In April, OFT’s board and staff came together at the Guelph Arboretum for a board meeting and retreat. The day was an opportunity to reflect on recent achievements and look ahead to the exciting work underway. Highlights from the day included:
- Welcoming our new Summer Farmland Ecology Assistant, who began on April 28th
- Updates from our Farmland Protection and Stewardship Manager, Joel, who is currently hiring an Eastern Ontario Farmland Protection Coordinator
- Progress reports on 10 active farmland conservation easement projects
- Updates on our farmland access program and the Future Vision for the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve (DRAP) project
We also heard from seasoned fundraising and investment experts who shared their knowledge on best practices for non-profit fundraising and asset management. As OFT continues to expand our farmland protection efforts across Ontario, our board plays a pivotal role in steering the organization’s direction. OFT board members’ backgrounds vary in expertise, including agriculture, planning, policy and economic development, program development, and accounting. You can learn more about our board members here.
With exciting milestones and new opportunities on the horizon, both OFT staff and board members are energized and ready to deepen our support for rural and agricultural communities, for all Ontarians who rely on local food, and the ecological communities that call farmland home. As the momentum for farmland conservation continues to build, OFT is growing alongside the movement, strengthening our efforts to protect farmland and ensure a resilient local food system for generations to come.
Interested in helping us accelerate farmland protection?