The 2023 Annual General Meeting of Farmers Helping Farmers was held at the Farm Centre in Charlottetown on Thursday, July 20th. The meeting began with a delicious buffet supper of African cuisine. Over dessert, the organization’s annual awards ceremony took place.
Farmers Helping Farmers Awards 2023
FHF Youth of the Year
The FHF Youth of the Year was awarded to Victoria Mellish. Victoria is the third generation of her family to travel to Kenya with Farmers Helping Farmers. She carried and delivered letters from Island twinning schools to the Kenyan schools. She also helped Kenyan students to prepare letters and carried them back to PEI. In Kenya, she helped with the donkey clinics and with the walk-in clinics to treat cows. Upon her return to P.E.I. Victoria made a 4-H speech was about her work in Kenya which won the top award at the club and district levels.
FHF Honourary Member of the Year
The FHF Honourary Member of the Year was awarded to the nine Kenyans who worked on the More Food Better Food: Empowering Kenya Women Farmers project which ran in Meru County from 2019 to 2023. These dedicated team members made a difference in their community, working through COVID when the Farmers Helping Farmers Canadian team was unable to travel to Kenya. The project would not have been completed without them.
They are:
Name Joined FHF Job title
1. Eric Munene Mwongera Nov 2021 Poultry Production Trainer
2. Brian Mutuma Mugambi May 2021 Assistant Community Nutritionist
3. James Mureithi Mutahi Jan 2020 Community Nutritionist
4. Claire Loinah Kubania Oct 2019 Kamuketha Nkando Project Officer
5. Stephen Mwenda Nteere Jan 2012 Senior Horticulturist
6. Douglas Gikundi M'Muguna Sept 2010 Horticulturist
7. Leah Wakiuru Kariuki July 2008 Dairy Production Trainer
8. Stephen Muchangi Chandi Feb 2007 Dairy Production Trainer
9. Salome Ntinyari Feb 2006 Womens Empowerment Consultant
FHF Volunteer of the Year
Finally, the FHF Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Barry Cudmore. In 2022, Barry successfully reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, and along the way, raised thousands of dollars for FHF. Barry and his wife Ellen were part of the first delegation of Prince Edward Islanders who travelled to Kenya and Tanzania more than 40 years ago. The trip resulted in the formation of Farmers Helping Farmers, and the Cudmores are still deeply involved four decades later.
Annual General Meeting
Following the Awards Ceremony, the Annual General Meeting was called to order by President Judy Loo. Mike Fitzpatrick of Fitzpatrick and Co. presented the Auditor’s Report. The organization then received reports from the President, the Coordinator and its various committees. Finance Committee Chair Ron Herbert presented the annual budget for approval. The nominating committee presented Victoria and Angus Mellish as new Board members along with Jill Wood, who were all accepted by the members.
The meeting concluded with the election of officers, including Ron Herbert as President and Donald Killorn as Vice-President. Outgoing President Judy Loo was given a heartfelt thanks from the Board for her tireless service. The meeting was adjourned, and the work of the new year began.
