Delegates from the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) recently gathered in South Bruce for their annual summer meeting. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) was one of the sponsors of this year’s OSCIA Summer Meeting that drew over 120 representatives from across Ontario.

South Bruce resident and Vice-President of the OSCIA Les Nichols and his wife Mary hosted the event and treated delegates to a true Bruce County experience. Part of the Nichols’ duties include planning and organizing the summer meeting.

“It takes the support of many people and organizations like the NWMO to deliver an exceptional experience for our annual summer meeting. It gives us the chance to promote the rich history and diversity of southern Bruce County to the rest of our members from across the province,” Mr. Nichols said.

The Nichols have spent months planning every detail of the summer meeting and tour, including showcasing local food at the banquet dinner held at the picturesque Lions Park in Formosa. The dinner featured Bruce County barbecued, corn-fed beef and corn on the cob from just outside Formosa, and 10 dozen homemade butter tarts from a local neighbour.

Longtime Executive Director Harold Rudy was honoured for his service to the OSCIA and spoke about a book he has been working on, called The Soil Fixers. The book tells the story of a 30-year journey to discover the true definition of sustainable agriculture and the critical role of soil. The official book launch will take place in the upcoming months.

The summer meeting also showcased a few of southern Bruce and Grey Counties’ most popular sites with stops at Albadon Farms, a dairy operation with over 200 cows, dancing tractors by Team Farmall, a bus tour at the Bruce Power Nuclear Generating Facility, as well as stops at Essentially Lavender, Meadow Ridge Maple sugar bush, and Hoity Toity Cellars.