Steering Committee

These are the people who make up our Farmers Matter Steering Committee.

John Nyenhuis, President

My family has owned and operated a swine farm in the Stratford area for the past 31 years, but farming has been a part of both my and my wife’s family for generations past. I enjoy working as a volunteer for local community activities and projects. Our family consists of three boys and a girl between the ages of 16 to 23 all of whom would like to farm, but are pursuing licensed trades. I am deeply concerned about the future of agriculture in Ontario.

Murray Brodhagen, Vice President

I am a ‘mid-range farmer’ who raises 200 to 250 head of black angus cattle on his 400-acre farm in Brunner, near Stratford. I bought the farm in 1973, married Linda in 1975, and we are proud parents of two children, Andrew 22 and Marie, 19.  As President of the Beef Producers’ Association of Perth County, I have grave concerns about the industry, and recognize the need for farmers to have the opportunity to speak to industry leaders and politicians directly about the future of both the beef and pork sectors. We are proud to be collaborating with the Perth County Pork Producers Association in the delivery of the Farmers Matter Town Hall Meeting.  It is important to understand that this is a proactive, discussion-oriented meeting that will focus on current challenges, as well as protecting the sustainability of these sectors for future generations of farmers.

JoAnne Caughill

Jo-Anne Caughill – My husband Warren and I, along with our family, farm in North Perth outside of Palmerston. We are pork producers and also grow cash crops. Our son, Brent, and his family are the fourth and fifth generations to live and farm on the home farm. I am very concerned about the future of our farms.
Canadian farmers produce the highest standard of food and yet have problems making a living doing so; it just should not be this way.

Clare Schlegel

My family and I have been involved in agriculture our entire lives since the Schlegel farm was purchased from the crown in the 1830s. It is now being farmed by my second son and his family.  I am committed to finding solutions to the problems facing farmers and have therefore been involved in farm organizations for many years, having served as both chair of Ontario Pork and the Canadian Pork Council.  These responsibilities have given me the opportunity to travel and meet industry partners across Canada and around the world.  I have worked closely over the years with both the provincial and federal government and I continue to believe that every stakeholder in the supply chain plays an important part in creating a sustainable future for the red meat industry throughout Ontario and Canada.

Stewart Skinner

I am a young pig farmer and a voracious optimist. I genuinely love my job; every day I get to wake up and go make food for people around the world and close to home. Farmers have to be a jack of all trades; on any given day I am… a biologist, a CEO, an environmentalist, a salesman, a plumber, a doctor… I think you get the picture!