Expansion creates more than 700,000 bushels of grain storage for Thamesville area producers

Investment and construction of four new steel grain bins for Great Lakes Grain site in Thamesville was formally announced last week by AGRIS Co-operative board president, Jim Maw.

The $2.15 million investment by AGRIS Co-operative will significantly improve storage capacity and traffic flow by removing some existing storage and adding additional storage. The new layout improves flow and allows future storage expansion and intake capacity as market conditions demand.

The expansion will make way for an additional 700,000 bushels of grain storage for the co-operatives member-owners and customers in the Thamesville area. “These improvements will allow us to utilize the Thamesville elevator to its capacity, giving us added volume for wet grain,” says Don Kabbes, market development manager for Great Lakes Grain. The expansion will allow the site to receive greater volumes throughout the harvest period, allowing the co-operative's member-owners to move the crop more efficiently.

The project is expected to be completed by fall harvest (Sept. 2014).

Media launch at  Great Lakes Grain Thamesville site on Dec. 12 with AGRIS Co-operative board of directors (L-R) Jim Anderson, Larry Pajot – board vice-president, Richard Tanner, Ray Simard, Dave Sherman, Jim Maw – board president, John Sauvé, Paul Repko – board secretary, John Nooyen, Stan Gillier, Kim Fysh. 

Great Lakes Grain is a grain marketing partnership between GROWMARK, Inc. and AGRISCo-operative Ltd. Great Lakes Grain is one of the largest operators of Ontario country elevators. It represents close to 440,000 MT (17 million bushels) of storage capacity with total marketing of more than of 46 million bushels serving farmers at more than 24 AGRIS Co-operative and FS PARTNERS branded locations from Windsor through to Toronto and north to Georgian Bay.

FS is larger than life!

The next time you are travelling the 401 about half way between London and  Chatham, you'll most likely notice a very large FS sign along the way.   

This particular FS logo is perched high at the top of one of the grain silos at AGRIS Co-operative's/Great Lakes Grain site in Dutton. Measuring 35 ft wide, it is by far the biggest FS in Ontario. 

This particular facility was considered to be the best location in the province to warrant moving forward with a project of this magnitude. “There is clear visibility to the thousands of travellers each day driving the 401,” says Terry Stevenson, communications manager for AGRIS Co-operative.  

The sign company that was contracted for the job confirmed that painting the FS directly onto the silo provided the best visual impact allowing it to hug the curves of the structure giving it a wider girth and maximizing the distance it can be seen.  The painted sign will also be able to tolerate the affects of wind and other environmental elements more efficiently, therefore extending the life span of the project.

Next time you are in the area, make sure you check it out.

FS PARTNERS recognized for its support of renewable fuels

This post is from FS PARTNERS Delivering Innovative Solutions blogsite. Posted Dec.4

FS PARTNERS Energy Sales Manager Tom O'Neill
accepting CRFA Fueling Change Award.

Last week, FS PARTNERS was awarded the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association's Fueling Change Award for the organization's achievements in promoting the use of renewable fuels. 

Accepting the award for FS PARTNERS was Energy Sales Manager Tom O'Neill, who is the key spokesperson for renewable fuels for FS PARTNERS and has actively promoted the benefits of biodiesel for many years.

Presented annually since 2006, the Green Fuels Awards honour pioneers in the development and commercialization of low carbon renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel in Canada. Award winners are nominated and selected by the members of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association. The awards recognize the important contributions of individuals and companies who are advancing biofuels production and use in Canada. 

You can read more about the awards and other recipients here:

http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/canadian-green-fuels-award-winners-announced-1859096.htm

About the CRFA Green Fuels Awards:
The CRFA annual awards are the pre-eminent national awards recognizing the hard work and dedication of those working in Canada's renewable fuels industry. Award Recipients are selected for their achievements in the development, commercialization, and promotion of low carbon renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel in Canada. 

First FAST STOP service centre to hit the London area

A growing brand in Ontario, FAST STOP^® made its debut in London last week at Ron Kraft Auto Care's newly branded FAST STOP full-service station at 1880 Huron St.  

Despite the nippy cold weather that day, owners Ron and Carmie Kraft brought a genuine warmth of hospitality to the many guests who came out to take part in the grand opening celebrations.

Among the well wishers were Mayor of London Joe Fontana and Shawn Lewis representing MP Irene Mathyssen’s London-Fanshawe office. During the ceremony, a cheque for $2000 was donated to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada through combined contributions from Ron Kraft Auto Care, individual donations from customers and FS PARTNERS.

Official ribbon cutting ceremony: From (L-R) Andrea Fernandes of FS PARTNERS, Mayor of London Joe Fontana, Frank Barron of FS PARTNERS, Diana, Rob, Ron and Carmie Kraft, owners of the FAST STOP site, Shawn Lewis of MP Irene Mathyssen's office, Andrew Troyer of FS PARTNERS, Claude Gauthier of GROWMARK, Inc., and Emile Faddoul of FS PARTNERS.

The Ron Kraft Auto Care/FAST STOP site is equipped with eight full-service pumps that provide regular, regular-plus and supreme gasoline. The station offers auto, cylinder and fork lift propane and is home to Ron Kraft Auto Care, a complete auto maintenance and repair facility that has served the local London community for the past 40 years. 

The London FAST STOP station is the first for the London community, but one of 300 FAST STOP branded stations in the United States and 14th in Ontario. 

Columbian ag co-operators visit the Ontario GROWMARK System

(L-R)-Back- Dalia Najera (On Co-op), Jose Luis Fonseca,
Susan Fino, Antonio Salcedo, Claude Gauthier (GROWMARK)
Lydia Makuch Phillips (CCA), Helda Ustariz, Daniel Pacheco,
Front-Jineth Marroquin, Jose Aliro Montano, Janice Johnson (GMK)

Through the Canadian Co-operative Association’s Study Mission in Columbia, an opportunity emerged for a small group of co-operators from various agriculture co-ops in Columbia to visit Canada. The group wanted to learn about agriculture co-operatives in our country, and GROWMARK was honoured to be chosen as on one of the requested destinations to visit.

On Oct. 22, our Spanish speaking guests were escorted by Lydia Makuch Phillips from the Canadian Co-operative Association and Dalia Najera, from the Ontario Co-operative Association who together performed the essential role of English/Spanish translators.

The morning began at the Kitchener Ontario region office with a presentation from Claude Gauthier, Ontario region manager on the general scope of the GROWMARK System. The group then travelled to Ayr to take a tour of the agronomy/grain site with Kevin Stumpf, FS PARTNERS branch manager and finished off with a visit to UPI Energy’s bulk fuel plant in Guelph, hosted by Bob McKenzine UPI Energy director of operations and John Canjar director of sales & marketing.

All of the Columbian co-operatives represented by the participants had identified agribusiness and marketing as key areas they would like to further develop. They want to learn about Canadian models of agribusiness and marketing and about the possibility of exporting their products to new markets. They were also interested in learning new technological developments in the field of production.

Prior to the visit to Kitchener, the group met with VinelandGrowers Co-operative (a 100 year-old co-op and member of GROWMARK) and also found some time to take in Niagara Falls.

(L-R) Daniel Pacheco, Bob McKenzie (UPI Energy)
 Jose Luis Fonseco looking at Absorbal, while discussing
Emergency Response procedures

Many commented on the beauty of our fall season.

Our international guests represented the Columbia Co-operative Association along with various agricultural co-ops such as cocoa, chicken production and other agriculture sectors.

    

Second Co-op Week Trivia Question for Ontario FS System employees

We will be posting two questions today since Thursday's question was not sent out.

PLEASE NOTE: Everyone who answered the first trivia question correctly and everyone who answers the next two questions correctly will have a chance to win the iPad at the end of the month along with all US employees who answered trivia questions correctly.This time, everyone who answers correctly will have his or her name entered into the draw to win the $50 Tim's gift card.

QUESTION:
GROWMARK just held it's Annual General Meeting at the end of August in Chicago. At that time, the new board of directors was announced. The GROWMARK Board of Directors is comprised of 16 directors, two of which represent Ontario. 

a)   Please name the two Ontario directors and the associated FS member co-ops they are affiliated with here in Ontario? 

b)   Name GROWMARK's Chairman of the Board and President. 

Please email your answers to Janice Johnson by 5:00 tonight. The draw will take place on Monday. 

First Co-op Week Trivia Question for Ontario FS System employees

The first person to answer this question correctly, will win a $50 gift card from Tim Hortons. That winner will have his or her name added to the group of winners from the US trivia contest for a chance to win an iPad.  

           QUESTION:

     GROWMARK is a long standing supporter of agricultural youth and young adult programs including 4-H, FFA, the Junior Farmers Association, and Co-operative Young Leaders' Program (Ontario, Canada) and Farm Bureau Young Farmers, Leaders, and Agriculturists. One initiative held annually is the GROWMARK Essay contest which provides high school students who are FFA members in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois and in Ontario 4-H members the opportunity to submit a 500 word essay for a chance to win $500 in scholarship money.

What was the theme for the essay contest for 2013? Who was the 2013 Ontario winner? What 4-H Association (County) was he or she affiliated with. 

Please send your answers in to Janice Johnson.

Participants must be an employee of GROWMARK or an FS Co-operative in Ontario to play.

Celebrating Co-op Week in Canada!

This week is our week to celebrate our co-operative heritage, principles and values; nation wide.

Co-op Week appears to be a uniquely Canadian phenomenon. In the US, October is Co-op Month, and the International Co-operative Alliance and United Nations have an International Day of Co-operatives on the first Saturday in July.

Co-op Week has been celebrated by francophones throughout Canada since 1958. In 1981 celebrations were held among Anglophone co-ops in the Maritimes and Saskatchewan. The event went national in 1982 with the encouragement of the Co-operative Union of Canada, a predecessor of the Canadian Co-operative Association.

The co-op sector has deep roots in Canada. In the late 19th century, farmers in Quebec, Ontario and Atlantic Canada developed co-operative creameries and cheese factories to meet the needs of the growing dairy industry. Alphonse Desjardins founded Canada’s first caisse populaire in Lévis, Quebec in 1900. And in the first decade of the 20th century, farmers in western Canada organized co-operatives in an effort to market their products.

In Ontario, a united agricultural-based co-op network began in 1914 when a group of farm leaders met and developed the concept of connecting Ontario farmers into one organization. In reality, two similar organizations emerged, but The United Farmers Co-operative Company (UFCC) quickly became the accepted trading medium. Its first commercial venture as a co-operative was to purchase twine from Ireland in an effort to break a monopoly of Canadian twine manufacturers who had previously controlled the supply of twine to farmers.

During Co-op week, Canadian co-ops including GROWMARK and the Ontario FS Co-operatives will celebrate by raising the co-op flag, offering special customer appreciation activities, fund raising for community (locally or globally) and hosting various events that educate and bring awareness to the diverse co-op sector.

Fundraising efforts from GROWMARK Ontario employees are geared towards supporting the Co-operative Development Foundation that provides financial support and guidance to global communities in need of a new start through co-operative practices.

    

Click here to read Prime Minister Harpers 2013 Co-op Week Message

GLG Crop Assessment tour now bigger than ever!

The Great Lakes Grain gang is making headlines and gaining more attention each year from ag media and farmers with respect to the good work they are doing with their annual Crop Assessment Tours. The tours have been conducted in and around south western and central Ontario for the past four years sending large groups of FS crop specialists and grain staff on crop scouting blitzes, capturing new field data to analyse and share with producers.

Fran Downey of AGRIS Co-operative
begins soybean yield checks just
outside Muirkirk, ON.

The GLG Crop Assessment tour has evolved over the past four years and this year FS crop specialists from all over Ontario   participated from Lucknow Co-op, Huron Bay Co-op, North WellingtonCo-op, Sunderland Co-op, Wanstead Farmers Co-op, FS PARTNERS and AGRISCo-operative.

More than 1000 yield assessments were compiled and analyzed in thirteen zones. A total of 577 corn and 519 soybean sites were observed this year throughout the Great Lakes Grain trading area amounting to approximately 35,000 acres of corn and 31,000 of soybeans.

Dale Cowan, senior sales agronomist with Southern Co-operative Services tells Ontario Farmer News that every year he expects to talk about variability. “However the biggest surprise this year was the amount of variability...not only from field to field, but even within fields.”  

Don Kabbes, Great Lakes Grain market development manager was on hand at Canada’sOutdoor Farm Show to present the full tour results. You can view the details of the tour report at http://www.greatlakesgrain.com/index.cfm?show=10&mid=293 or by either visiting Great Lakes Grain, AGRIS or FS PARTNERS sites.

(L-R) Don Kabbes, Great Lakes Grain market development manager, Mark Kerry, DEKALB eastern Canada sales manager and Dale Cowan, Southern Co-operative Services senior agronomist at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show presenting
2013 Crop Assessment Tour results.

Setting the Table with Top 5 Improvement Awards

Congratulations to Thunder Bay Co-operative Farm Supplies and Sunderland Co-operative for being recognized as two of five Top Performance Improvement achievers for the FS System in North America during GROWMARK's Annual Meeting in Chicago.

GROWMARK measures the improvement in the performance of member co-operatives based on return on invested capital. Over a five-year time frame, each co-operative's return on invested capital improvement is measured in comparison to other co-operatives in the System. From this measurement, the Performance Improvement Award was developed.

Blain Thompson, general manager
Sunderland Co-operative Inc.

Sunderland Co-operative Inc. serves parts of Durham/York Regions, and the county of Victoria. It has a membership of 1,800 farmers or rural-residents and more than 60 years of successful operation returning patronage to its members each and every year. It is a full service agricultural co-operative providing products and services in feed, agronomy, grain marketing, energy products and services and has a retail store on site that provides hardware products, pet supplies and work wear.        

Ben Postuma, general manager
Thunder Bay Farm
Supplies Co-operative

Thunder Bay Co-operative Farm Supplies is the FS System’s most north-westerly located co-operative in the GROWMARK System. The Co-op was established just over 60 years ago and has just over 120 member-owners. The co-operative provides local farmers with quality agriculture related products such as feed, seed, fertilizer and other necessary supplies like fencing, metal roofing and siding, livestock equipment and tractor implements. For the home, the co-operative provides lawn seed, pet products and hardware for local residents and farmers.

Setting the Table in Chicago with youth leadership

Ryan McGeachy of Chatham, Ontario, recently attended the 2013 GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago as this year’s youth speaker where he spoke in front of more than 1000 attendees about his views on how co-operatives can help build a better world. 

McGeachy was one of three young people chosen to take part in the travel opportunity sponsored by GROWMARK, Inc. Also travelling to Chicago was 4-H Ontario Ambassador Brianna Dracup of Stirling, and director of fund development for Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario Sara Jibb of Sunderland. Jibb is also an employee of Sunderland Co-operative.

Attending the 2013 GROWMARK AGM
as youth delegates are Ryan McGeachy (CYL),
Sara Jibb (JFAO) and Brianna Dracup (4-H Ontario). 

Ryan McGeachy is attending the University of Guelph majoring in agriculture business. He was chosen for this opportunity through his involvement with the Ontario Co-operative Association’s Co-operativeYoung Leaders Program sponsored by AGRIS Co-operative Ltd. McGeachy also represents Junior Achievement as a Canadian Ambassador.

In his opening remarks in Chicago, McGeachy said that, “A business cannot run effectively without a well-guided system and for co-ops, it is the seven co-operative principals that characterize a co-operative’s vision and ultimately defines how co-operatives can help build a better world.”

Each year GROWMARK provides travel opportunities to youth who have shown dedication to leadership development. They travel to Chicago to learn more about GROWMARK and network with business people and other young leaders. As part of their experience, they took part in the annual meeting’s grand opening ceremonies with young leaders from Future Farmers of America and had the opportunity to visit the Chicago Board of Trade. 

Young leaders from Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ontario take part in the
"Grand Entry of Colours" Ceremony at GROWMARK AGM at the Hilton Chicago. 

Setting the table in Chicago-Part II

Ontario zone directors named at GROWMARK AGM

Newly elected to the GROWMARK Board of Directors representing Ontario is Warren Jibb. Jibb is also serving as president of Sunderland Co-operative Board and operates a 750 acre dairy and crop farm with his brother and family members near Sunderland, Ontario.

Returning director Kim Fysh was elected to the GROWMARK Board in 2011. He has served on the AGRIS Co-operative Board as president from 1996 to 2006. Kim and his wife Merry, along with Kim’s brother, operate an 1100-acre cash crop and vegetable farm outside Thamseville, Ontario.

Denis Bourdeau, who has served as a director on the GROWMARK Board since 2007, retired from the board this year. He and his wife Hélène own a fifth-generation family farm, including dairy and cash crops, as well as operating a bed and breakfast. Denis also serves on the Board of La Co-opérative Agricole d’Embrun.

Setting the Table in Chicago

"Setting the Table" was the theme
for the GROWMARK 2013
Annual General Meeting

Solid volume growth in GROWMARK business units produced record sales for the co-operative for the 2013 fiscal year, ending August 31.

Jeff Solberg, chief executive officer, reported unaudited, estimated sales of $10.3 billion for FY 2013 at the co-operative’s Annual General Meeting in Chicago IL. Pretax income is estimated at $220 million, one of the best years in company history. An estimated $135 million in patronage refunds will be returned to GROWMARK member co-operatives and farmer-owners.

“We began this year coming off a severe drought, but the strength of the FS System pulled us through to a very good 2013 fiscal year,” Solberg said. “Our business is built around our mission to improve the long-term profitability of our member owners. Our sales will allow us to return significant patronage to our owners.”

John Reifsteck, Champaign, Ill., was elected chairman of the GROWMARK Board of Directors. He replaces Dan Kelley, Normal, Ill., who retired. Reifsteck has served on the GROWMARK Board since 1993, and was one of two vice chairmen. He and his wife, Nancy, operate a corn and soybean farm in Champaign County.

The sky's the limit for Ontario GROWMARK Intern

Stephanie Campbell of Chatham, and GROWMARK Summer Intern, was one of three college and university students to receive a $1,000 scholarship from GROWMARK this month in Bloomington, Illinois.

This summer, Campbell worked at AGRIS Co-operative in agronomy as a crop intern. Her special project was working with the GPS aerial crop scouting equipment to develop a new service that AGRIS could offer its customers and members.   

To apply for this scholarship, Stephanie submitted an essay that described her summer experience and the impact her project had on the future success of the co-operative as well as her future career opportunities.

In her essay, Stephanie wrote, “One of the biggest assets I will take into my future career opportunities will be the value of asking questions. The environment I worked in throughout this internship was very open to questions and opinions. The contacts I have made in the industry throughout the summer are invaluable and will be utilized in the future as well. 

  

I hope to continue to be a part of the GROWMARK family moving forward. The potential is great, the values stand true and the future of the business is strong.”

Stephanie is entering her fourth year at the University of Guelph and is majoring in food, agriculture and resource economics. She is also co-managing the OAC Leadership Conference and enjoys being involved in College Royal as well as other events throughout the school year. She is active with her local 4-H Association as a member of local clubs and as the county webmaster. This fall, Stephanie will be participating in the Queen of the Furrow competition. 

GROWMARK invests in future talent by providing more than $44,000 in scholarships annually and has been supporting college and university students with scholarships since the early 1960s. Today, they are awarded to students majoring in agriculture or accounting at 16 universities and colleges throughout Ontario and the United States.

To see a demonstration of the GPS aerial equipment Campbell worked with this summer, click on the video below:

A new way to tap into future technology, today!

Introducing FS PARTNERS Touching Tomorrow Today Technology Tour

Touching Tomorrow Today might not be easy to say five times fast, but neither is keeping up with the fast-pace world of agriculture science: And that is why the FS PARTNERS’ 3T technology tour was introduced.

On one of the hottest days of the summer, three tractors pulled over 110 participants on mobile bleachers throughout the corn and soybean fields at the Syngenta Research Farm in Plattsville. At each stop, the group heard from experts on various topics such as biological pest control, new and innovative corn traits and the very controversial topic of bee health and the use of new products and technologies available to ensure bee safety.

With eight highly technical topics on the agenda, the tour demonstrated innovative technologies available today, and in the future, to help farmers maximize their yields, reduce environmental impact, and optimize the way they do business.

Don McLean, GROWMARK Ontario agronomy business director came up with the idea of the 3T tech tour, saying that the program utilizes GROWMARK's FS Green Plan Solutions® program, designed specifically to help customers meet their performance goals. “We are providing the best agronomic recommendations and year-round support for our customers’ operations from local, knowledgeable and professional crop specialists,” says McLean.

Stewart Cressman of
 Crystal Brook Farms

During the tour, I managed to track down one progressive farmer who spoke to me about the importance of these types of educational events for his operation. Stewart Cressman, of Crystal Brook Farms operates a fourth generation farm, operating 1000 acres of combined cash and feed crops and a 400 head beef feedlot, just southwest of Kitchener. Cressman commented that the day was most beneficial to him. “It is an excellent way to showcase new technology and to see what new tools are in the toolbox for producers down the road; and I especially like to support companies like Syngenta that are very progressive in bringing new products to the market and who work closely with the universities and government in research and development” says Cressman.

Cressman has attended the last three years of Pursuit of Maximum Yield events and said that since then, he has moved more of his business over to FS. “I am impressed with the knowledge and programs they provide,” he adds.

 FS PARTNERS partnered with Syngenta and Bayer CropScience to bring these technologies to its customers.

 FS PARTNERS customers toured the fields of  Syngenta's Research Farm in Plattsville
during the first Touching Tomorow Today Technology Tour.

Hastings County youth wins GROWMARK essay contest for Ontario

"Conquering world hunger starts with one person’s ideas expanding into a need for everyone worldwide to come together and work as one nation, one world,” writes Nicole Lauzon.

This is the second year for the GROWMARK essay contest offered to high school students who are members of 4-H in Ontario and Nicole Lauzon of Frankford is the recipient. The theme of this year’s contest was “Fighting Domestic and Global Hunger.”

As contest winner, Nicole received a $500 award from GROWMARK. At the Hastings County 4-H Association annual banquet and awards night in October, she will be presented with a certificate of achievement and the Hastings 4-H Association will receive an additional $300 to help support future programs in her local community.

Four provincial runners-up each received a $125 scholarship. The runners-up and their 4-H Associations, in alphabetical order are: Dennis Catt of St. Thomas (Elgin County 4-H); Julie French of Caledon (Peel County 4-H); Matthew Gerrits of Wyoming (Middlesex County 4-H) and Valerie Robinson of Ayton (Grey County 4-H). To learn more about this contest and other opportunities for youth, visit GROWMARK's youth commitments and 4-H Ontario's scholarships and grants. 

Click here to read the full version of  Nicole's essay. 

A once-in-a-century celebration!

Vineland Growers Co-op looks back at 100 years ......................

When Mike Ecker, president of Vineland Growers Co-operative and organizer of the tender fruit co-operative's 100th anniversary, said that he wanted to throw a party that would be remembered for a long time, it was not an understatement.

Among the crowd were distinguished guests Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Leader of the Ontario PC Party Tim Hudak, who came out to pay tribute and praise the co-operative for its contributions to the Ontario agriculture sector and local community. Wynne said, “The talent in this community is obvious, it is thriving. Our economy in Ontario needs to play to our strengths and one of our strengths is the agri food sector.”

Over 1,000 people, who have all somehow impacted the sustainability and growth of the co-operative, attended the daylong celebration, where they enjoyed local wine tasting activities, live music, dinner and a finale of spectacular fireworks.

The Vineland Growers Co-operative story began in the fall of 1913, with the initiative of four families of fruit growers that got together to form what is considered the oldest (ongoing) agricultural co-operative in Ontario.

Their purpose, at that time, was to merge their knowledge and skills to grow better fruit and in turn provide their customers with a premium quality product. Through their co-operation, better varieties of fruit were developed and, as increased production was realized, the four original members became better equipped to serve the needs of their customers.

The very first sale for the co-op comprised of five crates of strawberries that were sold for $14.63. Today, the co-operative generates sales of $34 million and delivers over one million cases of fruit annually.

Vineland Growers Co-operative is valued and respected by the local community and surrounding area of the Niagara Peninsula fruit belt providing the finest fruit, such as strawberries, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, pears and grapes. Its retail stores stock everything from pruners to fertilizers.

It has three prominent locations throughout the Niagara fruit-growing belt which are comprised of three retail stores, box and basket manufacturing, cold storage and warehouse facilities. A cardlock fuel station is open to customers at its main branch in Jordon Station.

You can view a full historical account and timeline of the last 100 years at: www.vinelandgrowers.com

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne with Phil Tregunno, Vineland Growers Co-operative Chairman
chats with guests attending the co-operative's 100 anniversary celebration.



Ag youth leaders travel with Cooper on Ontario GROWMARK System tour

The FS Ontario System hosted for 4-H Ambassadors, GROWMARK Summer Interns and Co-operative Young Leader representatives was accompanied by a special traveller from the Ontario Co-operative Association.

Travelling Cooper has become well known as one of the International Year of Co-operative legacy projects that involves a cuddly stuffed bear called Cooper who moves around from co-op to co-op making many connections within the co-operative family network. He is highly visible on many co-op social media sites where he is seen posing for different events, locations and activities.

Adorned with ribbons and buttons from a variety of his visits, Cooper now proudly wears additional co-op medals collected from the various locations on the GROWMARK System tour held this week.

The one-day tour consisted of a visit to UPI Energy’s bulk fuel plant in Guelph, an FS PARTNERS agronomy and Great Lakes Grain facility in Ayr, GROWMARK's Ontario Distribution Centre in Kitchener, North Wellington Co-operative’s retail store and lawn and garden centre in Harriston, and a 24-hour remotely-monitored cardlock FAST STOP® fueling station in Alma.

Where's Cooper....................

 

John Canjar, UPI Energy director, sales, marketing & development poses with 2013 4-H Ambassadors.

 (L-R) Kaitlyn Bell of Prince Edward County, Brendan McDougall of Niagara, Luke Ward of Oxford,

Rebecca Posthumus and Brianna Dracup both from Hastings County.





From (L-R) Standing outside North Wellington Co-operative's (NWC) Harriston FS lawn and garden/hardware store are: GROWMARK Intern Stephanie Campbell (AGRIS Co-op), Co-operative Young Leader (sponsored by AGRIS) and this year's GROWMARK Annual Meeting Ontario youth speaker Ryan McGeachy, Interns Janson Pronk (FS PARTNERS) and Robert Bos (Lucknow Co-op), 4-H Ambassadors Luke Ward, Brendan McDougall, Kaitlyn Bell, Brianna Dracup and Rebecca Posthumus, North Wellington Co-operative Services general manager Kelly Boyle and Jeff McCallum, marketing & communication assistant. Backdrop is a 1942 Ford Stake truck purchased by NWC in anticipation of its 70th anniversary in 2014. 



A most fitting occasion for North Wellington Co-op and 4-H!



A young 4-H member seen here “peeling out” the
 legs of a dairy cow. When clipping Dairy
cattle the only place that doesn’t
get buzzed is the belly and topline.



Learning to use clippers to groom a cow can be somewhat intimidating for most of us, but giving a nine year-old the opportunity, could be downright nerve-racking.

Well, that didn’t stop Mary Lynn Lawrence, of North Wellington Co-operative, when she decided to hold a 4-H community cow fitting event at the community park located right next door to the FS branch she works at in Mt. Forest, earlier this month.

Lawrence pledged to her manager early this year that she wanted to plan a community event that supported 4-H. She recalls that in her youth there used to be a large 4-H club in Mt. Forest and she wanted to see some renewed interest in the area.

She was right on both counts.... Mary Lynn expected to attract about 25 young people, but in fact, with a little creative advertizing, 55 kids from the ages of nine to 21 turned out from local communities of Paisley, Dundalk, West Luther, Listowel and Durham to get some hands-on practice in grooming techniques from experienced 4-H dairy and beef cattle fitters who also volunteered their time.

“Kids don’t get much chance to clip because not everyone is eager to allow their show animals to be practiced on,” says Lawrence. “The 4-H motto is learn to do by doing, so allowing the kids to get interactive with this activity was a bonus,” she adds.

North Wellington Co-operative has been a long-time supporter of local 4-H clubs and Mary Lynn has been involved with 4-H as a young member, and now as an adult, she and her brother volunteer as 4-H leaders for the Durham Beef Club along with her sister leading the 4-H Dairy club. The sisters provided the cows for this event, bringing with them four beefers and five dairy heifers from their own family farms.





Everyone was treated to a bbq lunch provided by North Wellington Co-operative and local media came out to support and capture the event. Lawrence is hoping to be able to keep this going at the co-op each year as an annual tradition

.

On Co-op is a winner in Nashville!

Just this week, the Ontario Co-operative Association’s “From Beards to Eternity” presentation took first place (presentations category) at the Co-operative Communicators Association Annual Awards Banquet in Nashville, Tennessee.

From Beards to Eternity is a lighthearted educational tool that provides an introduction to co-operatives and their colourful history.

Judges of this category commented that the overall presentation was smartly written, with relatable topics and a strong message. "The added humour throughout keeps the history lesson funny and the music analogy is a good way to use current pop culture to relate to the subject," said one judge.

Kerr Smith, award-winning education manager with On Co-op and creater of the presentation, has travelled across the province to share the 90-minute presentation with various groups. His next presentation (via webinar) will take place on July 17, as part of On Co-ops 2013-2014 Speakers’ Series.

To register, visit: http://www.ontario.coop/programs_services/engagement_and_awareness/speaker_series)

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The Ontario Co-operative Association has been in existance for 12 years as a resource and common voice for Ontario credit unions and co-operatives.The Ontario co-operative movement is composed of more than 1300 co-ops, with 1900 locations in 400 communities.

Founded 60 years ago, the Co-operative Communicators Association is an organization of approximately 350 professionals throughout the United States and Ontario who provide communications for co-operatives recognizing the differences in the markets co-ops serve and in the audiences they must reach.  

GROWMARK Summer Internship program well under way

2013 GROWMARK Summer Interns
at GROWMARK corporate headquaters.

In the fifty-fourth year of the program, a record breaking number of college and university students are exploring career opportunities as GROWMARK summer interns. They are working at either a GROWMARK facility or FS Co-operative throughout North America.



Chaperoned by Barry Hannah, Ontario Human Resources manager, four Ontario summer interns recently joined 57 others from the United States for orientation at GROWMARK’s corporate office in Bloomington IL. “It is always impressive to see the high calibre of interns each year as well as the broad reach and impact the program has with recruits from 16 universities and colleges System wide,” says Hannah.

The interns are exposed to accounting, marketing, communications, and product and service-related activities. Each intern will complete a special project and deliver a presentation on that project to other interns and GROWMARK executives later this summer.

“This year, we have our largest intern class ever,” said Ashley McClintock, GROWMARK university relations manager. “They will gain hands-on experience in their chosen field, and have the opportunity to clarify career goals.” The GROWMARK intern program began in 1959 with three interns. Since then, 892 students have been involved in the program.

From the University of Guelph, GROWMARK Ontario summer interns travel via

GROWMARK corporate jet to Bloomington IL to meet up with U.S. interns at orientation weekend on May 19.

From (L-R): Stephanie Campbell, of Chatham is majoring in food, agriculture and resource economics and working for AGRIS Co-operative, Ltd.- (GPS aerial crop scouting); Laura Price, of Minesing, is majoring in honours agriculture and working for FS PARTNERS- (Customer service analysis); Jason Pronk, of Arthur is majoring in agriculture business and working for FS PARTNERS- (crop scouting customer-needs analysis); and Robert Bos, of Goderich, is majoring in agriculture business working for Lucknow District Co-operative, Inc.- (energy).

To learn more about the GROWMARK Summer Internship Program, visit: http://www.growmark.com/OurCareers/Pages/Internships.aspx

Youth speakers at GROWMARK AGM contribute to Agriculture More Than Ever communications

Young leaders speak out on the future of agriculture, is the lead in a recent blog post by Agriculture More Than Ever.

GROWMARK is one of 170 partners of AMTE that all have the same objective of spreading positive and insightful messages about Canadian agriculture.

If you haven't visited this growing social media site lately, now is the time to start by clicking on the link below to read about GROWMARK’s Annual Meeting youth speakers from Ontario and view two past speeches from Nicole Atkins and Will Heeman on their views on the future of agriculture.

http://www.agriculturemorethanever.ca/young-leaders-speak-on-the-future-of-agriculture/