On April 15, 2025, the Fonthill Lions honour the Farming Community with their annual Agriculture Night at the Fonthill Legion.

The late Gord Klager, charter member of the Fonthill Lions, first started gathering farmers, and their supporters, 75 years ago at the Legion for a celebration of their great contribution to the Agriculture Industry and food supply chain. Since then, the annual tradition isn’t one the Fonthill Lions ever missed, other than in 2020 and 2021, when salutations were halted due to the pandemic.

Agriculture is the backbone of our community,” said Robert Yungblut, organizer of the event.  “Even as the town continues to rapidly expand, the industry remains vitally important with fruit, vegetable, chicken, beef, dairy, horse and even greenhouse-based farms calling the area home.”  The annual Agriculture Night is a show of recognition to acknowledge the importance of the local agriculture business not only to the Pelham community, but also to the Ontario food industry.  And, with most Canadians striving for more regional options to avoid purchasing US products, it is more important than ever.

Agriculture Night is a fun, social celebration of the local farming community.  Each year hosts an interesting speaker who is connected to the local farming industry or wildlife conservation.  This year’s speaker is Marcie Jackson from The Owl Foundation.  The Owl Foundation is a registered Canadian charitable organization that helps Canadian owls and other raptors that are injured or orphaned. The Foundation operates an extraordinary rehabilitation center located in Vineland Station and has received many awards for their outstanding work over the years.

For more information about the Fonthill Lions, or to obtain tickets for Agriculture Night, email fonthilllions@gmail.com.