Sidebar 6: Carolynne Griffith, 66, Lambton County

Monday, May 4, 2009

Griffith, who has one son and one daughter, established a laying hen and cash crop operation with her late husband, Arthur, in the 1960s. Today, the family has 23,000 laying hens on the home farm, 25,000 broilers on her son John's farm and 2,000 acres of wheat, corn and soybeans.

Greatest success. Becoming chair of Egg Farmers of Ontario. "It gave me an opportunity to give back to the egg industry and the organization for all the great things we were able to accomplish in my lifetime." She says she's also "humbled and honoured" to be chair of FarmGate5, a provincial coalition promoting supply management.

Greatest challenge. On the farm, childcare is a "huge" challenge. In her political roles, it's World Trade Organization negotiations and working to maintain "a domestic food system that works."

Words of advice. "If your sights aren't set too high financially, you'll have a great life."