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.
Fairs in Ontario CFFO Commentary
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Agricultural Fairs: Fellowship, Fun and Farming
This is the time of year, we begin to anticipate the changing of the season. The days are getting a little shorter and the first signs of leaves changing colour will soon be spotted. This is also about the time of year that you will notice that Fall Fair season is once again here.
Local fairs are a part of our culture. Many fairs in Ontario were even founded before Confederation, such as the Williamstown Fair in the eastern part of the province, which began in 1808.
Today, there are over 200 agricultural fairs taking place in Ontario every year, running from May to October. The Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) is the umbrella organization for Ontario’s local agricultural societies, which organize local fairs each year. The mission of the OAAS is to assist local ag societies by “providing leadership through communication and education, and encouraging the promotion of a rural way of life.”
Arguably, the most important part of fairs today is the opportunity to display rural life: Livestock competitions, field crop competitions, garden produce—not to mention all the delicious fresh baked or preserved foods competing for first place.
All that we see at fall fairs tell us where our food comes from. We can see what is grown locally, produced by people who live not so far from their non-farming neighbours. And, of course, you don’t have to own a farm in order to grow your own food. Every community member has an opportunity to share their talents, from food to arts and crafts.
When we ask our grandchildren if they would like to come to any fair, we know the answer before we ask. Lots of food, candy, popcorn—you name it—and true entertainment like tractor or horse pulls or even demolition derbies, are all part of the fun.
Every fair you go to, you are likely to meet someone, whether an old friend or new. Many fairs also host community-wide worship services, which offer opportunities to build fellowship across denominations. Yes, fall fairs bring communities together.
During this year’s fair season, we hope the events that local organizers work so hard on will be well attended and that everyone who comes will learn a little more about agriculture.
Simon de Boer is a Director for the Executive Board of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. The CFFO Commentary represents the opinions of the writer and does not necessarily represent CFFO policy. The CFFO Commentary is heard weekly on CFCO Chatham, CKXS Chatham, and CKNX Wingham.
Posted by cffoadmin on August 23, 2019
Tags: Agricultural Fairs, Agriculture, rural communities
Livestock Traceability Requirements Updates!
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In response to the many questions and concerns from Agricultural Societies on their responsibilities regarding Livestock Traceability Requirements, Guidelines and forms have been posted on our website - <click here>
These documents are intended to assist your Agricultural Society in negotiating all the numerous websites, documents and information that has been provided regarding Livestock Traceability Requirements.
An email with all the documents was sent on July 19 to all Agricultural Societies, Provincial Directors and District Directors and Secretaries. We ask you to share them with your Livestock Committees and Board Members.
One of documents was the “Traceability Responsibilities for Owners and Exhibitors showing or displaying their livestock on Fairgrounds”. We suggest you share this document with your Exhibitors, so they are aware of their responsibilities for Livestock Traceability Requirements as it pertains to exhibiting or displaying livestock at our Fairs.
Our apologies for the lateness of this document, but it has taken a considerable amount of time to verify the information that we have collected from the various CFIA and other agency sites and documents.
OAAS has worked with CAFE to create the documents to help answer your questions regarding exactly what our Agricultural Societies’ responsibilities are to remain compliant under the CFIA Traceability Requirements.
We strongly encourage you to review the information on our website <click here> to ensure that your Agricultural Society is compliant with the Livestock Traceability Requirements and would not face possible penalties due to violations of the Health of Animals Regulations, Part XV (Livestock identification and traceability)
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OAAS Convention 2020 ~ Convention Information
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OAAS 2020 Convention: February 13-15, 2020
Links to 2020 Convention Pages
- Convention Registration
- Entertainment Showcase Application
- Trade Show Application
- Service Membership
- Hotel Accommodations
Convention Schedule from 2019
News
Michael Philpott honoured by OAAS
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Kids who come to the West Niagara Fair should love Michael Philpott. He’s the chairperson of the Kidz Zone at the fair. He is the one who makes sure there is toy tractors and corn to play in, mystery farm objects and saddles to try out. His area is pretty popular.
From left: Vince Brennan, Michael Philpott, Judy McFaul. He is also in charge of parking (that might not make him so popular) and he runs the successful Junk in the Trunk garage sale every spring. It is also been said that he keeps the floors of the Community Building nice and shiny.
Philpott was recognized by his peers and awarded a Meritorious Service Award at the recent Ontario Association of Agriculture Societies convention in Toronto.
“My history with the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies started with the Lincoln Agricultural Society and then the joining of the Lincoln and the Smithville Agricultural Society.”
In 2006, he took on the challenge of becoming a District 6 associate agricultural director and then an agricultural director, which he was until 2017 when the OAAS started downsizing the provincial board.