Lauren Casselman
Nicholas P-M
Farmers Forum
OTTAWA — Marketing specialist Lauren Casselman is the Ottawa Valley Farm Show new coordinator this year.
Casselman comes from a background of a wide range of skills including, event organization, tourism, marketing and customer service. Her previous experience includes working with Upper Canada Village, the St Lawrence Parks Commission and Old Fort Henry.
Casselman grew up on a cash crop farm outside of Chesterville, south of Ottawa. She operates her own small farm, raising vegetables, livestock and bees.
During the farm show, Casselman will be busy in the farm show office but you might find her wandering the floor and introducing herself to exhibitors.
Casselman has been coordinating schedules and volunteers, handling marketing and communicating with all 370 exhibitors and dealing with many last minute details “to make the show run smoothly” Casselman said.
As a first-time coordinator, Casselman’s biggest challenge has been learning every detail—from planning to behind-the-scenes logistics. The most enjoyable part for her has been embracing that challenge, treating it like a giant puzzle and finding the perfect way to piece everything together.
When the show is over, Casselman plans to review feedback and work on follow-up reports to start all over again to make improvements for next year.
Welcome to the Ottawa Valley Farm Show
Barry Dean
OVSGA President
OTTAWA – On behalf of the Directors of the Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association, it is my pleasure to welcome everyone to the 2025 edition of the Ottawa Valley Farm Show: “The Showcase for Ag Innovation.”
As the show has evolved over the past 98 years, it has become the favourite place for farmers and their families to meet, learn and network with agricultural businesses and organizations from Ontario, Quebec and beyond.
OVSGA directors, volunteers and staff have been working hard to prepare the quality show you have come to expect. A full complement of commercial exhibits is showcased in the main halls, with Hall C & D featuring antique and quilt displays in “Memory Lane,” as well as the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees from Eastern Ontario. Hall B will be the place to hear from informative speakers each day or enjoy a Young Farmer lunch on Thursday. We welcome back many long-time exhibitors this year as well as some exciting new additions, guaranteeing there will be something for everyone.
Highlighting our theme of Ag Innovation, we welcome “Innovation Alley,” supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. It will showcase the newest ideas and products and demonstrate how Ontario led innovation is advancing farms across the province. Connect with entrepreneurs, start-up companies and innovation partners, including the latest in agricultural robotics.
Ottawa Valley Seed Growers president Barry Dean.
Youth is the future of agriculture and the OVSGA is proud to support youth in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. On Wednesday, 4-H age youth will enjoy entry to the show with a donation of food or supplies to the Ottawa Mission. On Thursday, in addition to the complimentary Young Farmers lunch (pre-register on the OVFS website), the first 150 young farmers will receive free admission to the show, compliments of FCC, OFA and OVSGA.
Join us at the heart of the show, the Court of Honour, for the 33rd Annual Prestigious Pedigreed Seed Auction on Thursday at 2 p.m. With proceeds going to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, we invite you to join in the excitement and bid on something from the incredible selection of donated items.
Be sure to visit the display of winning seed, feed and forage exhibits. Judging takes place on March 8 and the “best of the best” advance to the farm show for your enjoyment. The 2025 winners will be recognized in an awards ceremony on Wednesday in Hall B, along with the announcement of the 2025 OVSGA Award of Excellence winner.
Thank you to the exhibitors, partners and sponsors who continue to support the farm show and all our other initiatives. Thanks to your support, farm show exhibit spaces are full, the auction has an exciting array of items up for bid, and our seed show awards, youth scholarships, seed research support and agricultural community projects will continue.
To our dedicated board of directors, committee members, volunteers and staff, thank you for your ongoing commitment to the OVSGA. You continue to foster new and creative ideas for our organization. Our 98 years of success is truly a team effort.
Visit www.ottawafarmshow.com for more details. We look forward to seeing everyone March 11 to 13, 2025 at the EY Centre in Ottawa!
Ottawa Valley Farm Show includes robotic demos and young farmers luncheon
