Norfolk Federation of Agriculture president Tyler Townsend is the seventh generation of his family to grow the same land.
First elected as president in March 2023, he was re-elected this year and at 37 years old,
brings youth to the executive. This was a step up from being vice-president for him, as he was on the board for a few years prior to that.
“Some of the older members that were leaving asked if I would let my name stand,” he recounted as the reason he became president.
As president, he chairs the meeting.
One of the main responsibilities of the Norfolk Federation of Agriculture is to advocate for farmers at the county level. This goes along with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture lobbying for farmers provincially and Canadian Federation of Agriculture nationally.
With reassessment coming to Ontario in the next couple of years, NFA is gearing up to go to bat for farmers when Norfolk County sets the tax rate.
“As farm land, it may be increasing in value but at the end of the day we aren’t making any more money than we were 20 years ago,” Townsend said. “Our costs have gone up but corn is the same price. I know with beans the margin is as tight as it was before. It doesn’t matter if you milk cows, raise chickens, whatever, the costs have continually gone up. Every time taxes increase on the land, it affects us.”
NFA also reviews request for funding. Generally, NFA supports the Norfolk County Fair’s ag awareness programs and Norfolk General Hospital. One of their more recent initiatives is supporting the soccer tournament that was organized for temporary foreign workers. They are also throwing their support behind the irrigation day coming up that is being organized by Norfolk Soil and Crop Improvement Association.
“I’m the guy that if someone wants something they will call me and I can make sure the secretary gets it in front of the board,” Townsend said.
At 37, Townsend is one of the younger presidents NFA has had. But, he grew up on the farm and has generations-old farming knowledge.
The farm he lives on south of Walsingham, was settled by his great-great-great-great grandfather in 1842. His great-great-grandfather, John Wilbur Townsend – known as the Colonel for his rank in the Norfolk Militia, was one of the pioneers in bringing tobacco to Norfolk County. The family understands the farm was the second one in the county with tobacco on it when the first crop was planted in 1927.
The farm was originally used for white beans and at one time was also a sheep farm.
“I know that is one of the reasons my great-great grandfather brought tobacco here was because the sheep herd was killed off by wolves,” Townsend said.
Today, Townsend farms with his parents Bill and Susanna, growing cash crops on 400 to 500 acres. This includes the farm where his father lives across the highway and rented ground.
While on the surface, it might seem like younger blood at the helm of the NFA being a positive step forward as past-president Ted Smith is also younger, Townsend said there are still a lot of older farmers on the executive.
“We try every year but it just seems to be the same people come back. We don’t seem to be able to entice any new faces,” he said, while encouraging others to join the executive.
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