Skip to main content
Board
Henk Vaarkamp
President
In 1985, Henk and Ans Vaarkamp emigrated from the Netherlands to Canada. They started dairy farming in Haldimand County with their four children and are blessed with 11 grandchildren. In 2004, their son Wilco joined the dairy farm operation and took over most of the active work on the farm in 2014.
Henk has served as president of the Haldimand-Norfolk District Christian Farmers Association, as treasurer and secretary of the Haldimand Dairy Producer Committee and as a member of the Haldimand Agriculture Awareness Committee.
Henk is also active in his church, having served as an elder. He and Ans have spent each winter over the last number of years in the Dominican Republic, engaged in mission work and assisting with different mission teams and local projects.
Frank Hoftyzer
Vice President
Frank hails from Hastings, where he and Julia, his wife and business partner, got their start in dairy farming. They have also been involved in the goat industry, and they currently run a cash crop and custom farming business. Frank currently serves on the Board of the East Central District Christian Farmers Association and the Environmental Council of Farm & Food Care Ontario. He has also served as president of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association
Richard Blyeven
Vice President
Richard and Janet Blyleven have been CFFO members since 1994. Richard immediately became a board member on the local Haldiman- Norfolk district as secr4etary and as president supporting CFFO initiatives in the broader community.
Since 2011, Richard was elected to the CFFO provincial Board where he served in various roles to promote Christian Values in agriculture and help CFFO and its members to come up with solutions in the political rural landscape. Richard has always been an advocate for agriculture.
Daryl Herlick
Director
Daryl has been living and cash crop farming outside Tavistock in Perth County for over 20 years. Also was a farm and heavy equipment mechanic for 15 years through the day.
From 2018-2022 served as a Councilor for the municipality of Perth East also was the third repetitive required for Perth County Council and served as a counselor there in that term also.
Married to his Wife Michelle and were blessed with 4 children who by God's grace has led them to home school venture that has been very rewarding.
With all Glory to God he believes he can be a solid voice representing the farmers of Perth County and beyond with a biblical farming foundation in a somewhat turbulent world.
Ian Greydanus
Director
Ian farms with his wife, Caroline, in Grafton. They have four children, two of whom are involved in the farm business. Together, they run a cash cropping and grain elevator enterprise. Ian was part of the grassroots which established the Grain Farmers of Ontario organization, having served 12 years as a director on the former Ontario wheat board. He currently serves as vice-president of the East Central Christian Farmers Association. He has also served several terms on his church council.
Sandy Kursis
Director
Sandy is blessed to live on the home and farm where she grew up. When her parents passed away, she and her husband and partner, Ted, had no hesitation in moving to the farm full-time in 2001. At a stage in life when most people think about retirement, they chose to start a new adventure. Sandy and Ted can well identify with young farmers trying to enter the industry. The licenses, laws, and legislation are daunting, and the investment required is formidable. However, they are pleased to report that their "Kurwood Farm," 100 acres of rolling countryside, forest, and clay soil, produces honey and cash crops.
Based on a neighbor's recommendation, they joined the CFFO. That same neighbor had something to do with Ted coming home from his first District AGM and announcing to Sandy that he had been elected President of the Simcoe County District. They haven’t looked back since. Sandy was elected to the Board at the following AGM and has served as both Secretary and Treasurer.
John Lammers
Director
Hi, I'm John Lammers, I started farming about the same time as I started walking. First with my parents, as time rolled on, I farmed with my wife and 4 children. Which now, all as adult children 3 of which are full time farmers, and now 10 grandchildren also starting to help. This leaves me time for other ventures like CFFO.
I'm also the President of the Lambton Right-to-Life to life, which Is an interdenominational Team of men and women that have Passion to Reinstate a culture of life in our community. Through this organization, we have started a maternity home; to help women in their time of need. I'm also a board member of Alliance for life Ontario.
My calling to be Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario director, Is the hopes of bringing Christ back into the political arena... we may be a minority, but we have Jesus Christ on our side...
John Zekveld
Director
First and foremost by grace, I am I am a child of God. I am married to my wife, Maxine, for 30 years, have four grown children, a son in law and two granddaughters. I am a member of Wyoming Covenant Christian Church(URC), have served the Lord through terms on church council, Christian school boards, and the CFFO district board. Maxine and I, along with our son own and operate Zekvelds Garden Market, growing and retailing fruits and vegetables. We farm in Reece's Corners in the Lambton District.