Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Friday morning saw the group continue its NAST with an early morning visit to the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB). Located on a 70-acre campus outside of Waco, the Texas Farm Bureau advocates for the agricultural needs of all Texas farmers at the local, state and national level. With over 500,000 member families, the TFB prides itself as being the “Voice of Agriculture”.

The pride and professionalism of the organization was clear from the moment the AALP class entered the campus. Mr. Si Cook, Chief Executive Officer, and his colleagues provided an overview of the organization and its role in analyzing the problems of farm and ranch families and in formulating actions to address these challenges. Discussion on trade, tariffs, and advocacy were centre stage during our visit. 

Afterwards, we enjoyed the (HOT!!) weather of Texas with tours of cotton, grain sorghum and corn trails conducted by local extension experts.

Mr. Shane McLellan, the local county extension officer, provided a fascinating overview of the disease, pest and weather challenges facing local farmers. The impact of the current drought was clearly evident by the state of the corn fields (IMAGE 4), some of which were expecting to yield 60 bu/acre or less. That said, the spirit and optimism of the farmers we met was unshakeable. Truly inspiring.

Following a fantastic lunch at the farm shop of Mr. Greg Westerfield (tip: wear pants with an elastic waistband when you come to Texas; the food is delicious and the plates are huge!), the AALP class said an emotional goodbye to Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz. Dr. Jim had to depart to prepare for the Texas Advanced Lifetime Leadership program which he will lead next week. Dr. Jim was a wealth of information and epitome of the perfect host. Thanks Jim and see you in Poland (wink, wink)!!!

The day ended with a trip to the historic Old Stockyards of Fort Worth for an incredible dinner at Los Vaqueros followed by country music and line dancing. To protect the innocent, no pictures were taken :).

Views: 181

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

First Northern Cohort Joins Ontario Vet Program

Ontario Veterinary College and Lakehead University launch a collaborative program with 20 Northern Ontario students, aiming to address veterinary shortages and strengthen animal care in northern communities.

Kody Blois joining Premier Moe on canola trip to China

Blois will be there to engage with Chinese officials

Ag group concerned about Conservative proposal to eliminate TFW program

Ag group concerned about Conservative proposal to eliminate TFW plan

AFSC claims adjusters: professional, practical, personal

As the first point of contact when a crop fails to thrive, AFSC’s claim adjusters play a key role in Alberta’s agriculture industry. With a deep understanding of agriculture practices, trends and the daily challenges producers face, Agriculture Financial Services (AFSC) adjusters deliver professional and supportive experiences, even in uncertain times. “We have established strong relationships with the majority of our clients in the field,” said George Kueber, manager AFSC’s Claims Adjusting Services. “Trust and reliability are crucial in the agricultural sector, where our clients often rely on long-term partnerships over generations. “AFSC and its adjusting team have been dependable, fair and reliable along the way.” Building trust AFSC’s specialized training ensures every adjuster is equipped to assess all stages of the crop year. Through a blend of mentorship, classroom learning, and hands-on experience, adjusters continually develop their agronomic and communication skills. T

AFSC provides supportive environment for summer students

Each year, Agriculture Financial Services (AFSC) opens its doors to enthusiastic students who bring fresh energy and ideas to a wide range of roles across the organization. These students learn first-hand about AFSC, the agriculture industry, and the wide variety of jobs available in our industry. This year, 21 summer students joined AFSC, taking on roles in Client Services, Insurance, Digital Services, Lending and more. We asked four summer students to reflect on their time at AFSC. Here’s what they had to say. Isabelle Ho, People Services summer student Coming into this summer job, my main expectation was to work hard and successfully complete my final work term for my degree. I was most nervous about meeting new people and stepping into a new environment, but those nerves quickly faded thanks to the warm welcome I received. One of the highlights of my summer was contributing to the Summer Student Mentorship Project. It was incredibly rewarding to collaborate with fellow student

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service