The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) is proud to celebrate four alumni who have been named among the 2026 inductees to the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame, recognizing their lasting contributions to the province’s agri-food sector.
This year’s alumni inductees are Dr. Helen Fisher (posthumous), Percy Hodgetts (posthumous), Brian O’Connor, and The Honourable Robert Black.
Wyatt Brauer is an agriculture student at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus who comes from a family-owned farm in Prince Edward County, Ontario. In this #CanadaAgDay feature, Wyatt reflects on the resilience and dedication of Canadian farmers and why recognizing those who put food on the table matters to him. He also shares what drew him to the Ridgetown Campus and how those experiences have shaped his education and future plans in agriculture.
The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) is elevating its leadership in water safety and health with the addition of two new faculty members in the School of Environmental Sciences. Drs. Shadman Khan and Wenxi Liao will join the research program of Dr. David McCarthy, the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Waterborne Pathogens: Surveillance, Prediction and Mitigation. The researchers will help build one of North America’s most advanced teams focused on protecting communities from waterborne pathogens.
The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) community mourns the passing of Earle Muir, a proud member of the OAC Class of 1956 Bachelor of Science in Agriculture - BSA (major Horticultural Science), who passed away peacefully on December 19, 2025, at his home in Niagara-on-the-Lake, in his 93rd year.
A fourth-generation fruit farmer in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Earle devoted his life to farming and was known for his strong work ethic, fairness, and kindness. After many years farming alongside his daughter, he proudly passed the farm on to her.
From parks to restored natural habitats, landscape architects help sustainably shape the outdoor spaces that connect people and land. While the discipline has traditionally relied on hands-on, human-centered methods, it has been slower to adopt emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) or augmented reality. OAC’s Afshin Ashari, assistant professor in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, is working to change that.
The 16th Annual Canadian Agri‑Food Policy Conference (CAPC) in Ottawa brought together a remarkable group of FARE faculty, students, and alumni, once again demonstrating the depth, talent, and impact of our community. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and contributions.
Celebrating Leadership and Service
Considering a career in environmental protection or conservation? Love science, the outdoors and learning about Indigenous perspectives?
Learn about U of G Student Sandreka Rowe’s experience in the Bachelor of Indigenous Environmental Science and Practice Program.
International student, Naifah Putri gained technical skills and hands-on experiences from OAC’s Master’s in Environmental Science, leading to a role as a sustainability auditor. immediately after her graduation.
When you think of a healthy egg-laying hen, the microscopic organisms in her gut might not be the first thing that comes to mind. For University of Guelph PhD in Animal Biosciences student Lea Nicklas, these organisms, known collectively as the microbiota, are where the story begins.
Nicklas, a PhD candidate in the Department of Animal Biosciences at the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), is exploring the link between a hen’s gut microbiota and their mental health and stress. This important connection might reduce one of the poultry industry’s most persistent animal welfare challenges - feather pecking.
The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) is pleased to announce that Dr. Christine Baes has been appointed Associate Dean (External Relations), effective January 1, 2026, for a five-year term.