 The 2008-09 JFAO Executive
| President | Brad Found
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| | Entering his eighth year on the Board, the 65th JFAO President notes, “I’ve been around for awhile.” A graduate of Kemptville College with a diploma in Agriculture, Brad currently works with his parents on a beef, swine and sheep farm in Durham Region. As President, Brad is looking forward to the adventure of leading JFAO with the support of the new executive, saying it promises to be an exciting year. Brad is a twelve year member of Durham East JF, and is heavily involved in the rural community, including also serving as President of the local 4-H Association. |
| Past President | Cecelia McMorrow
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| Having overseen one of the most successful years for JFAO in the past decade, Cecelia McMorrow confidently moves into her final year on the executive as Past President and Chair of the Board of Directors. A member of the Victoria, University of Guelph, and now Kawartha clubs since 1999, Cecelia has a degree in International Development and currently works as a Communications and Marketing Assistant. This past year she spearheaded JFAO’s first international community betterment project in several years, leading a team of enthusiastic members to a Habitat for Humanity Build in El Salvador. She’s looking forward to working with an excellent executive for 2008 and continuing to grow JF across the province, strengthening relationships with members, alumni, and the agricultural community.
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| Executive Director of Finance | Kimberly Callaghan
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| Kimberly joins the provincial executive after having been a Provincial Director for the Kawartha club in 2007, which she is now serving as President. She grew up working at the family Kubota dealership near Lindsay, and occasionally milking and helping out with chores at her extended family’s dairy farm. Currently attending the University of Guelph, Kimberly looks to graduate in 2009 with a degree in Agricultural Business. Her possible plans for the future include starting her own landscape design company and travelling as much as possible. Kimberly is also heavily involved in her school and local communities, playing for her local rugby team and also serving on the executives of the University of Guelph’s College Royal and the 2009 Bison Class.
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| Executive Director of Marketing | James McMillan
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| James looks forward to building on the progress of the past year by expanding JF’s public profile during his second year on executive. He grew up on a small dairy and cash crop farm in Haldimand, where he still occasionally helps out when needed. A current member of the Wentworth club, James has been involved since 1999 in Haldimand and Middlesex JF. He spent his first year on executive getting up in the early hours of the night to write for morning television and then often heading off to an evening JF event, but is now beginning to enjoy more traditional farm hours -- in his new position as a noon-hour television producer. James graduated with an MA in Journalism from the University of Western Ontario – where he was not the only JF member.
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| Executive Director of Membership | Claire Daly (August-March)
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| Claire discovered Junior Farmers just three years ago at the University of
Guelph.
In those years she has been an active member serving 2 years on
the U of G club executive. She's excited now to be on the provincial
executive after work took Gillian Richardson to the east coast mid-term.
Claire grew up in the town of Uxbridge without a farming background but
has always had a love for agriculture and farming.
She is now taking
Animal Science at the University of Guelph and will be completing her
degree in 2010.
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| Executive Director of Membership | Gill Richardson (March-August)
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| An active JF member for the past seven years, Gill Richardson has most recently been a member in Oxford County. Previously, she co-chaired the 90th Anniversary Reunion of Middlesex JF, and in 2006 represented JFAO on a three month exchange to the United Kingdom. She currently works as the development swim coach for the London Aquatic Club and as an Aquatic Deck Supervisor for the City of London, having majored in Coaching and Applied Science (swimming stream) at Humber College.
Although Gill comes from the city, she believes Junior Farmers has made her a "little bit country," as she has enjoyed learning and even trying her hand at rural living. "When I first joined Junior Farmers I knew very little about farm life,” she says, “but thanks to great patient friends I've been given the opportunity to experience farm life (and chores) both in Canada and in the United Kingdom -- these experiences and memories will forever be cherished and I owe this all to Junior Farmers.” Over the next year Gill looks forward to reaching out to both rural and urban youth to build membership and prove that it’s not necessary to be from the country to benefit from this truly special organization. Gill describes JF as not only an experience, but also a lifestyle, and says she can't wait to welcome more people into the JF family.
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| Executive Director of Community & International Programs | Heather McLeod
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| Heather McLeod joins both the executive and a new club this year, having transferred to Kawartha JF after spending four years as a member of Essex-Kent JF. Having grown up on a fruit and vegetable farm in Cottam, Heather says her interest in agriculture has only increased since she became a JF member, mainly because of the knowledge she’s gained and friendships she’s made with people from around the world.
Heather is no stranger to the role she’ll play on executive as Director of Community and International Programs. After graduating with a BA in English Literature, she spent three months on a JF exchange in the United Kingdom in 2007. Heather is now an adult literacy instructor in York Region, which won’t change her involvement in JF, with the chance to form a new club in York this year and friends across the province to help. She says she hopes to continue to spread awareness of JF, and of the many opportunities available through being a member of this awesome organization.
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| Executive Director of Fund Development | Lauren Buchanan
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A member of Oxford County, Lauren is in her 7th year as a member of JFAO. Having spent many of those years serving on the Provincial Board she is ready to take on the challenge of Exec.
She can be found at nearly every event around the Province and is no stranger to travelling long hours in support of Provincial and Club Events.
In 2006 Lauren travelled to Ireland on the Junior Farmer Exchange and was able to experience one of the best opportunities JF has to offer.
Lauren is a graduate of the Recreation and Leisure Studies program at Sir Sanford Fleming College and currently works as a Supervisor at the Fusion Youth Centre in Ingersoll.
With days spent working with youth she is very passionate about building leaders and giving youth unique and rewarding experiences.
In her new role, Lauren will oversee JFAOs Charity Fundraising Golf Tournament on August 9th at Guelph Lakes, as well as build upon JFAOs current relationships with donors and sponsors, including Diamond partners Scotiabank, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. JFAO has not received funding for its programs from the provincial government since 2000.
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| Alumni Representative | Earl Thomson
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| Earl’s parents met at a Lambton County JF Dance in 1975. Since the sale of the family’s pig farm in 1990, Earl has maintained the dream of owning a farm again someday. To prepare for future farming ventures, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Guelph, and has progressed through many agricultural jobs. He currently runs an internet business in addition to his full time job as Live Supply Co-ordinator for Maple Leaf Foods’ chicken division. He is also a Professional Agrologist and treasurer of the FarmHouse Association of Guelph, Ontario.
Earl’s passion for agriculture led him to be very active in 4-H, and Junior Farmers was a natural progression for him to maintain contact with many 4-H friends. Highlights of Earl’s JF participation include square dancing and the Ontario Young Farmers Forums. In his role as Representative to the Alumni and ex-officio member of the executive, Earl hopes to improve the JFAO database and help JF Alumni continue their valued contributions to the organization.
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