GUELPH – The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) has anounced 18 current and emerging leaders from across Ontario selected to be a part of Class 21 of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP).
Three of those selected live in Wellington County (Clifford, Arthur and Elora).
Participants will start their AALP leadership journey in August 2025.
“Congratulations to the selected Class 21 participants,” stated ROI leadership programs director Gabrielle Ferguson in a press release.
“You are about to embark on a transformative leadership journey – one that will challenge you to reflect deeply and grow into the leader you are meant to be.”
She continuted: “In today’s complex global environment, strong leadership is more important than ever to ensure the continued success and resilience of Ontario’s agri-food sector.”
Over the course of the program, Class 21 participants will come together for a series of in-person seminars, webinars, study tours – North American and international – and small group issues analysis projects for agriculture, food and rural community clients.
AALP focuses on building foundational skills and providing context for practicing them in a safe but challenging environment.
The curriculum adapts with relevant topics for each class to promote new multi-stakeholder approaches while developing critical self-analysis.
“Our government appreciates the input of Ontario’s world-class agricultural leaders as we continue to create the right conditions for the growth of our $51 billion agri-food industry,” said Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Trevor Jones.
“We are proud to support opportunities in experiential education and leadership development like those provided by the prestigious Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program. I commend the participants of Class 21 for their commitment to agriculture leadership excellence and wish them well in their careers.”
“For decades, AALP has empowered emerging leaders in the agri-food and rural sectors – many of whom are OAC alumni – to drive positive change in their communities and industries,” added Ontario Agricultural College dean John Cranfield.
“We are especially proud of the powerful outcomes that stem from this unique leadership journey.”
Each AALP Class is created with attention to the diversity of participants, so that peer-to-peer mentorship, interrelationships and a broad network are developed.
Class 21 participants represent livestock, media, horticulture, grain, and/or involved in agri-business and agri-food, financial sectors, government, non-government and commodity associations and small business.
The class ranges in age from 29 to 60.
AALP, supported and funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, the Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs, and ag-sector organizations/industry, is delivered by the Rural Ontario Institute, a charitable organization committed to developing leaders and facilitating collaboration on issues and opportunities facing rural and northern Ontario communities.
“Established in 1984, AALP has graduated over 540 leaders who are making a positive difference across Ontario and beyond,” officials stated.
AALP Class 21 participants include:
- Alicia Becker, Clifford, community engagement manager for Farm & Food Care Ontario;
- Katie Normet, Arthur, River’s Edge Goat Dairy, owner and farmer;
- Kaitlin Lake, Elora, director of grower services with Maple Lodge Farms;
- Mel Karpenko, Grand Valley, co-owner of Grand River Farm;
- Greg de Vos, Guelph, manager of strategic coordination and initiatives, agriculture development branch of Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness;
- Mike Barun, Georgetown, director of finance for Egg Farmers of Ontario;
- Sunit Chandan, London, manager of business development for Farm Credit Canada;
- Julie Danen, Shakespeare, owner of Danzel Holsteins;
- Lindsay Dykeman, Kincardine, general manager of Ontario Dairy Goat Co-operative Inc.;
- Paige Handsor, Wallaceburg, farm realtor and co-owner of Match Realty Inc.;
- Aodin MacDonell, Williamstown, grain sustainability lead for Greenfield Global Inc.;
- Andrew Munro, Oshawa, Caldwell Securities, community and client development;
- Kristy Nudds, Tillsonburg, Glacier FarmMedia’s publication Farmtario, editor;
- Kelsey Randhawa, Angus, leadership programs coordinator for the Rural Ontario Institute;
- Mackenna Roth, Strathroy, rural policy advocate and cut flower farmer;
- Liam van Steekelenburg, maintenance manager for CosMic Plants Inc.;
- Angela Zilke, Embro, secretary/treasurer for Zilke Enterprises Inc.; and
- Melinda Zurbrigg, St. Marys, relationship manager for Libro Credit Union.
