OFA salutes Donna Lunn with 75th anniversary volunteer award

Guelph, ON [November 22, 2011]– Rural leader Donna Lunn received special recognition from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) with the organization’s 75^th anniversary volunteer award for her tremendous volunteer contributions to Ontario agriculture. Donna was presented with the award at OFA’s annual convention held recently in Toronto.

Hailing from Elgin County, Donna is well known for her leadership roles within her community and the larger agricultural industry. She is a champion for rural living, community development, sustainable agriculture, and understands the importance of strategic planning and partnership building. Donna is committed to local family and rural affairs, dedicating countless hours to a transitional home for abused women and children, Serenity House Hospice and other community programs.

“Volunteerism is synonymous with healthy communities, especially in rural areas, and OFA is so proud to recognize the energy and commitment that Donna Lunn has given back,” says Mark Wales, newly-elected president, Ontario Federation of Agriculture. “OFA relies on our volunteers – they have played a tremendous role in helping create the strong, successful organization we are today – and we honour the contributions they make to agriculture and rural communities every single day.”

Donna has held various executive, committee and representative positions with the Elgin Federation of Agriculture, and served as an OFA director from 1998-2009. She has dedicated countless volunteers hours to her local community and the broader agriculture industry, with her work recognized many organizations and the provincial and federal governments.

Two of her many project successes include the Food for Four exhibit and Project X.  She created a display entitled Food for Four at the 2010 International Plowing Match featuring the amount of food a typical family of four would consume over a year and explaining the agri-food industry’s role in feeding a family. Project X is a program Donna initiated to bring alternative crops to the local community. She was instrumental in bringing together local and international companies, governments, researchers and local producers to discuss the viability of alternative crops in Elgin County. This project continues to grow since its inception more than five years ago.          

“Donna is a most worthy recipient of the award for all the time and effort she has contributed,” says nominator Fons Vandenbroeck, president, Elgin Federation of Agriculture. “She has brought leadership and betterment to both the Elgin Federation of Agriculture and the Elgin County farming community.”

OFA’s 75^th anniversary volunteer award is presented in partnership with Farm Credit Canada.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 37,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more. OFA is the leading advocate for Ontario’s farmers and is Ontario’s voice of the farmer.