2023 Annual General Meeting and inaugural Recognition Dinner
highlights focus, integrity and accountability in Ontario’s dairy sector

TORONTO, January 19, 2023 – During a celebration earlier this evening at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, the Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) Board recognized producer commitment to the production of high-quality milk and industry leadership at its inaugural DFO Recognition Dinner. The organization also delivered its 2021-22 Annual Report.

Five Ontario dairy producers with the best quality scores were recognized for their outstanding commitment to quality, and the first-ever DFO Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Glen McNeil (Heather Holme Holsteins, Goderich, Ont.).

Quality Award Winners received Gold Quality Certificates in January 2022 for milk shipped in 2021:

• Citilimits Farms Inc., Jordan Dietrich and Nicole Dietrich
• Zethill Farms Ltd., Russell Zettler
• Ontowa Farms Inc., Martin Family, Ralph Martin and Judy Martin
• Elliottdale Holsteins Ltd., Andrew Elliott and Nicole Elliott
• Slits Dairy Farms Ltd., Pedro Slits and Jolanda Slits

Juanita Echeverry-Munera, Ph.D candidate in the Trouw Nutrition Ruminant Research Centre at the University of Guelph, received the 2023 DFO Doctoral Scholarship of $100,000 to explore methods to raise dairy-beef calves to improve productivity, sustainability and economic return on Canadian farms.

“Ontario dairy producers meet some of the most stringent milk quality requirements in the world and these Quality Award recipients have demonstrated the passion and commitment it takes to be the best of the best,” said Murray Sherk, DFO’s chair. “It’s a true reflection of what we do to support our Canadian dairy system. I commend these producers for their leadership.”

“Glen McNeil’s contributions to the dairy industry as a producer, mentor and advocate have been immense,” said Sherk. “He is kind and generous in giving back to dairy producers and his community, and the sector has benefitted from his commitment to quality, advocacy and goodwill. His is truly a lifetime of achievement, with much more to come, and DFO’s board is proud to present this award to acknowledge that.”

DFO also released its 2021-22 annual report demonstrating a continued focus on supporting a dynamic, profitable and growing dairy sector. You can find the Annual Report on DFO’s website on the Industry Resources page on the top right navigation.

“We set an ambitious growth target and put all our efforts toward meeting it. In the face of high inflation, rising interest rates and increasing costs to produce the food Canadians need, we were able to move the needle for Ontario producers,” said Cheryl Smith, DFO’s chief executive officer. “Dairy is the largest agricultural sector in Ontario, contributing almost $8 billion to the provincial gross domestic product and supporting 100,000 full-time jobs and, as an organization, we remain committed to delivering for Ontario producers.”

For media inquiries, contact media@milk.org

DFO launches popular Milk and Cookies campaign

Giving back to and supporting local communities has always been important to Ontario dairy farmers. This holiday season, Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) is making its fourth consecutive holiday donation of $500,000 to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and other Ontario children’s hospitals in Hamilton (McMaster Children’s Hospitals), London (Children’s Hospital) and Ottawa (CHEO). Since 2019, DFO has donated more than $2 million through the Milk & Cookies campaign to initiatives that support patients and families spending the holidays in Ontario children’s hospitals.

We kick off­ this year’s campaign with a new TV commercial, Home for Christmas. The ritual of leaving milk and cookies out for Santa means hope, excitement and, above all, … magic. The ritual of milk and cookies is the inspiration behind our TV commercial. The objective is to generate awareness of DFO’s donation to Ontario children’s hospitals and strengthen consumers’ perceptions of the dairy industry, while driving consumption by reinforcing the importance and tradition of milk during the exciting holiday season.

To further amplify the donation and generate consumer engagement, the magical pairing of milk and cookies will be used to spread joy to kids spending the holidays in Ontario children’s hospitals. DFO is providing these kids with a custom Santa’s Milk-O-Gram kit. Each kit includes everything a child needs to decorate a unique and festive milk bottle for Santa’s milk to leave out on Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve), including milk coupons. To encourage consumer participation, DFO is inviting families across Ontario to get involved by posting their own messages of support on social media right through the holiday period. The first 300 individuals to post a message will receive a Santa’s Milk-O-Gram kit of their own. Consumers can visit DFO’s social channels to learn more.

The campaign launches on Nov. 28, with 30- and 15-second ads on TV, online video ads, social media, influencers, public relations, billboards, digital advertising, radio ads and broadcast segments on CP24. Our media buy and PR eff­orts will reach all Ontarians and invite them to join us in showing support for kids who are in children’s hospitals across the province this holiday season.

Read the press release here: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/annual-milk-amp-cookies-campaign-from-dairy-farmers-of-ontario-supports-ontario-children-s-hospitals-this-holiday-season-with-500-000-donation-847330161.html

Watch the TV commercials here: https://youtu.be/F7t_HXLocnk

For media inquiries, contact media@milk.org

Visit DFO’s new dairy education centre at 100th Royal Fair

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (The Royal) opened on Nov. 4 to welcome back thousands of visitors to the largest indoor agricultural event in Toronto, Ont.

The Royal is excited to expand on years of a successful partnership with Dairy Farmers of Ontario to create a brand new immersive dairy education experience for its 100th anniversary. The Dairy Education Centre will occupy 4,000 square feet of exhibit space in the Farm to Table Discovery Zone, featuring a new freestall cow enclosure with live cows, and a custom-built state of the art milkhouse by Norwell Dairy Systems.

Guests can get an up-close view of dairy cow care, dairy calves and the entire milking process. Scheduled milking demonstrations conducted by expert Ontario dairy educators will create an interactive learning experience for all attendees of the Royal this year.

The Royal runs until Nov. 13. Visit royalfair.org for more information.

For media inquiries, contact media@milk.org

DFO to launch 10-foot milk tower in Toronto on Nov. 4 and 5

Consumers and media are invited to join Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) at an interactive experience at Yonge-Dundas Square from noon to 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4 and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5.

Watch the Breakfast Television segment showcasing the event: https://www.breakfasttelevision.ca/videos/dairy-farmers-of-ontario-launch-everybody-milk-campaign-at-yonge-dundas-square

The event features a nearly 10-foot tall ‘Everybody Milk Tower’ that is a true ode to milk. Guests will also enjoy a glass of fresh Ontario milk served from a customized vintage trailer, take fun and unique photos and are encouraged to share them on Instagram and TikTok with the #Everybodymilk and tagging @OntarioDairy. To kick-off the celebration, the creator behind viral TikTok recipe channel @Everything_Delish, Jamie Milne, will be on-site capturing content and sharing her own love for milk.

The new Everybody Milk communications platform and marketing campaign is live in market from Oct. 10 to Nov. 27. Building on the strong foundation established through ongoing marketing efforts, this campaign reminds everyone of their love for milk in a celebratory, fun and meaningful way with the goal of increasing consumption.

For media inquiries, contact media@milk.org