Districts, Directors, & Delegates

Grace Pearson was born and raised on a grain farming operation in Comber, Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Food and Agricultural Business from the University of Guelph. Grace was fortunate to work in various sectors while completing her degree. She has experience in agronomy, finance, marketing and human resources. 

Upon graduation Grace worked at the Royal Bank of Canada as an Agriculture Account Manager. In this role she worked closely with many RBC partners and being a farmer herself was able to relate to her clients and offer advice beyond just banking. Grace has advanced in her career with RBC and is currently working as a Manager of Business Markets supporting a team of Relationship Managers covering Windsor, Essex, Chatham-Kent and Lambton Counties. 

Grace and her husband, Grant, farm in Essex County alongside both the Mullen and Pearson Family farms. In 2019 Grace purchased her first farm and in 2020 her second. She is a member of various community organizations and has been a delegate of the Essex County Grain Farmers of Ontario since 2020. 

In 2021, she was recognized by the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions as one of their Top 10 under 40 volunteers. In 2021 Grace earned the pinnacle award at RBC for performance called Global Citizen, not only for her differentiation in her day to day role but also for leadership and being an agent of change in her community.

Gus Ternoey is the director for District 2 (Kent). He was elected to serve in this role in 2022. He held the position of secretary for District 2 for eight years (2014-2022) and has been a delegate representative on several Grain Farmers of Ontario Board Committees.

Ternoey is the fifth generation to work on the farm and now tills 385 acres in Kent County with his wife Alina. They grow corn, IP soybeans, and winter wheat, using predominantly conventional tillage practices. The fields are also host to the OAC corn performance trial plots conducted by Ridgetown College.

Ternoey has a degree in mechanical Engineering from the University of Windsor and is a licensed professional engineer. Prior to 2021, Ternoey worked full time in industry performing a range of rolls including quality manager, facility manager, maintenance manager, chief engineer, and process engineer to list a few across several organization in Kent County.

Ternoey is actively involved with the Chatham-Kent Essex Christian Farmers, currently serving as president. He is also active in the local Masonic Lodge.

Julie Maw was elected as director for District 3 (Lambton) in January 2023. She served as a delegate for five years and was the district treasurer before her election as director. This past year she was a delegate representative on the Grain Farmers of Ontario Research and Innovation committee.

As an active member of her community, she looks forward to being a voice for farmers to bring their issues locally and provincially to the table. She engages in promoting agriculture and wants to continue educating consumers about where their food comes from. Sustainability for future farmers is important to Maw, and she looks forward to collaborating with various organizational partnerships to succeed in common goals. With her experience serving with many agricultural and community organizations, she brings a diverse and positive leadership perspective to the board.

Maw’s educational background is in sports management, where she enjoyed working in the OHL and entertainment sectors. After returning home to Lambton, she continued her business career with a financial institution as a business and agriculture lender. Now farming soybeans, corn, and wheat in south Lambton with family, her husband Kyle and their three children, Logan, Emery and Hudson; Maw also owns and operates a Maizex Seeds dealership and provides custom farming work for several local farmers.

She thrives on an active lifestyle, taking her sons to minor hockey, lacrosse, and baseball throughout the year. Maw is a 4-H leader in Lambton and enjoys running clubs for children to learn and experience new opportunities. In the fall, she can be found volunteering at her local Brigden Fair and running the tractor pull.

Steve Twynstra is the director for District 4 (Middlesex). He was elected as director in 2020 after serving as a delegate since the inception of Grain Farmers of Ontario in 2010. He currently serves as a member of the Market Development Committee and is the chair of the Wheat Marketing Committee.

Twynstra is owner of Twilight Acre Farms Ltd., a diversified 3,000+ acre grain and specialty crop farm near Ailsa Craig. The farm utilizes leading edge technology to grow field corn, edible IP soybeans, pedigree soybeans, winter canola, pedigree hard white, hard red, and soft red winter wheat, pedigree durum wheat, and many types of dry edible beans. Twilight Acre Farms also works closely with university and private industry to conduct agronomic research and provides custom field work on more than 1,100 acres in Middlesex County.

A member of the Ontario Agricultural College Class of 1986, Twynstra graduated from the University of Guelph with a BSc. (Agr.) and went on to obtain an M.S. from Purdue University in 1988. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (Class 3) and several advanced leadership and business development programs through Texas A&M, Purdue, and the Ivey School of Business. He was also a member of the inaugural class of the Canadian Agriculture Lifetime Leadership program.

Twynstra brings a wealth of leadership experience to the Grain Farmers of Ontario board of directors, including past service as councillor for the Township of East Williams, inaugural chair of the Ontario Bean Growers, director of Middlesex Soil and Crop Improvement Association, delegate for the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers Association, and membership in several other industry organizations. Most recently, he completed a term as chair of the Agricultural Credit Corporation, where he was a board member for 14 years.

Twynstra and his wife, Dianne, have a son, Kurtis, who is currently in his third year at the University of Guelph. Among his hobbies is private aviation and he is involved in the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association and the American Pilots and Owners Association. He enjoys travel, politics, and keeping up with the news.

Ann Vermeersch is the director for District 5 (Norfolk/Elgin). She was elected as a director in 2025 after serving as a district delegate for five years. She currently serves as chair of the Research and Innovation committee.  

Ann and her husband, Jeff, own and operate Tillvalley Farms Inc. in Courtland, close to the north shore of Lake Erie in Norfolk County. Together, they farm corn, soybeans, wheat, rye and edible beans. Additionally, they operate a Pioneer Hi-Bred seed agency and custom application business. Vermeersch is actively involved in managing all aspects of the business.

Vermeersch graduated from the University of Guelph with a BSc. (Agr.) in 2003 and obtained an M.Sc. in Crop Science from Michigan State University in 2005. She is also a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (Class 16) and the ASA-Corteva Young Leaders Program (2018). Additionally, she is a Certified Crop Advisor and holds a 4R designation.

Vermeersch is originally from a grain farm in the Ottawa Valley, in North Gower, where her family still farms. Although she and Jeff come from a long history of farming, they have built a sustainable first-generation grain farm. This has come with different challenges and opportunities than legacy farms, but she feels it has given her a unique outlook on farming and life.

Before farming full-time, Vermeersch worked in the crop protection industry for seven years. She has also been involved in multiple organizations serving in different leadership capacities over the years, including Norfolk Soil and Crop, Norfolk Federation of Agriculture, Ontario CCA board, Norfolk County Council agriculture advisory, and Norfolk County Fair.

In her free time, Vermeersch enjoys spending time with her three children. Abbie, Aric, and Evelyn. The girls are very involved in competitive dance, and Aric plays rep hockey.

Jeff Barlow is the director for District 6 (Haldimand, Brant, Hamilton, Niagara). He was elected as director in 2016 after serving as a delegate since 2012. Barlow serves the Board as the chair of the Market Development Committee and as a member of the Wheat Marketing and BRM/Safety Nets Committees.

Barlow got involved with Grain Farmers of Ontario because he believes the agriculture industry needs a voice, and just staying on the farm and hoping that our voice is being heard just isn’t good enough. He believes in the vision of Grain Farmers of Ontario and the direction of the organization is well aligned with his own.

“Farming is becoming more than just about growing crops. Our industry needs to move forward united, and with common goals. I am passionate about technology and the future of farming and hope that we maintain the social license to use these technologies,” he says.

Barlow’s farm started in 1843 near Binbrook. He is the sixth generation to farm the land, and works alongside his father, growing corn, soybeans, and wheat, with a focus on white hilum soybeans for the export market. His wife Dianne works off-farm as an elementary school vice principal, and together they have three boys all eager to help out on the farm whenever they can.

Barlow enjoys aerial photography and using drones to capture field images. If he’s not at the farm, you can find him with his family going camping, snowmobiling, and fishing.

Angela Zilke was elected to the position of director of District 7 (Oxford, Waterloo) at their District Meeting in January 2023. Prior to her election, Zilke was actively involved with the district for 11 years as the administrative assistant and as an alternate delegate in 2022. As a passionate advocate for farmers in her district, as director, Zilke wants to focus on improving communication between producers and consumers to fight misinformation about agricultural practices.

Zilke, who was raised on an Embro Ontario dairy farm, farms with her husband, Mark, where they grow corn, soybeans, wheat, and edible beans in the Embro/Hickson, Ontario area. Before her marriage in 1995 and returning to the farm full-time in 1996 to raise her family, Zilke worked in administration and accounting in the manufacturing industry.

Since being elected as director, Zilke has been active on the Finance & Audit, Government Relations, BRM Safety Nets Committee, and Farmer Wellness Committees. Zilke is also involved with other agricultural groups including the Ontario Bean Growers and Oxford Soil & Crop Improvement Association. Zilke is a participant in the AALP Class 21.

Angela and Mark are parents to four children and grandparents of 3.

Jeff Klomps is a newly elected delegate as of 2026. Bio coming soon.

Josh Boersen is the director for District 9 (Perth). He took on the role of director in 2019 after serving as a delegate in 2018. Boersen has an interest in government policy and has taken an active role with Grain Farmers of Ontario to help alleviate the challenges grain farmers are facing and help to promote the good work of the grain industry. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and is also a member of the Business Risk Management/Safety Nets,and Resolutions Committees, as well as serving nationally with Cereals Canada as a board member.

Boersen is the third generation working on the family farm, located just north of Stratford. He and his father, alongside his family, grow corn, soybeans, wheat, and small edible beans, as well as raising broiler chickens.

Boersen trained as a mechanical engineering technologist at Fanshawe College and briefly worked off-farm after graduating. He uses this background to fuel the passion of building and modifying equipment they can use on their farm as well as working on projects for other area farmers.

Boersen and his wife, Erin, have three children, Abigail, Jack, and Oliver. When he is not busy with the farm, he enjoys spending his time at the rink with family and friends and spending time in the workshop on projects and the odd social call with neighbours.

Steve Lake was elected as the director for District 10 (Grey, Bruce, Wellington) in January 2022. He had served as a delegate for the district for the past three years. Lake believes it is important for farmers to show interest and be involved in the organizations that represent you. Growing up on a farm that was a part time passion for his dad, after being transplanted from the city at a very young age, Lake could be described as a generation 1.5 farmer. He feels he brings an innovative and different perspective to the Board.

Lake runs a diversified farm in Elora, growing corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay. He is a firm believer in partnerships to grow his operation, having more than once collaborated with another farmer to purchase a new piece of equipment to benefit both operations. He utilizes no-till and precision farming techniques as much as he can, including split applied nitrogen in corn crops. Lake is also a Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative and provides custom farm work for several local farmers.

Lake is a 2005 graduate of the University of Guelph with a bachelor of science in agriculture. Prior to being a full-time farmer, he worked in ag retail and was a territory manager with Pioneer Hi-Bred. Lake was a director with the Ontario Canola Growers from 2014-2020.

Lake and his wife, Melinda, have three children, Callum, Parker, and Felicity. They are a big winter sports family and enjoy hockey, skiing, snowshoeing, and enjoying the great outdoors. The children also have a growing agricultural venture of their own with a roadside stand where they sell sweet corn, pumpkins, and other produce that they grow at home.

Leo Blydorp is the director for District 11 (Dufferin, Simcoe, Halton, Peel, York). He was elected to serve in this role in 2021. In his role on the Board of Directors, Blydorp is a member of the Finance & Audit Committee, Research and Innovation, and Grain Issues Committees.

Blydorp farms 1,500 acres in Dufferin County with his oldest son Jonathon. They grow corn, oats, soybeans, winter wheat, white beans, and canola, using minimal till and conservation tillage as much as they can. He also uses cover crops, such as red clover and cereal rye, and includes hay in their rotation. Blydorp’s fields are used for corn and soybean performance trial plots for the Ontario Corn Committee, the Ontario Soybean and Canola Committee, and seed companies.

Blydorp completed a diploma in agriculture from Ridgetown College, a degree in agriculture from the University of Guelph and also has a masters in divinity from Wilfrid Laurier University. Blydorp bought his first farm in 1995. Prior to farming full time, Blydorp worked for Bayer for 25 years in technical services, product development, and product management. He has served on the federal government’s National Program Advisory Committee for Agriculture, is a policy advisor with his local council, and is an advocate for agriculture with his local MP and MPP. He believes in creating a level playing field for Ontario farmers within the global market. Blydorp is actively involved with the Dufferin Federation of Agriculture. Blydorp and his wife, Alice, have five children and six grandchildren. When he has a few spare moments in the summer months, Blydorp likes to cycle, canoe, and kayak; in the winter, he enjoys cross country skiing. He has an interest in theology and word and deed ministry, serves in grief ministry, and attends Compass Community Church.

Jeff Harrison is the director for District 12 (Durham, Northumberland, Kawartha, Peterborough, Hastings).  He farms in the City of Quinte West which is an amalgamated municipality in the Bay of Quinte region.

Jeff has been a delegate since the inception of Grain Farmers of Ontario and served as the district chairman for three years before being elected as director, He currently serves as the chair of the Board of Directors.  Harrison has been an active member of various board committees including Finance and Audit, Research, Communications, Grain Issues, Government Relations, Market Development and BRM/Safety Nets.

Jeff graduated from the University of Guelph in 1995 with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Agricultural Business.  He is a Syngenta/Ivey School of Leadership program graduate, American Soybean Association Young Leader program graduate as well as a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program Class 19.  He has been a member of the executive of the Barley Council of Canada and currently is a national director with American Soybean Association representing Canada.  In the summer of 2023, The Ontario Minster of Agriculture appointed Jeff the Vice Chair of the Grain Financial Protection Board.  Harrison is passionate about agriculture and the best interests of farmers.

Jeff and his family farm corn, soybeans, and wheat.  He enjoys providing for the needs of local farmers through his custom farming and on-farm seed dealership.

When not busy on the farm, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife Janie and their children, Michael, Rachel, Brian, and Charlie.  Harrison is very proud of his farm family and got great joy from watching his children grow up on the farm while instilling in them his same passion for agriculture.

Lloyd Crowe is the director for District 13 (Prince Edward, Lennox, Addington, Frontenac, Lanark, Leeds, Grenville, Renfrew, Ottawa). He was elected to this position in January 2015 after serving as a delegate and district chair for five years. He is excited to lead a great group of active, young delegates and meet the challenge of representing farmers across such a large and diverse geographic region.

Crowe is a member of Grain Farmers of Ontario’s Wheat Marketing, Market Development, and Grain Issues Committees.

Faith and family are the cornerstones of farm-life for Crowe who feels he has received many blessings. He is the 10th generation to work the family farm in Picton (Reynolds Farms Inc.) which he co-owns with his Uncle. Together they grow corn, soybeans, and wheat on several farms in Prince Edward County. They also harvest peas and lima beans for an Ingersol frozen food plant, after planting is done and into the fall.

Crowe and his wife, Dorothy, have four children and 20 grandchildren. Crowe is an active member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church community in Bloomfield and teaches a Bible study. Even though he prefers the home-life, he occasionally indulges Dorothy’s passion for travel.

Alan Kruszel is a newly elected delegate as of 2026. Bio coming soon.

Matt Bowman
Simon Cloutier
Sam Cloutier
Gerry Dinnissen
Terry Phillips
Johannes Renecker
Loren Runnalls