MITCHELL, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 29, 2013) - BMO Bank of Montreal and the Ontario Plowmen's Association today announced the 10 Ontario families who have been chosen to receive the 2013 BMO Ontario Farm Family Award. The families, who are being honoured for their dedication to Ontario's agriculture sector and the rural way of life, will be formally recognized at this year's International Plowing Match & Rural Expo in Mitchell, ON, in West Perth on September 17.
"BMO is delighted to be part of the 100th anniversary of the International Plowing Match, and we're especially proud to honour these families at an event that celebrates the rich heritage of the agricultural way of life," said Susan Brown, Senior Vice-President, Ontario Regional Division, BMO Bank of Montreal. "The BMO Ontario Farm Family Awards are dedicated to recognizing the tremendous contributions made by farmers across the province, and these 10 families wonderfully demonstrate how the ideals and traditions of the past are combined with today's advanced agri-business practices."
The 2013 BMO Ontario Farm Family Award Recipients are:
| Farm Name | Family | Area |
| McIntosh | The McIntosh Family | Bruce County |
| Altona Lea Farms | The Barkey Family | Durham Region |
| E.E. Bennett & Sons Farms Ltd. | The Bennett Family | Frontenac County |
| Weblyn Farms | The Weber Family | Grey County - Normanby |
| Heather Holme Holsteins | The McNeil Family | Huron County |
| Burnham Family Farm Market | The Burnham Family | Northumberland County |
| Brander Farms | The Brander Family | Peel Dufferin County |
| CMcB Holsteins | The McBride Family | Renfrew County |
| Fennema Holsteins | The Ringelberg Family | Hamilton Wentworth (North) |
| Cranston Farms | The Cranston Family | Hamilton Wentworth (South) |
Each family will enjoy an entire day of Plowing Match events, including lunch and a family photograph session.
"Ontario's farm families contribute to their community and to the province in so many significant ways," said Cathy Lasby, Executive Director, Ontario Plowmen's Association. "They uphold the traditions of the past while strengthening Ontario's economic growth, and it is truly an honour to recognize them."
BMO has been a supporter of the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo since 2007. The sponsorship has since evolved into a five-year partnership, announced in 2011, whereby BMO will be a Presenting Partner from 2012 to 2016 inclusive. As part of the partnership, BMO introduced the inaugural Farm Family Awards in Ontario in 2012. Recognizing farm families is a further demonstration of BMO's commitment to agriculture. BMO also recognizes farm families in southern Alberta annually at the Calgary Stampede.
About BMO Bank of Montreal
BMO's roots in the Canadian agricultural sector date back to 1817, when it first began working with farmers. Today, BMO enjoys a well-founded reputation for providing customized loan and deposit solutions to Canada's agri-business owners, the single largest core commercial sector that the bank serves. BMO Bank of Montreal offers programs and products including a specialized farm-equipment line of credit, flexible farm mortgages, BMO's Agri ReadiLine and loans under the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act.
