On April 10, 2025, farmers, producers, and agriculture business representatives gathered at the GrandWay Events Centre in Elora for Farm & Food Care Ontario’s (FFCO) 2025 Annual Speakers' Conference.
Participants from across the province joined to hear from Claire McCormack, a leading PhD researcher at University College Dublin, who delivered the keynote address on five decades of trends in Irish media coverage of agriculture.
Following the keynote, a panel discussion was moderated by Bernard Tobin, RealAgriculture’s Ontario Field Editor, featuring Scott Miller, award-winning CTV London News reporter, Debora Van Brenk, former agriculture/environment reporter for The London Free Press, and Claire McCormack. The panel explored the changing face of agriculture in media and the factors shaping its narrative.
The event concluded with a presentation from Charlotte Wasylik of Chatsworth Farm in Vermilion, AB, who shared insights on growing trust through transparency in food production and public engagement.
2025 Food & Farming Champion Award - Bruce Christie
Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) celebrated Bruce Christie of Mississauga as the 2025 Food & Farming Champion at its Annual Speakers' Conference on April 10th, honouring his decades of efforts in promoting and supporting Ontario agirculture.
Bruce was nominated by Dave Crossan of Trouw Nutrition with letters of support from long-time industry colleagues William Bearss and Crystal Mackay. He spent 43 years working for Shur-Gain (now Trouw Nutrition), where he served as Marketing Manager and was instrumental in developing innovative livestock, poultry, and pet products. Throughout his career, he played a key role in creating the model farm exhibit at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), helping educate urban Canadians about livestock farming. A familiar presence at the CNE, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, and Breakfast on the Farm events, Christie to this day continues to engage consumers in agricultural education.
Click here to read the full press release
Photos of the 2025 Annual Conference are available here.
Thank you to our 2025 presenting partners
