From drone technology and agricultural education to northern development and family farming, the 2026 Excellence in Agriculture Awards recognize leaders helping shape Ontario agriculture.
Drone Spray Canada earned the 2026 Minister’s Award as farmers, businesses and organizations are recognized for excellence across Ontario agriculture.
Ontario recognized farmers, agricultural businesses and organizations that are helping move the province’s food and farming sector forward through innovation, education, entrepreneurship and leadership.
The recipients of the 2026 Excellence in Agriculture Awards were honoured at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, with awards presented across seven categories.
Drone Spray Canada, based in Blenheim in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, received the top Minister’s Award as well as the Research and Innovation Excellence award.
Founded in 2020, the company has focused on bringing agricultural drone technology into practical use on Canadian farms. Its work includes training, on-farm demonstrations and advocacy surrounding the use of drones in agriculture.
Drone technology can provide farmers with another option for applying crop protection products while helping address issues such as soil compaction, crop damage and difficult field conditions.
"Drone Spray Canada is incredibly honoured to receive this award for our involvement in bringing a new and innovative technology to agriculture. It has been many years working with countless stakeholders to ensure we can integrate drones into our agricultural practices. This allows growers to increase efficacy, decrease costs and ultimately generate better products. We are excited to continue to see this industry take-off," Drone Spray Canada said.
Excellence across Ontario agriculture
The awards recognize contributions spanning agricultural research, agribusiness, education, urban agriculture, northern Ontario, women in farming and farm families.
Recipients represent a wide range of Ontario agriculture and food initiatives, from agricultural technology and seed industry education to food security, northern agricultural development and multigenerational farm businesses.
The 2026 award recipients:
In addition to the two awards to Drone Spray Canada, the following also recieved awards:
- Women’s Farming Excellence: Janet Harrop, County of Wellington
- Agribusiness Excellence: Western Fair Association (The Grove), County of Middlesex
- Education Excellence: Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association, City of Ottawa
- Urban Agriculture Excellence: Cambridge Food Bank, Regional Municipality of Waterloo
- Northern Business Excellence: Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance, Temiskaming District
- Farm Family Excellence: Hy-Hope Farm, Regional Municipality of Durham
Six Ontario agriculture initiatives receive honourable mentions
Another six businesses, organizations and individuals received honourable mentions.
- Research and Innovation Excellence:
- Agriculture Environmental Renewal Canada (AERC) Inc., City of Ottawa
- SK8 Biotechnologies Inc., Regional Municipality of York
- Agribusiness Excellence:
- Elite Agri Solutions Inc., County of Middlesex
- WOWBUTTER Foods, County of Perth
- Education Excellence: Sandi Brock, County of Perth
- Women’s Farming Excellence: - L’Union Culturelle des Franco-Ontariennes (UCFO), United Counties of Prescott and Russell
Supporting the next generation
The awards also put a spotlight on ensuring the province has another generation prepared to carry Ontario agriculture forward.
Alongside the awards, the province announced a $2.3-million investment over three years in 4-H Ontario.
The funding will support youth engagement and development programs intended to prepare young people for future opportunities in agriculture and the agri-food sector.
Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Sam Oosterhoff said the award recipients demonstrate how the province’s agricultural traditions are being combined with new ideas and expertise.
"The workers and innovators in Ontario’s agri-food sector are second to none, using world-class expertise and experience to bring fresh, nutritious and delicious food to tables across the province," Oosterhoff said.
"These awards are a celebration of Ontario’s rich, multigenerational agricultural heritage being carried forward by the leaders of today, with a commitment to building a more secure and self-reliant agri\-food sector for generations to come."
The range of this year's recipients illustrates the increasingly diverse ways individuals and organizations contribute to Ontario agriculture.
From precision technology that changes how farmers work in the field to agricultural education, food access and family farms, the 2026 Excellence in Agriculture Award recipients demonstrate how both established agricultural knowledge and new ideas are shaping the sector's future.
Photo Caption: Drone Spray Canada receives award.
Photo Credit: Drone Spray Canada