ELORA — A longtime local 4-H leader and farm organization volunteer from the Ottawa Valley was recognized for “telling the story” of agriculture and food in her community. Jean Sullivan received the Farm & Food Care Champion Award April 13 at a ceremony in Elora.
Farm & Food Care Ontario Vice-Chair Crispin Colvin presented the award to Sullivan in a ceremony also attended by Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson, and Senator Rob Black.
Sullivan and husband Paul operate PT Sullivan Agro, agronomy consultants at Kinburn. She was cited for enhancing public trust and confidence in food and farming through education and promotion. Sullivan was instrumental in bringing the Farm and Food Care Breakfast from the Farm event to Carp in 2021. She also started the first-ever ‘Real Dirt on Farming’ 4-H club, taking senior 4-H members through issues addressed in the award-winning publication.
She currently serves as a director of the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame, a 4-H leader in West Carleton and on the board of directors of Carp Fair. She’s also director with the Ottawa Valley Seed Growers’ Association, which nominated Sullivan, with letters of support submitted by fellow directors Bruce Hudson and Ashley Knapton.
“She deserves to be commended for her outstanding advocacy work in promoting agriculture to youth and consumers at large,” Hudson said, while Knapton described the recipient as a mentor.
Source : Farmersforum