March Classic 2018 Registration Now Open

 

Registration is now open for the March Classic, Grain Farmers of Ontario's annual conference for farmers and industry, being held Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Anyone who pre-registers by Wednesday, January 31, will be entered into an early bird draw.

 

The March Classic is the largest grain-focused conference in Eastern Canada, drawing upwards of 700 attendees from farms across Ontario, government and industry.

 

“Ontario farmers have always looked to the future to grow and prosper. The March Classic this year will focus on “Leadership for Tomorrow” as we discuss the importance of innovation and legacy in building strong agricultural leaders in Ontario,” said Crosby Devitt, Vice President, Strategic Development. “We are hosting sessions with speakers globally known for strong leadership and forward thinking. We are looking forward to learning and having the opportunity to connect with grain farmers.”

 

Speakers at this year’s March Classic include:

 

Darby Allen - Fire chief Darby Allen guided the 88,000 residents of Fort McMurray to safety with no loss of life during 2016’s catastrophic Alberta wildfires.

 

Dr. Laurence C. Smith - Dr. Laurence C. Smith is one of the world’s leading climate scientists, and he will outline the changes our world will face in both the distant and immediate future.

 

Gordon Campbell - As Canada’s High Commissioner to the UK from 2011 to 2016, Gordon Campbell holds a unique understanding of what Brexit means for our economy.

 

Kirstine Stewart - Kirstine Stewart, Chief Strategy Officer for Diply, has held leadership roles with the CBC, Alliance Atlantis, and Twitter and offers perspective on how modern workplaces need a new kind of leader – one who values partnership, collaboration, and empathy.

 

The March Classic features over 70 of exhibitors from across Ontario, including equipment, seed, and agriculture retail companies. This year, evening entertainment will be provided by Beatles Tribute band, The Caverners.

 

The 2018 conference will be held at the London Convention Centre, London, Ontario. Those that pre-register by Wednesday, January 31 will be entered to win an early bird draw for a Good in Every Grain prize. For more information and to register, please visit: gfo.ca/marchclassic.

 

To skip lines at the conference, pre-registered attendees can pick up name tags and meal tickets on the 2nd floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton on Monday, March 19 from 7 to 9 pm during the SGS Agriculture and Food-sponsored reception.

 

Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.