(SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA) – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) invites all Canadians to join it in congratulating Ontario farmer Jack Wilkinson, who has just been re-elected for an unprecedented third term as President of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) at that organization’s 60th World Congress in Seoul, South Korea.

“For the first time in the history of IFAP an individual been elected for three consecutive terms as President,” said Bob Friesen, CFA President. “That farm leaders from around world have chosen Jack Wilkinson yet again is a testament both to the respect Canada has on the world stage, and to the hard work Jack has put in over the past years on behalf of all the world’s farmers.”

IFAP is an international organization representing and advocating for the interests of agricultural producers around the world. Its members include farm organizations from developed and developing countries. This year IFAP is celebrating its 60th anniversary. CFA sits on the executive committee of IFAP as well as on IFAP’s newly created committee dealing with OECD issues.

Jack Wilkinson is a grains and cattle producer from Northern Ontario. In the past he has served as President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. During his past two terms as IFAP President he has put particular emphasis on increasing the representation and participation of farm organizations from developing countries in IFAP.

“To empower one farmer anywhere is to empower all farmers everywhere,” said Friesen. “Jack’s work has been empowering farmers around the globe, to the benefit of farmers right here in Canada.”

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.