Wellington County has earned international recognition for its efforts to support local agriculture, taking home a gold-level 2026 Excellence Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).
The county was honoured in the Innovative Economic Development category for its resource guide titled Your Farm, Your Future: A practical guide for succession. The IEDC’s annual awards celebrate government entities, organizations, and initiatives that revitalize communities while advancing the practice of economic development.
The award comes at a critical time for local agriculture. With more than 2,600 farms shaping the region's rural identity and agri-food economy, an estimated 1,000 Wellington County farms are projected to change ownership or management over the next ten years. However, data from the 2021 Census of Agriculture revealed that only 276 of those local operations had formal, written transition plans.
To address this gap, Wellington County published the resource to give farming families structured questions, real-life scenarios, and tailored advice for navigating succession planning, whether or not a successor has already been identified.
“Farms are the backbone of Wellington County, and the decisions made in the next few years will shape our agricultural landscape for generations,” said Councillor Jeff Duncan, Economic Development Committee Chair. “A clear transition plan protects farmers’ legacy and strengthens the future of agriculture. I am proud IEDC has recognized the County’s innovative work to support farmers in succession planning.”
The recognition carries extra significance this year as the Washington, D.C.-based organization celebrates a major milestone.
“IEDC and its partners are celebrating successes and shining a spotlight on programs that inspire and prepare the field for the next century of economic development,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO. "Wellington County is leading the field of excellence in economic development with ‘Your Farm, Your Future’, and IEDC is honoured to present them with a gold award, celebrating excellence and innovation in the field.”
More details about the resource guide and local transition planning tools can be found online at wellington.ca/transitionplanning.
