The Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) elected the 2003-2004 Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting February 4, 2003.

The Council’s board includes 16 elected representatives from Ontario’s diverse agricultural sectors and two ex-officio representatives from the federal and provincial governments. In addition, the board elected a three-member executive for the coming year.

The newly elected chair, Bob Bedggood, has been an AAC director since 1999. The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario representative to the AAC, Bob has served on the executive since 2000 and has been vice-chair since 2001. Bob and his wife Sandy operate a 350-acre cash crop farm in Thorndale. Active in water quality issues, he is a director and former vice-chair of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority and an AAC representative on the Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Initiative committee. He was a member of the Agricultural Policy Framework advisory committee on the environment and the Odyssey group.

Bette Jean Crews, one of two Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) representatives on the AAC board, is vice-chair. At the OFA, she is a member of the executive, a regional director for Northumberland County, and serves on several committees. An active volunteer, she was provincial treasurer of the Ontario Farm Women’s Network, a founding member of the Apple Route, and a member of the Northumberland Land Use Committee. She and her husband Colin operate an apple orchard, a U-pick and direct market vegetable operation, and produce grains and oilseeds. She received the Agri-Food and Rural Volunteer Recognition Award from the University of Guelph.

Tom Smyth, one of two agri-business representatives on the AAC Board and a director since 1995, is the third executive member. Tom is retired from a 50-year career at H.J. Heinz Company of Canada Ltd. where he served as president, CEO and chairman. He has extensive board experience including serving on the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario, Food and Consumer Products Manufacturers of Canada, the Food Institute of Canada, and is a founding member of the National Institute of Nutrition. He is a past director of Versacold Corporation Inc. Tom and his wife Maureen own and operate a full blood Simmental cattle ranch.

The Agricultural Adaptation Council is a non-profit coalition of 55 agricultural, agri-business and rural organizations working together to support Ontario’s agricultural sector and rural communities. The AAC receives its funding through Ontario’s share of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development (CARD) fund.

The AAC supports projects that foster long-term growth, self-reliance, competitiveness and employment for Ontario agriculture.

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For more information about the Agricultural Adaptation Council: www.adaptcouncil.org  Mary Jarvis, 519-822-7554 or Mary's e-mail

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Agricultural Adaptation Council Directors 2003/2004
Chair: Bob Bedggood, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario

Vice-Chair: Bette Jean Crews, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Executive Members:
Tom Smyth, Agri Business Kim Turnbull, Grains & Oilseeds
Fred Wagner, Grains & Oilseeds
Terry Otto, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
George Demeyere, Tobacco
Bill McCutcheon, Horticulture
Howard Staff, Horticulture
Allan Burn, Red Meat
Wayne Newman, Red Meat
Gord Johnson, Dairy Farmers of Ontario
Scott Graham, Poultry
Alain Delorme, Rural Life
Gord Surgeoner, Other Commodity
Hugh Loomans, Agri Business
Wayne Parlee (ex-officio), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Hugh Berges (ex-officio), Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food