OFA elects new executive, president

Drew Spoelstra, a dairy and crop farmer from Binbrook in the southeast corner of the city of Hamilton, was elected as the new president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) at the organization’s annual convention Nov. 22.

Spoelstra assumes the presidency from outgoing OFA president Peggy Brekveld, who led the organization for the past three years. Spoelstra has served on the OFA board as the director representing farmers from Halton, Hamilton/Wentworth and Niagara since 2013 and has most recently held the role of vice-president. 

Spoelstra said in a release “I’m honoured to serve Ontario farmers as the president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, and I appreciate the trust that my fellow board members have placed in me to lead this organization.”

Spoelstra farms with his family, milking cows, growing corn, soybean, wheat and hay, and raising beef cattle and Clydesdale horses. He also has a dealership for Pride Seeds, and is an active volunteer on behalf of agriculture. Spoelstra, a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program, serves as chair of Hamilton’s agriculture and rural affairs sub-committee and is past president of both the Binbrook Agricultural Society and the Hamilton-Wentworth Soil and Crop Improvement Association. 

Joining Spoelstra on the OFA executive are Vice Presidents Sara Wood and Paul Vickers, and Executive Member Ethan Wallace.   

Sara Wood, a Director-at-Large on the board, is a fourth-generation farmer from Perth County, where she and her family raise broiler chickens and grow crops. Dairy farmer Paul Vickers, who represents Bruce and Grey counties on the OFA board, farms with his wife and son near Meaford. Ethan Wallace, a dairy farmer from near Seaforth, represents farmers in Huron and Perth counties. 

New directors joining the OFA board are Brian Crews, who was elected by Zone 12 farmers in Hastings, Lennox & Addington, Northumberland & Prince Edward; Clint Cameron as the representative of Zone 11 farmers in Dundas, Frontenac, Grenville and Leeds; and Andrea McCoy-Naperstkow, who represents Zone 8 farmers in Arnprior, Lanark, Ottawa and Renfrew. 

Crews, Cameron and McCoy-Naperstkow replace exiting directors Bruce Buttar, Jackie-Kelly Pemberton and Jennifer Doelman respectively. 

Also joining the board as a new Director-at-Large is Angela Cammaert, who was elected at the OFA annual general meeting earlier today. Cammaert, a fifth generation beef and crop farmer from Elgin County, replaces Brekveld and ran successfully for the position against Andy Kuyvenhoven, Julie Danen and William Orford.