ROOTS Community Fund to support the Sustainability of Rural Ontario (Canada)

Blair is a Dairy and Cash crop farmer residing near Chatsworth ON. Prior to being in primary production Blair worked as a Territory sales manager for a major input supplier.  Blair graduated from the University of Guelph with a BSc in Agriculture and currently holds a Certified Crop Advisor designation.  Blair and his wife Brett have two young children.

Carrie graduated from the University of Guelph in 2003 with a degree in both Political Science and French. After spending 12 years working in the agriculture industry, she made the switch to steel and is currently employed at Vicwest in Stratford.  She enjoys learning, is fascinated by culture, and loves to travel. She is honoured to have had the opportunity to participate in various exchange programs through The Rural Ontario Institute, and Rotary International.  Carrie and her husband Alex reside in Wellesley, and they can both be found at the curling rink as many days per week as possible.  She loves the Olympics, animals, reading, music, and a smorgasboard of physical activities.

Jennifer and her family operate Legge Beef Farms north of Chesley. She is currently the Volunteer Services and Special Event Coordinator for the Alzheimer Society Grey-Bruce. Jennifer previously owned and operated a business doing fresh floral designs and wedding invitations and holds a diploma in agriculture from the University of Guelph. Her community involvement includes working actively with the Bruce County Beef Farmers, reading grants for Community Foundations Grey-Bruce, and previous roles with Minor Hockey, Breakfast Club, the Chesley Medical Centre Fundraising Committee, and as the Beautification Chair for the Bruce County IPM. Jennifer enjoys hiking, gardening, photography, travelling and being a soccer/hockey Mom.

Karen and her husband Steve started Legacy Holsteins near Atwood.  Over the years the herd has performed well being recognized nationally for superior genetics and top production.  Legacy Holsteins is transitioning with partners Geoff & Sally McMullen to continue the dairy heritage into the future.  Karen graduated with a DVM and MSc (Capacity and Rural development) from Guelph. International development in the dairy industry connected her with Kenyan Kids Canada of which she is founding director.  Other board involvement included Perth Care for Kids, Trillium Mutual, Four County Labour Marketing Board, and Atwood Presbyterian church. Continuous lifelong learning is a passion that she practices through traveling, hiking, gardening, quilting and reading.

Derek and his wife Shelly-Ann migrated their family from Trinidad & Tobago to Canada in early 2010 and have been residents of Listowel ever since.  Derek is Vice President at Molesworth Farm Supply Ltd. responsible for innovation, technology, manufacturing, logistics, regulatory compliance and project management.  He is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, holds a B.Sc. Management Studies from the University of the West Indies, a Post Graduate Diploma in Port Planning and Management from the University of New Orleans, a Masters’ Certificate in Business Analysis from York University and a Certificate in Python Programming from Cornell University. Derek formerly volunteered in the positions of Board Chair at Community Living North Perth, Co-Chair of the Habitat for Humanity Listowel Project, and basketball coach for the Municipality of North Perth.  Derek provides support around race relations and equity to various organizations, and is involved with numerous Boards at the Municipal, Provincial and Federal levels.  He sits on the North Perth Police Services, Agricorp, the Ontario Agri Business Association, and the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada boards.  Derek enjoys developing software, basketball, riding, hiking and continuous learning.

Doug lives in the Clinton area and is a retired educator who was raised on a mixed farming operation. He taught in schools in Huron County at the K-8 levels as a classroom, resource and special education teacher.  During his teaching career he obtained a BA from WLU and a M.Ed. from UWO.  Over the years he has volunteered by being a board member for Big Brothers, Habitat for Humanity, the municipal recreation board, church boards, the Bayfield Agricultural Society and just finished his role as Past President of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS).  In his years on the provincial board of the OAAS he spent a great deal of time on the governance committee and convention seminar committee.  His interests include gardening, photography and reading about history.

Blair is a Dairy and Cash crop farmer residing near Chatsworth ON. Prior to being in primary production Blair worked as a Territory sales manager for a major input supplier.  Blair graduated from the University of Guelph with a BSc in Agriculture and currently holds a Certified Crop Advisor designation.  Blair and his wife Brett have two young children.