leadership - 4-H Ontario

Sen$e delegate. “I went in with an
open mind and a willingness to learn,
with which I found every aspect of this
conference to be relevant to my life.”
According to delegates, the industry
tours offered during Beef and Crop
Sen$e programs were the conference
highlights. These tours allowed
participants to see how leading
agricultural businesses operate
and it gave them the opportunity to
critique and discuss the management
methods being used. “Being able
to see the producers and how they
can apply it [business management
knowledge] back to the farm takes the
conference to a whole other level,”
explains Ashley Knapton, Crop Sen$e
delegate. The knowledge and know
how that delegates extracted from
workshops and tours has left them
feeling confident and prepared to help
make smart management decisions
on their family farms and, in the future,
their own operations.
Aside from learning about the
business side of agriculture, delegates
were also able to connect with current
and future agriculture leaders. “The
networking opportunities that occur
at the conference are invaluable,”
explains Ashley. “Networking is
important in the agriculture industry
and these relationships will be useful
for me now and in the future.”
The Sen$e programs start up again
beginning in May, 2012. Market
Sen$e, a conference that focuses
on taking a product from conception
to a consumer market, has been
added to the Sen$e line up. For more
information visit 4-HOntario.ca.
This project is funded in part through the
Agricultural Management Institute (AMI).
The AMI is part of the Best Practices Suite
of programs for Growing Forward, a federalprovincial-territorial
initiative.
Beef Sen$e is also sponsored and supported
by the following: The Ontario Cattleman’s
Association; Beef Improvement Ontario;
Dufferin Vet Services; Farm Credit Canada;
Gilbrea Farm; JSE Farms; Ontario Farm Animal
Council; Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food &
Rural Affairs; Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement
Association; Milt Carr & Associates; Parrish &
Heimbecker; Pletch Farms; Sharpe Farms; TD
Canada Trust; Van Mar Farms Ltd / Buis Beef.
Crop Sen$e is also sponsored and supported
by the following: Pioneer Hi-Bred; Agricorp;
Davies Legacy Group; Grain Farmers of
Ontario; Huston Farms; Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs; Ontario Soil
& Crop Improvement Association; RBC Royal
Bank; Ridgetown Campus, University of Guelph;
South West Ag Partners; TD Canada Trust;
Thompsons Ltd; Workplace Safety & Prevention
Services.
Brussels Agri Services Ltd and Masterfeeds are excited to
have Kirk Stierwalt put on a Grooming Clinic at the Jr. Beef
Expo in London on March 10, 2012.
Leadership In Action • Winter 2011