DFO elects new chair

by SUSAN MANN

It’s both exciting and humbling to be elected chair of Dairy Farmers of Ontario, says Ralph Dietrich.

Dietrich, who was vice chair last year and is the board member representing Region 11 (Bruce and Grey), was elected chair of Dairy Farmers at a special board meeting after the annual meeting concluded Thursday afternoon. He replaces outgoing chair Bill Emmott, who retired from the board this year after serving 16 years, including six as chair.

Emmott didn’t seek reelection last fall to represent farmers in Region 7 (Brant, Haldimand, Halton, Niagara, Norfolk and Wentworth). Albert Fledderus was elected to represent the farmers in that region.

Dietrich farms near Mildmay in Bruce County with his wife, Jayne, son, Greg, and son-in-law, Andrew. They milk 105 to 110 cows. Dietrich was first elected to the Dairy Farmers board in 2011.

In addition to being chair of Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Dietrich is a Dairy Farmers of Canada board member. He was elected to that position in July 2014.

For the upcoming year, Dietrich says his priorities, as Dairy Farmers of Ontario chair will be to continue the work the board has already started, such as the Ingredients Strategy. It’s a package of eight policy elements designed to provide a market responsive and flexible strategy to increase markets for dairy products and ingredients.

“We need to work towards industry solutions,” he says adding “we have to try and gain results sooner rather than later.”

Dietrich sees his job as Dairy Farmers chair as being the spokesperson for the board and working with the board “in moving things forward. Relationship building is also very important. As a new chair, I will need to establish and build some new relationships and I look forward to those opportunities.”

It’s important for the industry to work together in unison, he adds. “It’s my firm believe the industry is far better off if we work in harmony with each other and involve all partners in the industry. I don’t think any one of us (such as farmers, processors and government representatives) can do the best job working by ourselves.”

In addition to previously serving as Dairy Farmers of Ontario vice chair, Dietrich served as the organization’s second vice-chair and on numerous Dairy Farmers committees along with being on other dairy industry organizations. He has also served as past director and chair of Gay Lea Co-operative, is a past chair of the Ontario Co-operative Association board and has been on many of his local church councils and minor sports associations.

Other farmers elected to the Dairy Farmers of Ontario executive include Paul Vis as vice chair. He’s the board member for Region 9 (Elgin, Essex, Kent, Lambton and Middlesex). Murray Sherk, board member for Region 8 (Oxford and Waterloo), was elected second vice chair. It is the first term in those positions for both Vis and Sherk. BF