Canadian Farm Writers' Federation : The Canadian Farm Writers Federation (CFWF) is an advocacy group composed of and representing agricultural journalists in the interest of assisting in the improvement of Canadian agriculture and rural life, promoting a better understanding between agriculture and other groups, securing greater co-operation between news sources and farm writers, and advancing the status and welfare of their membership by encouraging the exchange of materials, promoting the exchange of ideas, and establishing a code of ethics.
The Federation was founded in 1955 following the Agricultural Institute of Canada (AIC) convention by a group of Canadian agricultural journalists who wanted to found a Canadian counterpart to the American National Association of Television and Radio Farm Directors (NATRFD). These founders were Dick Beamish of the Western Producer, Tom Leach of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Jack Cram of the Family Herald and Frank Jacobs of Canadian Cattleman. Following a preliminary meeting, a questionnaire was sent out to potential members in order to gauge interest in the formation of such an organisation. After favourable feedback from the questionnaire, another meeting was called in which Don Baron of the Country Guide and Jack McPherson of the CBC also joined the executive. The representatives began by forming smaller regional groups which resulted in the Eastern Canada Farm Writers Association (ECFWA), Manitoba Farm Writers and Broadcasters Association, Saskatchewan Farm Writers Association, Alberta Farm Writers Association, and the B.C. Farm Writers Association. More meetings were called in the interest of establishing a national constitution and meeting with the French language counterpart already in existence known as l'Association Canadienne des Rédacteurs Agricoles (ACRA), now known as l'Association des communicateurs et rédacteurs de l'agroalimentaire. A national constitution was established, though the French language farm writers decided to co-operate with but not join the federation, and remain independent to this day.
Since its formation the CFWF has been involved in many efforts in order to foster and improve agricultural communication in Canada including their regular national and regional newsletters, annual awards program for excellence in agricultural journalism, annual conventions, research trips, advocacy, studies and bursaries.
