Egg Farmers of Ontario re-elect chair, vice chair

Egg Farmers of Ontario re-elected Scott Helps as chair and Dan Veldman as vice chair at a special meeting held alongside the organisation’s 61st annual general meeting in Niagara Falls on March 24. Scott Brookshaw and Marcel Laviolette were also re-elected to the executive, with their new term beginning April 1, according to a press release from the organisation. 

Helps, an egg farmer from Lambton County, has been on the board since 2012 and has served as chair since 2020. Veldman, an egg farmer from Oxford County, has been on the board since 2011 and has served as vice chair since 2020.

The meeting included video remarks from Ontario premier Doug Ford and in-person remarks from agriculture, food and agribusiness minister Trevor Jones.

This year’s meeting focused on consumer marketing. Natalie Rumscheidt of Egg Farmers of Canada presented on Canadian egg market trends, while Mary Spicer of the World Egg Organization shared examples of marketing and consumer engagement programmes from other countries.

Speakers also included representatives from the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission, Egg Farmers of Ontario, Egg Farmers of Canada, United Egg Producers and other industry organisations, along with researchers and programme participants. A pullet growers session was held the day prior.

During the evening banquet, Charlie Elliott of Masterfeeds was recognized for more than 45 years in the poultry feed sector, including work in education and extension and support for new poultry producers. Retiring board director Ian McFall was also recognized for five years of service.