Growing food is in my DNA – my earliest memories include time spent on my family’s farms, going to pick-your-own properties, and being in our own gardens planting seeds, gathering fruits/vegetables/flowers and making strawberry jam or apple sauce/butter; canning peaches, pears, pickles or tomato juice; freezing a variety of meat and produce; or drying herbs. As the first generation removed from growing up on a farm, I instead grew up watching beloved farms on the best soil in Ontario become housing that will unlikely ever support a crop or serve as wildlife habitats again. Wanting to protect our country’s farmland and natural heritage led me to become a University of Guelph Aggie ’88 (Honours Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Resource Management) and to graduate with a Master’s in Environmental Studies. Every job, volunteer activity, or educational pursuit before and since then has been related to resource protection, rural land use planning, or governance.
Taking on a leadership role as the Ontario Farmland Trust’s (OFT) Board Chair allows me to work with and empower like-minded members, donors, and staff with similar goals to drive strategic projects forward at a time when there is unprecedented pressure on our farmland and agriculture. At the same time, there is a growing awareness of the need for food security, land protection, family farm succession, and farmland access. My goal is to guide projects from the outset, when possible, while also preparing, when necessary, to hand them off to the next Chair. This also means supporting others by mentoring them to gain new skills and achieve their personal goals, while continuing to learn and grow myself. That looks like balancing tasks, resolving conflict, and carrying responsibility by taking ownership should something go wrong and sharing in it when all goes right.
Having led other groups in soil and water conservation, climate protection and stewardship, my focus is to strengthen our policy framework, long-term financial stability, and fundraising efforts. Also, excited to take inventory of the tools in OFT’s toolbox to determine what requires amendments, adjustments, or additions, all while keeping my hands in the soil by supporting in-field projects. Having joined the Board as we celebrated our first 20 years, please share with me how you envision OFT 20 years from now. Looking forward to working with everyone to help bring that vision to life.
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