The Rural Voice, 2005-11, Page 49News in Agriculture
Larry Miler. MP for Bruce -Grey -Owen Sound. (left) pres-
ents President Paul De Jong with a certificate marking the
60th anniversary of the Bruce Federation of Agriculture.
Anne Marie Watson (left) accepts the Volunteer of the
Year Award from Gertie Blake. OFA Field Representative.
Watson is involved in the county's public speaking contest.
Energized OFAC a more effective voice
A larger -than -ever budget and a
larger -than -ever staff has meant the
Ontario Farm Animal Council is
more active than ever, says Paul
Mistele. vice-chairman of OFAC.
Mistele, who is also vice-president
of the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture and represents OFA on
the OFAC board. told the annual
meeting of the Grey County
Federation of Agriculture in
Markdale, October 1'4, that the
organization is being proactive in
getting the message about farmers'
concerns about animal welfare out to
consumers through a number of
different efforts.
"We have the phone ringing
now," he said. "We're the go -to
organization in Ontario for animal
'care."
With a dynamic staff including
Crystal Mackay, who used to be with
Ontario Pork, as executive director
and Kelly Daynard, previously with
Ontario Cattlemen's Association, as
program manager, OFAC has
undertaken a number of new
initiatives. For instance in 2006,
OFAC will issue a calendar featuring
ordinary farm families, modeled on
the calendars MacKay spearheaded
for Ontario Pork.
The new OFAC website for
teachers. students and the media
(farmissues.com) has been been
receiving 42,000 contacts a month.
OFAC organized three tours by
food writers of actual farms to let
them see how farmers deal with on-
farm food safety. The small number
of food writers involved have
influence with over a million
consumers. Mistele said.
OFAC is partnering with other
farm animal councils across the
country to update and reissue the
Food For Thought booklet.
It has also created the immensely
popular "OPRAH" robotic doll that
rides on a miniature tractor and talks
to children and adults about farm
issues. OPRAH has 72 bookings at
$300 a day giving a huge payback for
the investment. Mistele said.
OFAC was formed as a result of
OFA calling together representatives
of the various farm animal
commodity groups in 1988 following
an influential book Diet for a New
America by John Robbins, heir to the
Baskin-Robbins ice cream empire.
The organization began in 1989 with
a board representing dairy, beef.
turkey, chicken, egg and pork as well
as OFA and the Ontario Institute of
Agrologists.
While animal welfare is the
number -one concern of OFAC. it is
also moving into food safrR issues.
biotechnology and the en% tronment.
And it must continue to monitor the
activities of groups that are against
animal agriculture. Mistele said.
pointing to the enormously popular
"Meatri.x" cartoon website and
actress Pamela Anderson's campaign
against Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Currently there is a campaign to
pressure Lohlaws about the
production of eggs. Mistele said.
In the election at the meetin '
Allen Hughes of Meaford
acclaimed to the post of president of
the GCFA. succeeding Paul Delong
who had served his maximum three-
year term. Anne Marie Watson of
Durham was acclaimed as vice-
president and John Hurst of Dundalk
as second vice-president.
Named delegates to the OFA
convention were Paul Wettlaufer.
Bill Herron. Richard Unruh and Don
Hill from Grey North: Karl Chittka.
Wayne Caughill. Paul De Jong and
John Hurst from Grey South: and
Jacquie Hendry. Alien Hughes. Bob
Brassington and Tom McGee of Grey
Continued on page 46
NOVEMBER 2005 45