Ontario Poultry Farmers Help Portray Positive Image of Farming

Three Ontario poultry farmers and their families are helping the
Ontario Farm Animal Council (OFAC) bridge the gap between farmers and
the public.

Three Ontario poultry farmers and their families are helping the Ontario Farm Animal Council (OFAC) bridge the gap between farmers and the public.

On November 7th, OFAC will launch its second annual Faces of Farming 12-month calendar.  The calendar features farmers from 12 different livestock industries, and each photo tells a brief story about the “model” below it.
OFAC Program Manager Kelly Daynard says that the purpose of the calendar is to “show the public who produces the food they eat. We want to show that farmers aren’t your stereotypical ‘rubber boot and work shirt’ types that so many people picture.  Farmers are well educated, well spoken, committed to their families and animals, community volunteers, and can have some amazing talents.”
Representing the egg industry, Eric Kaiser of Napanee was more at ease with the camera than the three-hour drive across Toronto to the Country Heritage Park in Milton, where his photo shoot for the calendar took place.  “The biggest impact of the calendar,” says Kaiser, “is that it will keep a positive, trustworthy image of farmers out in the public, even if it’s a bit nostalgic, so that people are more supportive.” 

Eric and his son Max, who is currently the chair of Agricultural Groups Concerned about Resources and the Environment (AgCare), farm 1200 tiled acres of no-till grain to feed 26,000 layers and grow 120,000 ready-to-lay pullets a year.

Ingrid DeVisser and her daughter Megan are the turkey industry models for the calendar. Ingrid is currently chair of the Ontario Turkey Producers’ Marketing Board. Representing Ontario chicken farmers is Lawrence Drost of Moorefield. 

The calendar was originally launched by Ontario Pork in 2002, and depicted only the faces of Ontario hog farmers.  When funding for the project dried up, Ontario Pork approached OFAC in 2005 and asked if the organization might be able to take over the project and expand it to include 12 types of livestock and poultry farmers.  The first OFAC produced calendar was in 2006. Each photo is sponsored by an agricultural group or marketing board.

If you are interested in ordering a copy of the 2007 Faces of Farming calendar, visit the OFAC website www.ofac.org or call 519-837-1326. The calendars are available for $10 each.  

With files from Karen Dallimore and Kelly Daynard