Five families have been chosen this year under the Chicken Farmers of Ontario new entrants program.
They are:
· Ryan and Randilyn Anderson, District 3 which stretches from Woodstock to Windsor.
· Carson Baks, District 1 which is the northerly part of the board's territory.
· Eamon and Janelle Johnston, District 3
· Will and Tara MacArthur, District 9, which is the area east of Toronto and
· Brian and Jessie Szmiett, District 3
The program finalists come from a wide variety of farming backgrounds and were selected following an extensive application review by a panel of financial and farming experts.
The New Entrant Chicken Farmer Program supports qualified new farmers in joining the chicken industry by providing up to 4,000 basic units of quota and by providing education, training and mentorship to guide a successful transition for The quota is non-transferrable and is to be returned to the board on a gradual basis.
Since 2012, CFO has welcomed twenty-four new chicken farming families through the program, said board chairman Ed Benjamins.
