Exciting Speakers For Beef Convention

The Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association is pleased to announce a dynamic line up of speakers for the 13th Annual Beef Industry Convention. The event will be held January 6-8, 2011 at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn in London.

The Convention is renowned for bringing all sectors of Ontario’s beef business together to celebrate the industry while providing valuable insight into the challenges ahead.

Farm Show Carcass Competition Winners

The 2010 Quality Beef Carcass Competition at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) announced its winners on September 27th.

At a dinner meeting in Norwich, Tom Hern from Woodham, ON was named champion among the 15 other competitors.  Having entered the champion animal, Hern receives $1000 in prize money.

Held annually at COFS in Woodstock, the competition promotes meat quality and provides producers with an educational experience– in addition to some friendly competition.

Feeding Farm Show Crowds

Ontario Corn Fed Beef and the “There’s No Taste Like Home” mobile kitchen unit were big hits at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show and the 2010 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo.

For the first time, people attending these events had the opportunity to buy Ontario Corn Fed Beef from the trailer.

“It’s gone extremely well, we had a huge first day,” said Jim Clark, executive director of the Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association of the response to the Corn Fed Beef sales during the first day of the Outdoor Farm Show near Woodstock. “People are responding to it very well and it’s good to see.”

Make It Beef Scores a TD

3,000 Tailgate Taster sandwiches featuring Ontario Corn Fed Beef were served to hungry football fans at Rogers Centre in Toronto Sept. 19.

The promotion – Score a Touchdown with Ontario Beef – was held in conjunction with Argo Family Day before the Toronto Argonauts squared off with Winnipeg later in the afternoon in their Canadian Football League game.

The high-spirited tailgate party featured children’s football throwing and kicking stations, free face painting and tattoos, and a free pre-game snack of pulled beef sandwiches.

Corn Fed Beef Tour

People in the Chatham-Kent area had the chance to learn more about Ontario Corn Fed Beef when they stopped by Stan Brien’s farm.

Brien took part in a public tour of farms and other agri-businesses in the Ridgetown area Sept.12.

“I have been impressed. The public has been great and they have all been interested in what we are doing,” said Stan Brien of the annual the Round the County Agri-Tour, organized by the Kent Federation of Agriculture.

On The Road Again

Be sure to stop by and see us at our mobile kitchen unit, known as the “There’s No Taste Like Home” trailer.  Operated by the Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association, the unit brings the great taste of local food products, like Ontario Corn Fed Beef, to consumers across the province. We’ll be at Canada’s Outdoor Farm…

OCFA Salutes 4-H Beef Clubs

As the fall fair season hits full stride, hundreds of young people will be taking part in the local 4-H competitions.  

Despite the many challenges the beef industry has faced in recent years, participation in the 4-H beef competitions has been steady.

 Lyndon Stewart, executive director of 4-H Ontario, says beef remains in the top three livestock projects, along with the dairy and horse categories.

 “Since 2003, we have had in excess of 1,000 members per year. And even in 2010, we have 1,037 4-H members enrolled in beef clubs or projects,” says Stewart.

Innovative Corn Fed Beef Producers

Beef producers in Lambton County have been recognized for building a better chute that reduces stress on their cattle. Tony Noorloos and his family were presented with a regional Premier’s Award for Agri-food Innovation Excellence.

“We’re very honoured to receive that award. When we applied for it, we weren’t sure what to expect, but we’re very happy to receive it,” said Tony.

Partnership Produces New Beef Products

St. Helen’s Meat Packers has teamed up with the Ontario Corn Fed Beef Program (OCFBP) on two new beef products.

Rachel’s Corned Beef Brisket and North of 90 Beef Breakfast Strips are aimed at filling a void in the marketplace, giving more consumers a chance to enjoy Ontario Corn Fed Beef, the signature brand of the Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association (OCFA).  The collaboration is the latest example of the partnership between the OCFBP and the Toronto processor.