The Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s president plans to complete her term and return to a “more active role” in farming without seeking re-election.
Bette Jean Crews, who farms with her husband at Trenton, Ont. and represents Zone 12 on the OFA board, put in her notice Monday that she will not seek re-election to a third year-long term as president.
In a letter posted Monday on the OFA website, Crews said she will continue to serve as zone director for Northumberland, Hastings, Prince Edward and Lennox and Addington counties and on the provincial level as past president.
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“In that portfolio I intend to use the experience of the past 11 years to further advance the issues affecting Ontario agriculture,” she said.
Crews said she was announcing her decision now “because I want to be fair to OFA members who may be considering putting their name forward for an executive position” when the farmers’ organization holds its annual general meeting in November.
Through her work with OFA, Crews is also a member of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s executive committee, co-chair of the CFA’s food safety committee and a delegate to the Co-Operators Insurance Group.
Previous roles for Crews have included stints as chair of the Agricultural Adaptation Council and the Agricultural Management Institute, as treasurer for the Ontario Farm Women’s Club and as president of the Trenton Business and Professional Women’s Club.
Crews in 2010 also earned Farm Credit Canada’s Rosemary Davis Award, which is presented each year to honour female farm leaders in Canada.
