KEEPING THE VISION

by David Morris

Dennis Jack

To Dennis Jack, Past President, one of the strengths of OCPA has been its clear vision for what the corn industry in Ontario could be. Over the years, he has seen the Association work steadily toward its goal of adding value to Ontario corn thereby increasing returns to producers. He points to the growth in industrial usage of corn here, in ethanol, CASCO and other bioproducts, as a measure of OCPAs success in moving toward that vision. Dennis continues to believe in the importance of that vision. "What I'd like to see is for there to be a poly-lactic acid plant built here," he says. "Ontario is ideally located to supply markets in the north-eastern United States and we have a well-educated, highly skilled labour force. Our workers can do almost anything and you can't say that about many other places in the world." "Our farm organizations have to continue to be pro-active," he adds. "You can't sit back and wait until the government puts its policies in place and then complain and expect to get the results you want. If you really want something, you have to be working on it all the time. You have to maintain contact with politicians in both the government and opposition parties. You can't just go to them when you want something. They figure that approach out real quick. There has to be a relationship that is mutually beneficial. You have to give something in order to get something. You can't always just take. Sooner or later, everyone needs to give something back. I guess that's why I've been involved in the things that I have." Dennis does have a long history of community service. Over the years, he has been active at the local level in the Soil and Crop Improvement Association, the Cattlemen's Association, OCPA, 4-H, the school board, and his local church. He says, "I had never thought of becoming active in OCPA at the provincial level until one night my predecessor called me to say that he was not going to seek re-election and 'It's your turn now'. "That phone call led to over 12 years of service with OCPA as Director for Kent County,, including a two-year term as President. Again, Dennis says that he never intended to serve on the Executive, let alone work his way up to being President. "I had always planned to put in about 5 years and then get out. But just as I was coming up to that time, a Past-President approached me to go on the Executive. Because I respected him a great deal, I agreed. It's been a lot of work but I have no regrets about anything that I've done within OCPA. My only regret is the commitments that I've had to give up at home. I don't care what anyone says, it costs something to take on these kinds of positions. If you're going to do the job adequately, you need to get up early and read everything and you need to work on it late at night. I have no patience for people who say they want to be involved in an organization, and then aren't willing to do anything. Because there is a lot of work to do." In addition to its success in increasing markets for Ontario corn, Dennis points to the creation of the Grain Growers of Canada as one of the significant accomplishments of the OCPA. "Here we have a national organization with representation from grains and oilseeds farmers from coast-to-coast. It allows us to speak with one, reasonably strong voice for the benefit of all producers. It's not perfect but it's a good step in the right direction. We live in an international world. The border may be an impediment to travel, but not to trade in grains and oilseeds, so having a strong national voice of this kind is crucial." Dennis appreciates the opportunities that his involvement with OCPA have given him for building relationships and friendships with farmers across the country and in other sectors of agriculture. "We may disagree about some things in public, but in private we've become good friends. The alliances and friendships are what's important. We must never lose sight of the importance of maintaining the connections and good communication with our counterparts in other commodities and with the politicians. If you're consistent and honest in all your dealings, the truth will set you free." Dennis and Judy have three children. Their daughter lives in Essex county while their two sons still live in Kent county. One son is employed with a lending agency. The other works part-time on contract with an agribusiness and helps out on the farm part-time. Dennis farms in partnership with his brother-in-law, Bruce Johnstone. Their bases of operation are near Thamesville and Chatham, but they farm land within a 25 mile radius in Kent and Lambton counties. They have one full time employee who has been with them for 23 years. Together they farm about 1,400 acres of which they own 1,000. Crops include corn, soybeans, winter wheat, alfalfa, canning peas, sugar beets and cucumbers. They also have a beef cow herd of 35 head from which they raise all of their own replacements and finish all of the feeder cattle themselves. The partnership also has four trucks on the road, one of which belongs to one of Dennis' sons. Currently, they're kept busy full-time hauling sugar beets into the piling yard in Ontario.