning how to remove different types of species as well as different types of grant programs available. This includes the Huron Clean Water Project through tree planting, cover crops, etc., buffer-specific funding, and the Cover Crop Leaders Program. Our presenters, Erin Norsworthy, Greg Urquhart and Shannon Millar did a great job with their presentation and we encourage other groups to hear them speak. Please contact Erin for more information at outreachassistant@mvca.on.ca.
March
In March, Huron Perth Junior Farmers ventured out to Maitland Valley Grotto in Goderich to try their hand at rock climbing. It was most members’ first time out, and the team at MVG were very encouraging, teaching us to climb, and answering all our questions. Rock climbing made for a great work out, with some sore members the next day, and members are looking forward to returning.
To end the quarter, the Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario (JFAO) held its March Conference in Peterborough.
The weekend started with a hybrid AGM, and the Friday evening’s activities included bowling, swimming and a social. Saturday consisted of a well-anticipated bus tour. We got to tour the area, visiting agri-businesses such as: Maizing Acres Inc. (grain elevator), the Ontario Water Buffalo Company (milking water buffalo farm), and Asphodel Sheep Company (sheep breeding farm). We also got to stop at the giant toonie and walked the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge.
Saturday evening consisted of the awards banquet and the passing of executives. Many clubs and members were recognized during the evening’s event.
We’d like to congratulate Cam Smith for winning the President’s Rose Award for the Top Novice Member in the Province. Smith was recognized for his enthusiasm, dedication, and friendliness.
We were also astonished with hearing our club had won Club of the Year. It’s a great honour winning this award and we’d like to thank all our members and the community support over the last few years. Without your interest in our club, with all our different projects and events, we wouldn’t have grown as tremendously as we did these last few years (and just to think we started 2020 with six members).
To round off the evening, we also learned we had won or tied for multiple communication awards. They are: Best News Article, Best New Member Recruitment Event, Best Gate Sign Photo, Best Club Social, Best Junior Farmer and Youth Activity, and Best Club Photo. Thank you to all our members for all your hard work in this competition.
On Sunday, Positively Sue was the keynote speaker, speaking on the topic of turning obstacles into opportunities. Rounding out the conference, Huron Perth Junior Farmers announced the province-wide Giant Pumpkin Growing Contest. Over 70 seeds were handed out, with more on the way. We are excited to see how well each club does and secretly hope to be able to make some paddle boats from the pumpkins.
We are looking forward to the next quarter’s events including a Giant Pumpkin Growing Contest, and the Past President’s Roast and Toast. If you want to learn more or have any questions, please contact us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok at @HuronPerthJF or email at HuronPerthJF@gmail.com.
