By: Michael Bennett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Ridgetown Independent News
Jim Brackett is pleased to begin a second term as president of the Kent Federation of Agriculture, continuing the conversations and lobbying on behalf of the farming community.
Brackett, a Howard Twp. resident, was acclaimed president during the KFA’s annual general meeting at the Retro Suites in Chatham on Dec. 18.
Kevin Bagnell returns to his role as vice president, while Dave Emery was promoted from director to vice president.
“I’m honoured members saw fit to help me return,” Brackett said, as no one ran against him. “I really like helping farmers in Chatham-Kent and the ag industry. I have the time and the desire to do it.”
“I have support from a lot of farmers in the area, it’s nice to know they value what you do,” he said.
Brackett, 70, retired from farming three years ago but still lives on a portion of his Rondeau area farm that he sold.
“I’ve been trying to push a lot of things forward, so I’m happy to be back as president to try and continue with some of those things,” Brackett said. “The main thing is to keep dealing with the municipality and other parts of agriculture across both the municipality and the province, and working with the OFA (Ontario Federation of Agriculture) on behalf of provincial issues.”
“We need to have a voice on the farm, we have to stand up for ourselves and say, ‘remember, we’re out here,’” said Brackett.
The rural community lost one of its voices last February when Chatham-Kent Council voted to dissolve the Infrastructure Bridge, Culverts and Roads Innovation Committee of Council, which consisted of community experts, councillors and municipal staff offering input on innovations and investments related to bridges, culverts and roads.
At the time, Brackett suggested that a new committee could be formed to continue addressing rural infrastructure.
“We actually met with Edward Soldo (GM of Engineering and Infrastructure) the same day as the (KFA) annual meeting,” stated Brackett. “We’re trying to form a more informal committee, like an Ag advisory committee, not a committee of Council.”
“I think it was quite well-received,” Brackett said.
A new committee would help the agricultural committee weigh in on rural issues, such as providing input to ensure future roundabouts are suited for farm machinery and offering ideas on dust suppressants for gravel roads.
“Without it, look what happened?” said Brackett, referring to the ag community not having a voice in last year’s dust control dilemma after the infrastructure committee disbanded.
Council eliminated the dust control program during the 2025 budget update as a $1.35-million cost-saving measure, only for Ward 6 Councillor Michael Bondy, after discussions with the KFA and the United Farm Voice, to successfully move a motion for a late-summer round of applications on limited roads at a cost of around $350,000.
When the matter returned to Council for the 2026 budget update in November, Council approved a pilot program to apply dust suppressant 100 metres on either side of driveways on gravel roads and at intersections, for $500,000 with no tax impact.
After Councillors received many complaints – including an email from Brackett on behalf of the KFA – Council approved a revised motion on the second night of the budget talks, calling for two applications adjacent to residential driveways and intersections.
However, Bondy immediately filed a successful motion calling for the reinstatement of full dust control measures to be applied once a year, which passed for $1.46-million, added to the base budget, since it was the return of a standard service.
“We had it, we lost it, we had it back partially and now it’s back to what it was in 2024, which is great news,” Brackett said.
The KFA and rural residents also had to unite for the fourth time in five years to oppose the municipality’s proposal to raise the farm tax ratio.
Another rural controversy last year was the two proposed wind farms planned for Howard and Harwich Townships, which the Council denied.
The KFA, however, took a neutral stance because members were split on the issue: landowners are paid handsomely by companies to host a wind turbine on their property. In contrast, others did not want to risk potential health issues from contaminated well water, as experienced in North Kent.
The KFA did have a voice in several other initiatives in 2025, including working with Hydro One and the OFA on the new transmission lines from Longwoods to Lakeshore, reconnecting with the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce through the Rural Urban Awards, and providing a farm tour to Rory Ring, Chamber president.
The KFA is also trying to connect with more lobbying groups, such as the Ontario Greenhouse Board and the Chatham-Kent Home Builders Association, and is reaching out to vegetable commodity groups.
Brackett and the KFA were also successful in helping establish the United Farm Voice, which includes members of the Kent Federation of Grain Farmers, Property Rights Association and the Christian Farmers Association.
The UFV hosted an information session in March to assist members of the public – rural and urban – who are considering running for political office in the future, namely the 2026 Municipal Election in October.
“It’s going to be an interesting election; we have people in the public looking for fresh voices,” Brackett said, adding that he knows of at least five farmers who are considering running for Council in October.
While there has long been an ‘urban vs rural’ split on Council, Brackett said there are only a handful of rural Councillors who truly support farming-related issues.
“There are some we can work with who seem to listen and take up our interests – John Wright has always been a supporter,” he said of the Ward 3 Councillor who, however, is not seeking re-election.
“It would be nice to have at least one farmer (on Council) so the others can ask, ‘you’re knowledgeable about agriculture, what do you think?’ when issues come up,” said Brackett.
While not a farmer, Ward 4’s Jamie McGrail grew up on a farm and is experienced in agriculture through her family’s McGrail Farm Equipment business and her precision work servicing various farm operations across Chatham-Kent.
The KFA welcomes three new directors – Scott Kilbride, Allan Lucier and Brandon McLeod – to its 2026 board.
They join returning directors Mark Huston, Jay Cunningham, Derrick Leclair, Bill Parks, Ron Verhelle, Steve Piche, Ron Faubert, Justin Hawkins and Tyler Robertson.
Two awards were presented during the annual meeting.
Dover Corn Products Ltd. received a meritorious service award after launching Farmer’s Gold Snacks, a line of corn snacks, last year.
Bagnell was awarded the Ed Campbell Memorial Award as the KFA’s director of the year.
Trevor Jones, MPP for Chatham-Kent Leamington, was the featured speaker.
Thamesville’s Steve Pinsonneault, Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP, and David Epp, MP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington, also addressed the more than 100 attendees.
