Feeding Your Future
Promoting agri-food jobs and training opportunities across
Ontario.
Making connections in the agri‑food workforce.
Employers are seeking qualified candidates for Ontario’s food, beverage and agri-products sector. Feeding Your Future wants to make it easier for employers to find, train, and retain the workers they need, and help employ Ontarians with meaningful jobs during COVID-19 and beyond.
Want to learn more?
Explore these project toolkits to learn more and register for upcoming events.
Employer Toolkit Job Seeker ToolkitJob Matching Concierge Service
OFA is partnering with AgCareers.com and CareersInFood.com to help agri-food businesses set up an account online, post job openings, and manage applications.
Streamlining the process of connecting job seekers with agri‑food employers
Through webinars, agri-training opportunities and virtual career fairs, Feeding Your Future allows candidates to learn more about agriculture, enter the workforce feeling prepared and confident and bridges the gap to new employers and job opportunities.
Webinars
Free webinars for job seekers and employers to learn about opportunities in agri-food, health, safety and workplace cultureAgri-training
A new online certificate for employees and job seekers as an introduction to agri-food safety and awarenessCareer Fairs
Free online events hosted across the province to connect agri-food employers and job seekersFacebook Posts
Meet panelist Teresa Van Raay!
Teresa and her husband, Martin, have been farming for 38 years in Dashwood, Ontario. Together, they produce pork and grow corn, wheat, soybeans and garlic. They also operate the Whole Pig Company to market their high quality pork directly to consumers. In 2017, Teresa and Martin built a plant on the farm to package garlic for grocery stores.
Teresa represents Ontario Pork as Chair with the London Swine Conference and as a Director of AgScape. In November 2019, Teresa was elected as Director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
Make sure to have all questions ready for Teresa at tomorrow's webinar @ 10am!
"As industries have shifted in Ontario, and agriculture has become the strongest sector in the Canadian economy, I couldn't be happier about my gamble to get involved."
Introducing Mark Torrey who grew up in Kawartha Lakes, Ontario!
Mark is a Member Service Representative with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, covering the areas of Kawartha Lakes/Haliburton, Durham Region and Peterborough County. With his wife and children, Mark also owns and operates his family cash-crop and beef farm that has been in the Torrey family since 1863!
Mark attended the University of Guelph, graduating in 2000 with an Associate Diploma of Agriculture from the Ontario Agricultural College. Until he started post-secondary schooling, he didn't have a major interest in pursuing a career in agriculture. Mark almost attended college for graphic design and music but decided against this after completing a high school placement at a print shop. His father encouraged him to consider a career pathway in agriculture which Mark is very happy he chose to pursue.
With ties to his family farm, Mark was happy to discover the number of opportunities that existed beyond the 'hub' of agriculture in central Ontario. Over the years, he was able to gain experience at a fertilizer and seed retailer as well as in the seed industry where he helped develop seed varieties for sale in Canada. Mark studied for and earned his Certified Crop Advisor's certificate which led to a position in Agronomy and Sales.
Through these opportunities, he quickly learned the diversity within each sector of agriculture from primary production, to marketing, to biotechnology, agronomy and even the people! He is grateful for the community in the agriculture sector and that he can remain in touch with and continue to build connections with the people he met through school 20 years ago.
#FeatureYourFuture #FeedYourFuture
It's #WorldFoodDay! 🍇🧀🥖
Explore a new resource created by @UtensilDotCA. From acres to zest, the Utensil Guide has over 500 terms available to improve communication of farm to kitchen jargon.
Check it out for yourself and don't forget to share! utensil.ca/guide/
On TUESDAY October 20th, join our live panel of experts to answer any career questions! Build your knowledge of the careers available in agriculture and the extent of what the industry has to offer.
Stay tuned as we introduce and highlight each of our highly skilled panelists!
Timeline PhotosWHAT: Feeding Your Future's Webinar 'Ask the Agri-Food Employer: Panelists from Field To Fork Share Their Insights'
WHEN: October 20 @ 10:00AM
WHY: Join us as we look at current in demand jobs, touch on employer concerns & explore career possibilities in the industry!
COST: FREE
WHERE: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7315928440521/WN_Yfr_riNSTRqVI8crVuFnbg
#feedyourfuture #agrifood #jobseekers #webinar #fieldtofork #employers #careers #jobopportunities
Now is your chance to ask the agri-food employer! Join panelists from field to fork during our next webinar on Tuesday October 20th to gain professional insight.
This event will be held from 10am-11am and it's not too late to register for free here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Yfr_riNSTRqVI8crVuFnbg
"The more I get involved in agriculture, the more I realize how many opportunities there are. I'm excited to see my future in agriculture!"
This week meet Emily Fuller from Mossley, Ontario!
Emily is currently a grade 12 student and has hopes of attending the University of Guelph next year for the Animal Science program 🐄 Although Emily did not grow up on a farm, she did grow up in a rural community which gave her many options and opportunities to get involved in agriculture.
Emily works for Verhoef Dairy where she milks, feeds and vaccinates calves and is eager to help with any other odd jobs. Since the age of 14, Emily has been working on dairy farms. She is happy to stay busy and chooses to work whenever she isn't in school. Emily's older brother began working on a farm and showing dairy cows which influenced Emily to start showing dairy cows through 4-H at the young age of 9! 🍀
Networking through 4-H, big open dairy shows and work on dairy farms has introduced Emily to many amazing people and friendships. It really feels like one big family- everybody comes together when times get tough but are also lots of fun to be around. Emily is happy that has been able to get so involved in agriculture and looks forward to growing her passion in this sector!
#FeatureYourFuture #FeedYourFuture
Emily Fuller 😍
She is heading in the right direction! Beautiful young lady with a bright future.
What a beautiful picture and article ❤
This Thanksgiving and #OntAgWeek, bring your kids into the kitchen and teach the basics of food prep and making healthy food choices🥘
Six by Sixteen is an OFA initiative to teach kids how to make 6 nourishing dishes by the age of 16 👩🍳
Check it out here ow.ly/tT5K50BOCEB
Taking charge of Thanksgiving for the first time this year?
Follow along with @FarmFoodCareON this #OntAgWeek for Thanksgiving 101 prep 🦃
New recipes and cooking demonstrations are available on their website! www.farmfoodcareon.org/ont-ag-week/
Over 60% of individuals with mental illness will not seek the help they need. Unfortunately, individuals employed in the agriculture sector are no exception.
During #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek we want to recognize the people who deserve support every day.
Take care of those around you.
Meet panelist Teresa Van Raay!
Teresa and her husband, Martin, have been farming for 38 years in Dashwood, Ontario. In 2019, Teresa was elected as Director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
Check out Teresa's full bio on our Facebook and LinkedIn pages!
It's #WorldFoodDay! 🍇🧀🥖
Explore a new resource created by @UtensilDotCA. From acres to zest, the Utensil Guide has over 500 terms available to improve communication of farm to kitchen jargon.
Check it out for yourself and don't forget to share! https://utensil.ca/guide/
On TUESDAY October 20th, join our live panel of experts to answer any career questions! Build your knowledge of the careers available in agriculture and the extent of what the industry has to offer.
Stay tuned as we introduce and highlight each of our highly skilled panelists!
#DYK 1 in 8 jobs in Canada are in the agri-food sector 🌽🐂🍽️
Visit @AgScapeON's Growing Careers YouTube channel that provides an intro to the wide variety of career options. Over 75 career profile videos are available for viewing!!
Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT9iLj3VngaEM1-W4E5ODAGtTrfGzK8Jt
Now is your chance to ask the agri-food employer! Join panelists from field to fork during our next webinar on Tuesday October 20th to gain professional insight.
This event will be held from 10am-11am and it's not too late to register for free here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Yfr_riNSTRqVI8crVuFnbg
From November 6-8th join in on the @AgritechH, going virtual this year!
Sign up in teams of 4 today to 'hack' away at solutions for challenges facing the agricultural sector. Register now at http://agritechhackathon.ca
This Thanksgiving and #OntAgWeek, bring your kids into the kitchen and teach the basics of food prep and making healthy food choices🥘
Six by Sixteen is an OFA initiative to teach kids how to make 6 nourishing dishes by the age of 16 👩🍳
Check it out here http://ow.ly/oxec50BOCED
Taking charge of Thanksgiving for the first time this year?
Follow along with @FarmFoodCareON this #OntAgWeek for Thanksgiving 101 prep 🦃
New recipes and cooking demonstrations are available on their website! https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/ont-ag-week/
Check out our new Ag @ Work page on our website http://feedingyourfuture.ca/agatwork which highlights unique career stories in agriculture 👩🌾
The career paths in agriculture and food are endless so contact us today to share your story! #FeatureYourFuture
Our food system can get complicated so @theloft32 has developed a toolkit through @UtensilDotCA to help navigate all things food and farming 🍽️
These resources can be used by anyone to learn how to communicate about the agricultural sector with the help of trained experts!
