OFA president wins for Women in Agriculture
President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) Bette Jean Crews is one of five women in Canada to be honoured with the Rosemary Davis award by Farm Credit Canada.
The award recognizes leadership and commitment to the Canadian agriculture and agri-food industry.
A News release from Farm Credit Canada stated the award recognizes “courage, determination and passion. They [recipients] have followed their dreams and taken the time to share their knowledge with others in support of the future success of the Canadian agriculture industry.”
Crews is serving her second term as OFA president. Before that she was vice-president for two years, and a member of the OFA executive committee for six. She has been a board member of OnTrace, is a past chairman of the Agricultural Management Institute, and is past chairman of the Agricultural Adaptation Council.
With her involvement at OFA, Crews takes on responsibilities at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) where she serves on the executive committee; is co-chairman of the food safety committee; and agricultural representative on the Canadian Supply chain Food Safety Coalition.
Her family operates an 800-acre, fourth generation farm in the Trenton area of southeastern Ontario
She has received the University of Guelph Volunteer Recognition award (2000); and was featured as an Entrepreneur of the Year in
Progressive Choicesmagazine (2005).
In her community, Crews has been president of the Trenton branch of the Business and Professional Women’s Clubs of Ontario, and secretary of the Trenton Farmers’ Market Association. She has four adult children and five grandchildren.
Other recipients of the FCC award come from British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Quebec.
