Volunteer award winners recognized for work in agriculture

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

by SUSAN MANN

Two people involved in promoting the agricultural industry, James Farry of Dunnville and Janette Hammell of Dobbinton, are among this year’s six recipients of the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers.

They received their award at a ceremony at Queen’s Park in Toronto Tuesday afternoon as part of National Volunteer Week (April 15 to 22). It was presented by Ontario Lieutenant Governor David C. Onley and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Charles Sousa.

Farry promotes the importance of organic and sustainable farming. He supports the Let’s Eat Right Dunnville program and is part of the Shared Harvest Community Farm and Education Centre. The program provides fresh produce for families and the local food bank, it says in an Ontario government press release.

Hammell teaches kids the importance of agriculture and sustainability and also coordinates the local volunteer-run soccer league, which has almost 300 participants of all ages. She was Bruce County’s 2010 Queen of the Furrow, a title bestowed on her by the Bruce County Plowmen’s Association.

The Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers is the highest honour a young person can achieve in the province. It was first presented in 1999 and to date 111 young volunteers have received their medal. The award honours youth between 15 and 24 years old for being leaders and innovators.

Neither Farry nor Hammell could be reached for comment. BF