Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors, elected from the membership and appointed from the public sector.
Current Board of Directors:
Lorie Jocius, Canada’s Outdoor Shows – Chair (Community Director)
Lorie has been a key driver over the last two decades in the development and expansion of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, the nation's largest outdoor agricultural trade show. Currently semi-retired, her educational background is in child studies, development and education from the University of Guelph. She was once a program co-coordinator at Mohawk College and continues to encourage young people to think outside their boxes. An active alumnus at the University of Guelph, Lorie continues to do agri-education fundraising and mentoring of both students and grads. She is also a trustee on the Canadian 4-H Foundation.
Perry Wilson, Farm Credit Canada - Vice Chair (Corporate Director)
Perry has been involved in agricultural finance for 19 years. He is currently the District Director of Farm Credit Canada's London District and has extensive experience in lending to businesses all along the Agriculture value chain. Perry holds a diploma in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. He also graduated from the advanced Agricultural Leadership Program through the University of Guelph and The Rural Ontario Institute as well as the George Morris Centre Executive Development Program. He is passionate about Agriculture and increasing Agri-Food Industry Awareness.
Catherine Mahler (Board Advisor)
The Ministry of Education appoints a staff member from the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Branch to sit on the board of OAFE as a non-voting member. This representative provides the board with information concerning Ministry of Education initiatives that align with the vision and mission of OAFE.
Helen Scutt (Board Advisor)
Helen is the Agriculture Organization Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in the Guelph office. She provides consultation and resources to many nonprofit organizations in the rural and agricultural sector. Helen is the Ministry liaison for OAFE and is an advisor to the board.
Audrie Bouwmeester, Dairy Farmers of Ontario (Corporate Director)
Audrie Bouwmeester is an education professional and experienced businesswoman who has built her career around developing innovative approaches to education in the private sector. Currently, Audrie is the Dairy Education Program Manager for Dairy Farmers of Ontario where she is responsible for the strategy, management and development of curriculum used by more than 50 dairy educators across Ontario. Audrie is an Ontario Certified Teacher with degrees in English, Drama, and Education from the University of Windsor. Prior to joining DFO, Audrie was the Principal of a private sector Secondary School, working directly with the Ministry of Education and other government agencies.
Leanne Cooley, Poultry Industry Council (Corporate Director)
Leanne grew up on a small hobby farm in British Columbia and holds a BSA and BSc. from the University of Saskatchewan, and M.Sc. in Animal Behaviour and Welfare form the University of Guelph. Leanne is currently with L.H. Gray and Son Ltd. and has served as a Director for the Ontario Poultry Industry Council since 2007, with additional responsibilities as Vice Chair, Chair of Special Events, and Member of the Research Committee. She is currently a Director for Farm and Food Care Foundation, a Councillor for Egg Farmers of Ontario, and an elected member of both the Egg Farmers of Canada Research Committee and the National Farm Animal Care Committee Layer Codes of Practice Committee.
Keith Currie, Curriedale Farms (Corporate Director)
Keith is proud to be the 8th generation on his family farm in Simcoe County. In 1990, Keith and his wife Janice took over the family dairy operation and milked until 2003 when the herd was dispersed. Currently they operate a cash crop operation and sweet corn business. Agriculture interests have always been of both great interest and importance to Keith. Since receiving his diploma in Agriculture Production Management at Ridgetown College of Agriculture Technology in 1982, he returned home to the family operation and has served as a director on the Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture. Since that time, he has spent many days at local schools delivering the Ag in The Classroom program. He currently serves as a director on the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
Kelly Duffy (Community Director)
Kelly Duffy has nearly 15 years of knowledge and experience in international trade and marketing for the governments of Canada, USA and New Zealand, in the food and beverage sector. Kelly also brings the sales and distribution capabilities of The Globetrotter Group Inc. and On Route Distribution Inc., her two businesses, to commercialise products and execute sales strategies with leading retailers in North America. Kelly has been a Youth-at-Large Director for the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) since 2010 where she also serves as Chair of the AAC marketing and communications committee. She is a member of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program Class 14 and sits on the Board of Directors of the Kiwi Expat Association in Toronto.
Sharon Grose (Community Director)
Sharon Grose is a graduate from the University of Guelph, and the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program.
Career - Journalist / photographer correspondent with Ontario Farmer, public relations for family business Husky Farm Equipment. Partner in W.S. Marketing (marketing agency). Served as Executive Director to the Ontario Farm Vacation Association for 10 years. Presently serving on the board of Waterloo Rural Women, and WRW Farm Safety Day Committee, Mapleton Township Economic Development Committee, Alma United Church, Youth Outdoor Day Luther Marsh (publicity and fundraising), Millridge Pony Club (secretary and fundraiser), volunteer with Equine Guelph and Equimania, 4-H, and assistant coach for CWHS ski and snowboard team. Sharon resides in Wellington County on the family farm with husband Walter and 4 children.
Laura Kozloski (Community Director)
Laura is an educator with the District School Board of Niagara (19 years), holds a B.A.A. in Nutrition, Consumer and Family Studies and a B. Ed. in Junior, Immediate and Senior Qualifications in Family Studies and Business. DSBN seconded her to introduce an agricultural program for rural student success (online). An OFA member, registered grape grower, professional Home Economist and researcher, Laura has also been instrumental in writing with a team of science teachers since 2004.
Bruce Magee, CropLife (Corporate Director)
Bruce is the founder of GBB Inc. (Global Business Builders Inc.) a strategy innovation firm focused in business to business markets. Prior to starting GBB in 1995, Bruce worked in senior management roles for Royal Bank of Canada, Asgrow, First Line, Allelix Crop Technologies, Pioneer Hi-bred and Ciba Geigy. Bruce has 34 years of experience in sales, marketing, strategic management, leadership and high performance team building. Bruce is a graduate of the Agriculture Producation Management program at Ridgetown College, University of Guelph.
Lillie Ann Morris, L.A. Morris & Associates (Corporate Director)
Lillie Ann is in farm media sales and an OAFE Corporate Director. She grew up on a farm in Kentucky and received national recognition for her 4-H achievements. She has a teaching degree from the University of Kentucky and believes education is critical in furthering a better understanding of our science-based agri-food system.
Ontario Dairy Goat Cooperative (ODGC) (Corporate Director)
ODGC was incorporated in November 2002 with thirteen members from Huron, Bruce, Grey and Wellington Counties. In 2004 the co-operative hired its first staff person, general manager Lisa Thompson. Since then, the co-operative has grown into a multi-million dollar initiative with 119 members throughout Ontario. The co-operative is based in Teeswater and generates employment for 16 local people. By brokering raw goat milk to cheese processors in Ontario and Quebec, it recently purchased a processing company which gives ODGC ready access to retail markets at the regional, provincial and national level, and acquisition also enables the co-operative to process a its own brand of dairy goat products.
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) (Corporate Director)
Since its inception in November 1922, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair has become the world’s largest indoor agricultural and international equestrian competition and Agri-Food educational event. The Royal welcomes more than 340,000 visitors to Toronto annually to see thousands of unique entries from elite Canadian and International breeders, growers and exhibitors, over 4,500 livestock, shows, activities, shopping, dining and The Royal Horse Show. The Royal also welcomes 23,000 students from across Ontario and they participate in the education program provided by The Royal and its Agri-Food Industry partners. The Royal has worked with OAFE to produce curriculum linked resources that allow teachers to incorporate Agri-Food activities in the class prior to attending the fair - and of course - during the class visit.