Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

AALP Class 13 North American Study Tour Day 1

Day one of Class 13’s North American Study Tour came to an end after a 10 hour trek to our first destination point in Columbus, Ohio. We covered a lot of Ohio landscape today, and surprisingly, it wasn’t all covered by corn. The group was surprised to see so many vineyards along the southern shore of Lake Erie.

For AALP Class 13 participants, the next 10 days promise not only sweltering heat, but also engaging and thought provoking speakers and tours representing US agriculture and rural issues.

“With the rural food craze back home and across North America, I’m interested in hearing from Lisa Davis with the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health about what connections they’re drawing between health, agriculture and local food, and how this may, or may not, be influencing local agricultural decisions,” says Sarah Brown from Toronto, Ontario.

Arik Theijsmeijer from Sudbury, Ontario is most looking forward to seeing the American Capitol. “I’ve never been to Washington D.C. and I can’t wait to tour the historical sites of the city. I think Americans tend to showcase their history more proudly than Canadians so there will be so much to see. The formal reception at the Canadian Embassy will be a highlight as well. I wonder what VIPs might be invited.”

This Wednesday the group will visit an Amish farmer in Berlin, Ohio, who farms organically and raises cattle on grass. We will also be treated to a back road, narrated tour and an authentic hearty-home cooked meal. Carol Maki from Thunder Bay says “What a great experience, farming the way my grandparents did, without all the modern technology. Truly getting back to your roots.”

Stay tuned for more daily updates from other Class 13 participants.

Sarah Brown, Carol Maki, Arik Theijsmeijer - AALP Class 13

Views: 66

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program Cohort Seven Announced

The Saskatchewan Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program announced the mentor - mentee pairings for cohort seven in Regina today. This 18-month program provides emerging agricultural leaders with hands-on leadership development and opportunities to participate in decision-making that shapes the future of Saskatchewan's agriculture industry. “Programs like this are crucial in supporting the next generation and helping build a bright future for Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector,” Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald said. “Connecting young people with experienced mentors gives them the opportunity to learn and succeed in their careers, strengthening the agricultural industry as a whole.” "The Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program has been influential in developing the next generation of agriculture leadership in our province," Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit said. "Thanks to the dedication of our mentors, participants gain the knowledge and conf

McCain Foundation Invests in Agriculture Education and Rural Community Capacity in Manitoba

Agriculture in the Classroom–Manitoba (AITC-M) is proud to recognize the McCain Foundation for its support of AgVenture at Manitoba Ag Days 2026. This investment was critical in making this programming possible. Each year, AITC-M relies on committed partners like the McCain Foundation to deliver essential agriculture education experiences that connect students and communities across southwestern Manitoba with real-world agriculture careers and strengthen understanding of Manitoba’s agri-food sector. Held January 20–22, 2026 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon during Manitoba Ag Days, the program created meaningful opportunities for students, educators, and community members to engage with agriculture in practical, hands-on ways. Through AgVenture, AITC-M’s flagship agriculture career exploration program, more than 1,200 students in Grades 7–12 and their educators took part in a hands-on learning experience that connected classroom education with real-world agriculture careers. Studen

Building Canada strong by investing in water and wastewater infrastructure in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island

Building a strong Canada starts with investing in the infrastructure that makes it possible to increase housing supply and empower communities. In Budget 2025, the Government of Canada announced the Build Communities Strong Fund, a key initiative to build the infrastructure that Canadians rely on every day. This fund will speed up the construction of the hospitals, recreation centres, universities, and colleges that serve our communities; the bridges that move our goods; and, the water and transit systems that keep our towns and cities running. This week, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, officially launched the Build Communities Strong Fund. This new fund will provide $51 billion over 10 years through three major streams to support a wide range of infrastructure projects that support economic prosperity, housing, sport, education, health, transit, and climate adaptation across the country. The Build Communities Strong Fund will be a force multiplier in infrastructure – with funding

Hypertec's Ciara Division Becomes First Canadian NVIDIA Oem Partner Manufacturing Systems In Canada, Unlocking A Multi-billion-dollar Leap In Sovereign AI Infrastructure

Ciara Technologies, a division of the Hypertec Group and a Canadian global leader in sustainable AI infrastructure and advanced data-center technology, announced today that it has been officially designated as the first Canadian NVIDIA OEM Partner manufacturing systems in Canada. This milestone places Canada among a select group of nations with domestic manufacturing and integration capabilities for NVIDIA Certified Systems, significantly advancing the country's Sovereign AI Strategy and strengthening North American technological resilience. A Turning Point for Canada's AI Ecosystem "AI infrastructure is now strategic infrastructure," said Simon Ahdoot, CEO of Hypertec Group. "This breakthrough marks a turning point for Canada. We are building the infrastructure that will define its future. As NVIDIA's first Canadian OEM partner, we are strengthening Canada's ability to innovate, scale, and compete globally with secure, high-performance systems built at home." The initiative is exp

Ontario Farm Leaders Drew and Heather Spoelstra Named 2026 Outstanding Young Farmers

Drew and Heather Spoelstra of Roy-A-Lea Farms Ltd. have been selected as Ontario’s 2026 Outstanding Young Farmers, earning national recognition for leadership, innovation, and multi-generational farming excellence.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service