Nearly 1,200 delegates from agricultural societies across Ontario attended the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) convention and annual meeting held February 20 – 22 in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Representatives attending from the Bayfield Agricultural Society (BAS) included President Doug Yeo and Treasurer Jentje Steenbeek (District 8 Provincial Director), along with members Vicky and Doug Culbert.
Doug Yeo received first place for his photo in the “Homecraft at the Fair” category in the OAAS Photography Competition.
Crystal Brennan-Yeo received first place for her photo in the “Candid Shot of Children Having Fun at the Fair” category in the OAAS Photography Competition.
In addition to speaker sessions, a trade show, and networking among the more than 210 agricultural societies from across Ontario, there were also some highly anticipated competitions. The BAS fared very well in the OAAS Photography Competition, garnering two first place prizes in a competitive field of entries for photos in the “Candid Shot of Children Having Fun at the Fair” and “Homecraft at the Fair” categories. Congratulations are extended to Crystal Brennan-Yeo and Doug Yeo for their photo wins. Brennan-Yeo also won two third-place prizes as well as a fifth-place prize for photos in other categories.
Cate Thompson was one of eight recipients chosen for the OAAS-Central Canada Exhibition Association Scholarship.
The OAAS-Central Canada Exhibition Association Scholarship recipients were introduced at the annual meeting. Cate Thompson of Bayfield was one of eight recipients in the scholarship program. Thompson is in her third year at the University of Guelph majoring in Animal Biology, with a minor in Agriculture. She is actively involved in volunteer work associated with her passion for animals and research and also serves on the Board of Directors for the BAS. Congratulations, Cate, on this well-deserved scholarship!
Jentje Steenbeek was successful in his run for the position of Member at Large on the OAAS Board of Directors. In addition to Steenbeek’s responsibilities on the Executive of the BAS, he also serves as District 8 Provincial Director. Congratulations, Jentje!