At Agricorp, leadership in governance begins with our board of directors. They are appointed by the lieutenant-governor-in-council through order-in-council. Many have active roles in Ontario’s agricultural communities.
The full board of directors is responsible for the overall performance of Agricorp. The board and its committees typically meet quarterly, or as required by business demands, and have one annual strategic planning session.
The board is accountable to the minister, through the chair, for setting objectives and strategic direction including the three-year strategic plan for Agricorp.
Jason Verkaik – Chair (York Region)
Jason Verkaik is owner, operator and president of Carron Farms Ltd., in Holland Marsh. Jason's extensive industry and board experience includes serving as chair and vice-chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and as a director on the Ontario Produce Marketing Association's Board of Directors. Jason is a graduate of the Ivey Business School's Agricultural Leadership Course and holds an Agricultural Business diploma from the University of Guelph's Ridgetown Campus.
Johanna Chevalier – Vice-chair (Halton Region)
Johanna has an extensive background in board and committee work that covers a wide range of sectors, including farming, community safety and well-being, and diversity. She currently represents Halton Region on the Niagara Escarpment Commission. She is a former Peel Council member and former Town of Caledon Council member. Johanna also serves the communities of Halton and Peel as a volunteer for Credit Valley Conservation Foundation, Peel Anti-Human trafficking SPT, Burlington Minor Football Association, Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance (GHFFA), and Volta Research. Johanna works as a consultant in the private sector and resides in Halton Region where she is raising four teenagers and enjoying the view of the lake.
John Core (Guelph)
John Core is a former CEO of the Canadian Dairy Commission and former Chair of the Dairy Farmers of Ontario. Mr. Core's community involvement includes serving as a board member of The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital and serving as a member of the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame Association Board of Directors for 2015-16. He holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Guelph.
John Kikkert (Niagara Region)
John is a chicken and turkey producer and owner of Parkview Poultry in Smithville. He has held many different roles for the past 10 years on the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario’s executive board, including president and is now serving as a director. His extensive board experience includes serving on the boards of the Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Turkey Farmers of Ontario and the Ontario Farm Animal Council. John was chair of the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame and now serves as the organization’s past president. He holds a diploma in Agriculture from the University of Guelph.
Derek Mendez (Perth County)
Derek has held several management positions in the Container Port and Energy sectors in Trinidad before migrating with his family to Canada in 2010. He is currently the Vice President at Molesworth Farm Supply Ltd. He served as chair and co-chair on multiple community boards in the municipality of North Perth. He is also a board director on a number of agricultural boards, including the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada (ANAC) and the Feed Section Committee of the Ontario Agri-Business Association (OABA). Derek holds a B.Sc. degree in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies, a master's certificate in Business Analysis from York University, and a postgraduate diploma in Port Planning and Management from the University of New Orleans.
Dominic Morrissey (Pickering-Uxbridge)
Dominic currently works in the manufacturing and procurement sector as a business development executive. Previously, he worked for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business for ten years, gathering issues that affect the agriculture industry and shepherding them to the appropriate agencies to be addressed. He also ran his own production company for 25 years. Dominic is past president of the Horse Guards Polo Club and has also sat as a board member on the Advisory Council of Equine Guelph. Dominic now lives outside of Uxbridge with his family and an assortment of retired horses and rescue animals.
Greg Vanden Bosch (Dundas County)
Greg is a partner in Vanden Bosch Farms and a senior partner in Vanden Bosch Elevators Inc. based in Chesterville, Ontario. He is also a former director and chair of the Grain Section Committee of the Ontario Agri Business Association. He graduated from the University of Guelph's Ridgetown Campus in 1988. Greg attended the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (class 4) and the Executive Program for Agricultural Producers in 1995.
Joanne Vanderheyden (Strathroy-Caradoc)
Joanne is a past president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. She has a solid background in board and committee work and has considerable knowledge in financial reporting and strategic planning. She also spent 22 years as a service representative at the Libro Credit Union. Joanne earned her BA from Western University and served on Western’s Board of Governors.
Tammy Young (Bruce County)
Tammy is owner and operator of Les Young Farms Limited and operates her farm business together with her family in Cargill, Ontario. She is also a Grain Merchandising Consultant for White Commercial Corp. where she assists several grain elevator owners in their management and marketing across the province. Tammy currently serves as Second Vice President of the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture and a District 10 delegate for Grain Farmers of Ontario. She is also a certified grain merchant.
