Website highlights farming in Chatham-Kent

Friday, November 8, 2013

by SUSAN MANN

An agriculture committee in Chatham-Kent is shining a spotlight on the farming industry in the southwestern Ontario municipality through a newly launched website.

The Chatham-Kent Agri-Development Committee launched the website Tuesday. It features profiles and pictures of Chatham-Kent farmers, processors and farming businesses.

Jamie McGrail, vice-chair of the agri-development committee and head of the marketing/website development subcommittee, says in addition to showcasing farming businesses, there’s an educational side to the website.

“We want to showcase what Chatham-Kent has to offer for potential companies coming in and looking to set up a business,” she says. Chatham-Kent residents are also encouraged to visit the site “and see what’s really going on within our municipal limits.”

Eventually the site will feature videos that explain how various crops are grown to get students interested in the farming industry. Students will also be able to see the various skilled jobs available in agriculture, such as accounting, management, and administration. “There’s a lot of potential for different jobs,” she says.

The site will be used by people around the world and within the municipality, she says.

McGrail says the committee, supported by donors, set up the website to highlight Chatham-Kent around the world. “We know our area is an awesome and huge agricultural area and as a municipality we’re really pushing agriculture. It’s one of our ways to help our municipality and our community to put the cyber-spotlight on Chatham-Kent’s agriculture.”

So far, the website has been well received, she says. BF