Ontario Fairs
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2020 Convention
At the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites and Conference Centre
See you Feb. 13-15, 2020
Please Contact
Kathryn Lambert,
Convention Administrator
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 519-287-3553
Book your Hotel Rooms starting MAY 1ST
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Welcome
Welcome to the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies. The OAAS is the provincial association representing over 200 Agricultural Societies from across the province. Its mission is a resource for its Members, by providing leadership through communication and education, and encouraging the promotion of a rural way of life in Ontario.
In Ontario Agricultural Societies are governed by the Agricultural and Horticultural Organizations Act. Their purpose is seen as being a community organization mandated with preserving and celebrating the rural way of life in Ontario. As the provincial association, the OAAS primary focus is to assist its Members in achieving their own respective goals.
The OAAS is governed by a Board consisting of a Provincial Director from each of the fifteen districts in the province. These 15 Board Members, with four Executive Members provide leadership to the association.
With respect to staff resources, the OAAS is managed by Vince Brennan, Manager and Kathryn Lambert, Convention Administrator.
The highlight of the year for the OAAS is the annual convention, which takes place in mid-February. The convention, which brings together upwards of 1000 delegates from all across the province, provides the OAAS Members with education, information, and networking opportunities that are meant to improve the operations of the individual Agricultural Societies.
The OAAS encourages visitors to this website to visit the many pages inside and learn about the organization, its Members and the great job that Agricultural Societies are doing in Celebrating Rural Ontario.
Press Release The 174th Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies
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The 174th Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) Annual Convention was held from February 13th to 15th in Richmond Hill. Over 1100 people attended this event. Young ambassadors, representing fairs across the province, also gathered to build their leadership skills as well as learning of careers in agriculture.
The OAAS Convention organized a special session on governance to meet a growing demand from their membership. Presenters Cathy Redden, Shawn LaPalm, and Tim Carson (from the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies) spoke on the basics, best practices and the roles and responsibilities as Board Members.
Seminars and panel discussions continued over two days. Over 40 sessions covered topics such as attracting youth to the Board level, being better at meeting with your local politicians, getting your message out into the community and current regulations such as livestock traceability. At the same time people could view provincial competition winners in posters, quilts, cookies, tarts, and photography. Entertainment showcases were held every night as well as a busy auction which saw a John Deere pedal steel tractor donated by Huron Tractor in Exeter sell for $825. There was a heavy competition to see if it could surpass the winning bid on a New Holland tractor, which it did.
The opening speaker, Farmer Tim (Tim May), addressed a crowd of over 600 on his journey to agvocacy. He is a dairy farmer near Guelph who has just under 60 000 followers on Facebook. He shares stories and pictures of the everyday activities of his family and their animals on their farm and takes a lot of time answering questions and explaining farming practices to his many followers on his Facebook page. His humor and pictures illustrate the love farmers have for their animals and how they treat them with respect. Many of his online followers in the audience waited patiently following his message to get their pictures with him.
left Farmer Tim (Tim May) and right incoming President Brian Slaughter
The Convention closed with the Annual General Meeting. The Convention Administrator, Kathryn Lambert, and Manager, Vince Brennan, spoke to the delegates about what they have done during the past year. Outgoing President Doug Yeo from near Bayfield spoke on the things he learned during his year as President. He stressed that Ag Societies need to dream big, that fairs are thriving throughout Ontario and that the Ag Societies need to tell their stories. The OAAS presented Helen Scutt, a recently retired OMAFRA specialist, with its highest honour – the Meritorious Award during the meeting. Helen formerly worked with Agricultural Societies assisting with their needs and questions about government regulations and programs and was a yearly presenter at the Convention. She was extremely well respected by the membership and proof of that was receiving two standing ovations during the presentation. The closing speaker, Jen Puente from the Wisconsin State Fair, stressed the need to drop being around negativity and remember to do the things that actually make you positive. At one point some in the crowd proved they could make the situations as positive as she could. The room was filled with smiles and laughter and the challenge was to do that every day. The incoming President Brian Slaughter from near Forest announced that the OAAS would be celebrating their 175th Anniversary next year and invited everyone back.
The OAAS is very grateful to their many sponsors that make it possible for us to continue to provide the many programs and services for our member Agricultural Societies.
The OAAS is the umbrella organization representing over 200 Agricultural Societies in Ontario. These Agricultural Societies organize and manager fairs in many communities ranging in size from small one day events to large multi-day events. The OAAS provides guidance, education and programs to assist the Agricultural Societies host their fairs and promote agriculture and a rural way of life in Ontario.
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Notice of OAAS Annual Meeting February 15, 2020
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Notice is hereby given of the Annual Meeting of the
Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies.
The Annual Meeting of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2020, at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites, 9005 Leslie St., Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 1B2 beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Grand York Ballroom. This meeting is for the purpose of receiving reports and statements required to be placed before the Annual Meeting, appointing a company to prepare a review engagement financial report of the Corporation, considering changes to Bylaws and for the transaction of such other matters as may properly be brought before the meeting.
The enclosed OAAS Constitution & By-Laws attachment with draft changes reflects work done by the Board and its committees over the past year pertaining to our Constitution and By-Laws - basically the amendments are changing “Office Manager” to “Manager” and two current practices – Committees now choose their own Chair not the President and that the notice of the AGM does not have to be published in an industry periodical.
These amendments to our Constitution & By-Laws will be put forward for consideration by the Membership at the Annual General Meeting taking place at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites, 9005 Leslie St., Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 1B2 on Saturday February 15, 2020 morning beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Grand York Ballroom.
For OAAS Constitution and By-Laws draft Click Here
Ambassador Clothing Suggestions
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The OAAS Ambassador Committee hopes this document will answer your questions regarding recommended Ambassador wardrobe at the 2020 OAAS Convention.
 Ambassador Outfit Suggestions.pdf | [ ] | 459 kB |