By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
Farm & Food Care Ontario, a non-profit organization which advocates on behalf of Ontario’s farm families, announced Monday that it’s seeking candidates for its 2015 Faces of Farming Calendar contest.
A Jan. 13 press release states “the goal of the project is to break down stereotypes of who Ontario’s farmers are and what they look like.” Each year, the calendar is given out to Ontario media, grocery retail outlets and politicians, as well as being sold to the public.
The calendar was first published in 2005, but this is only the third year in a row that it has been a contest among Ontario farmers. The winner, an individual farmer or farm family, will be treated to a photo shoot, copies of the calendar, and two tickets and accommodation to attend the Ontario Harvest Gala, where the calendar will be launched this fall.
In order to qualify, candidates must make their primary income from agriculture. Those interested are asked to submit a family photo and a short essay (400 words or less) which includes the following information:
• Names and ages of family members
• Address
• Background about the farming operation e.g. crops grown/or livestock raised
• History of the farm
• Highlight community involvement, hobbies etc.
• Why they’d like to be featured in the calendar
Last year’s winners were the Heeman family, who’ve been operating a successful garden centre and strawberry business near London, Ont. for three generations.
For more information about the contest visit the Farm & Food Care Ontario’s website: http://www.farmfoodcare.org/. The deadline to enter is Friday, February 21, 2014.