
The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) has announced 18 current and emerging leaders from across Ontario selected to be a part of Class 21 of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP). Participants will start their AALP leadership journey in August 2025.
Over the course of the program, Class 21 participants will come together for a series of in-person seminars, webinars, study tours – North American and international – and small group issues analysis projects for agriculture, food and rural community clients. AALP focuses on building foundational skills and providing context for practising them in a safe but challenging environment. The curriculum adapts with relevant topics for each class to promote new multi-stakeholder approaches while developing critical self-analysis.
Each AALP Class is created with attention to the diversity of participants, so that peer-to-peer mentorship, interrelationships and a broad network are developed. Class 21 participants represent livestock, media, horticulture, grain, and/or involved in agri-business and agri-food, financial sectors, government, non-government and commodity associations and small business. Offering unique viewpoints and enabling thought-provoking, balanced discussion of critical issues. The Class ranges in age from 29 to 60.
AALP, supported and funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, the Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs, and ag-sector organizations/industry, is delivered by the Rural Ontario Institute, a charitable organization committed to developing leaders and facilitating collaboration on issues and opportunities facing rural and northern Ontario communities. Established in 1984, AALP has graduated more than 540 leaders who are making a positive difference across Ontario and beyond.
AALP Class 21 Participants:
- Mike Barun, Georgetown, Egg Farmers of Ontario – Director of Finance
- Alicia Becker, Clifford, Farm & Food Care Ontario – Community Engagement Manager
- Sunit Chandan, London, Farm Credit Canada – Manager Business Development
- Julie Danen, Shakespeare, Danzel Holsteins – Owner
- Greg de Vos, Guelph, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness – Manager, Strategic Coordination & Initiatives, Agriculture Development Branch
- Lindsay Dykeman, Kincardine, Ontario Dairy Goat Co-operative Inc. – General Manager
- Paige Handsor, Wallaceburg, Match Realty Inc. – Farm Realtor and Co-Owner
- Mel Karpenko, Grand Valley, Grand River Farm – Co-Owner
- Kaitlin Lake, Elora, Maple Lodge Farms - Director, Grower Services
- Aodin MacDonell, Williamstown, Greenfield Global Inc. – Grain Sustainability Lead
- Andrew Munro, Oshawa, Caldwell Securities – Community & Client Development
- Katie Normet, Arthur, River's Edge Goat Dairy – Owner and Farmer
- Kristy Nudds, Tillsonburg, Glacier Farm Media's publication Farmtario – Editor
- Kelsey Randhawa, Angus, Rural Ontario Institute – Leadership Programs Coordinator
- Mackenna Roth, Strathroy, Rural Policy Advocate and Cut Flower Farmer
- Liam van Steekelenburg, CosMic Plants Inc. – Maintenance Manager
- Angela Zilke, Embro, Zilke Enterprises Inc. – Secretary/Treasurer
- Melinda Zurbrigg, St. Marys, Libro Credit Union – Relationship Manager
Source: Rural Ontario Institute July 30, 2025 news release