Geri Kamenz gets top Farm Products Commission

Thursday, December 11, 2008

© Copyright AgMedia Inc

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

Ontario’s agriculture minister has revealed what has to be one of the worst kept secrets in the provincial farm community.

Geri Kamenz, former president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, is the new chair of the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission.

Kamenz, 47, runs a 1,000 acre cash crop, beef and hog operation with his wife, Heather, near Spencerville in eastern Ontario.

He has been involved in provincial and national organizations and committees over the years, including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Environmental Advisory Committee, the Canadian Agri-Food Research Council and the Agricultural Adaptation Council.

In a press release issued Thursday, Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky highlighted Kamenz’s “broad agricultural knowledge and proven chairing skills,” and stated the appointment “will benefit producers and their processor-partners in our regulated marketing system.”

Rumours of a government appointment for the former OFA president surfaced when he declined to seek another term as a director in early November.

Kamenz explained at the time that he “would be doing the organization a service by standing aside and letting it find its way in its new organizational status.” He had already served as OFA president for two years. BF