Agritourism Ontario has announced the winners of the 2025 Agritourism Ontario Awards, celebrating excellence, innovation and leadership in Ontario’s vibrant agritourism sector. The annual awards recognize farms, individuals and organizations, who go above and beyond to create exceptional visitor experiences, promote agritourism, and support the sector, while strengthening rural communities.

2025 Award Recipients 

• Member of the Year: Apple Land Station – Recognized for outstanding visitor engagement, innovation, and commitment to on-farm experiences.
• Ambassador Award: Hon. Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming - Recognizes an individual or company who has made a public commitment to promote local food, local food producers and the agritourism sector in Ontario.
• Leadership Award: Mark Saunders and Angela Grant Saunders (Saunders Farm) – Recognizes an individual(s) who has made a significant contribution to the agritourism industry in Ontario through their leadership skills, dedication, enthusiasm, supporting fellow farm owners, and ongoing commitment .
• Legacy Award: Chester Kowalik (awarded posthumously) – Honours individuals, families, or organizations whose long-standing dedication has made a lasting impact on Ontario’s agritourism sector. This award recognizes visionary leadership, sustained excellence, and meaningful contributions that have helped shape, strengthen, and grow agritourism across the province. 

Agritourism Ontario also extends its sincere gratitude to outgoing board chair Darlene Downey (Downey’s_ _F_a_r_m_) for her exceptional leadership and commitment to the organization. During her tenure, Downey played a pivotal role in strengthening industry partnerships, advancing advocacy efforts, and guiding the organization through a period of growth and increased provincial recognition.