Ahead of the curve with youth leadership in Chicago

Caitlyn Rongits, Ontario
youth speaker at GROWMARK 
2015 Annual Meeting 

Eighteen year-old, Caitlyn Rongits of Norwich, Ontario, recently attended the 2015 GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago as this year’s Ontario youth speaker alongside FFA state presidents from Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. These four young leaders spoke to an audience of more than 800 attendees and Caitlyn's speech addressed her views on the importance of agriculture sustainability. 

Caitlyn is a recent graduate of the Ontario Co-operative Association's Co-op Young Leaders Program and was one of three young people from Ontario chosen to take part in the travel opportunity sponsored by GROWMARK. Also travelling to Chicago was 4-H Ontario Ambassador Olivia Bolender of Stouffville and from Alma, executive director of community and international programs for Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario Jen van der Meulen. 

Ontario youth representatives at Grand Ballroom, Hilton Chicago.
From L-R Jen van der Meulen, Caitlyn Rongits and Olivia Bolender.

Caitlyn is a second year student at the University of Guelph studying criminal justice and public policy. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in human resources or law.

In her opening remarks in Chicago, Caitlyn said that the question about sustainability should be an obvious one, stating that, "the focus of every farmer and business should be to create a company or system that is strong enough to last through anything!"  



Each year GROWMARK provides travel opportunities to youth who have shown dedication to leadership development. They travel to Chicago to learn more about GROWMARK and network with business people and other young leaders. 

As part of their experience, they took part in the annual meeting’s grand opening ceremonies with young leaders from Future Farmers of America (FFA) and also had the opportunity to visit the Chicago Board of Trade. 

Young leaders from Ontario and FFA Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa get ready for the Grand Entry of Colours opening ceremonies at GROWMARK's AGM in Chicago on Aug. 28