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Farmers and agricultural leaders across Dundas, Frontenac, Grenville and Leeds will soon have an important opportunity to help shape the future of agriculture in Ontario.
Members of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) in Zone 11 are being called upon to vote for the next Zone 11 Director, who will represent local agricultural interests on the OFA Provincial Board for a three-year term beginning after the OFA Annual General Meeting on November 24–25, 2026, in Toronto.
Eligible voters can expect to receive their election package by mail during the week of August 10. The package will include a letter, ballot, voting instructions and candidate profiles.
Voting will open on Monday, August 17, and close at the end of the business day on Friday, September 11, 2026. Members can cast their vote in one of three ways: By mailing in their completed ballot, by telephone, or through the online voting platform
Members are encouraged to refer to the letter they received outlining the voting options. Anyone who does not receive an election package should contact the OFA head office at 1-800-668-3276.
The OFA is encouraging strong participation in this year’s election, emphasizing the importance of local representation at the provincial level.
“The elected representative will bring local concerns to the provincial board table and help ensure a strong voice for the agricultural community in Zone 11,” the organization noted.
This year’s election features two candidates, each bringing unique experience, perspectives and priorities to the role.
Clint Cameron: Experience, Advocacy and Provincial Leadership
Incumbent Director Clint Cameron is seeking re-election after serving Zone 11 on the OFA Board over the past three years.
A lifelong farmer from the Cardinal area, Cameron’s agricultural roots stretch back decades. His family’s operation has evolved from raising Quarter Horses and producing small square bales to today’s diversified enterprise focused on hay, grain and Boer goats marketed across Canada.
While maintaining strong ties to the farm, Cameron pursued post-secondary education at the University of Ottawa, studying Criminology and Administrative Management before continuing finance studies at Queen’s University. His professional career included roles in procurement, logistics, project management, finance and global program management before returning full-time to farming in 2016.
During his current term, Cameron has become actively involved in agricultural advocacy at all levels. He has participated in radio interviews, newspaper contributions, government roundtable discussions and meetings with municipal, provincial and federal officials. He has represented agricultural interests at Queen’s Park, the Senate and the House of Commons.
Within the OFA, Cameron currently serves as Chair of the Finance Committee, is a past Chair of the Energy Committee and sits on the Pension Governance Committee. He also serves on the Port of Johnstown Advisory Board.
Looking ahead, Cameron says his priorities include:
- Preserving agricultural land and supporting food sovereignty
- Investing in rural infrastructure and agricultural support programs
- Ensuring agriculture is represented during Conservation Authority restructuring
- Addressing agricultural labour shortages and supporting temporary foreign worker programs
- Opposing the current proposed ALTO high-speed rail corridor alignment affecting Eastern Ontario farmland
Cameron says he believes his combination of farming experience, professional expertise and advocacy work positions him well to continue representing Zone 11 farmers at the provincial level.
Julian Whittaker: Fresh Perspective and Grassroots Representation
Challenging for the director position is Julian Whittaker, a sixth-generation farmer from Augusta Township whose family has farmed the same land since 1867.
Whittaker’s campaign centres on grassroots representation, accountability and farmland protection. He emphasizes his firsthand experience navigating farm succession challenges after his family purchased and continued operating the family farm when no formal succession plan existed.
An Industrial Design graduate from Sheridan College, Whittaker says he applies engineering and systems-thinking principles to both farm management and policy analysis.
Currently serving as Grenville County’s representative on the OFA Policy Advisory Council, Whittaker has spent the past two years contributing to policy discussions while also serving as Vice President of the Grenville Federation of Agriculture. He is also a Director with Antique Wheels in Motion.
Whittaker’s campaign message focuses heavily on accessibility and accountability in representation, arguing that effective leadership requires consistent engagement with members and active participation in meetings, consultations and decision-making processes.
One of his primary concerns is the proposed ALTO high-speed rail project. Because the proposed corridor could directly affect his own farm and neighbouring properties, Whittaker has made farmland protection a central campaign issue.
He argues that Eastern Ontario needs strong advocacy to protect productive agricultural land from infrastructure developments that could permanently impact farm businesses and rural communities.
“Our land, our legacy and our businesses deserve a director who treats every acre as sacred,” Whittaker states in his campaign materials.
OFA members are encouraged to review the candidate information carefully and participate in the election process.
With voting opening August 17 and closing September 11, Zone 11 farmers have the opportunity to help determine who will represent their interests and help guide the future direction of Ontario agriculture.
