Farm News and Events

At our inaugural 2026 Board of Directors meeting, our executive was elected and the planning for the 2026 year began.  If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to any of the directors, listed below and also be sure to send your email address to peterboroughcountycattlemen@gmail.com, to receive the latest news and updates.

At this time we'd also like to thank Jason McIntosh for his years of being on the board and being on the Producer Education Committee and always being available to help with the barbecue as well with any other projects that were under taken.  Jason had made the decision to step down this year, but he has also offered his new location for our 2026 Cattlemen's Barbecue.  Stay tuned for details.

We wish to welcome a new director, Conner Hill to the board of directors!  

President:                  Karen Paszternak  -  karen.paszternak@gmail.com

Vice-President:         Greg Cornish    -     gregcornish44@gmail.com

2nd Vice-President:    Glen Darling   –     darlinghomesteadfarm@gmail.com

Past President:           Mike Fallis      -      sunsetacres@nexicom.net

Advisory Councillor:  John Lunn    -     bonlunn@gmail.com

Secretary/Treasurer:    Pat Leahy     -    pleahy@nexicom.net

Directors:

Dave Cavanagh   - homestead_herefords@msn.com

Francis Crowley – 

Harry Ellis         -   hairyellis@sympatico.ca

Owen Elmhirst   -   owen.elmhirst@icloud.com

Cole Fallis          -  sunsetacres@nexicom.net

Gavin Faught      -   gavinfaught@icloud.com

Conner Hill        -     connorhill4@icloud.com

Adrian Johnson   -   adrian.keith.johnson@gmail.com

Paul McMahon   -  paulmcmahon@xplornet.com

Guy Peel            -   g.peel@live.com

Laura Robson   -    lrobson_11@hotmail.com

Mike Telford    -    miwayfarms@outlook.com

Wayne Telford  -   margtelford1@gmail.com

At the recent Celebration of Agriculture, which was held on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at the Lang Agricultural Heritage Building, the Peterborough County Cattlemen presented the Longstanding Commitment Award to our secretary/treasurer Pat Leahy!  The following is the tribute that was presented to her.....

We are here this evening to recognize someone who has and continues to play a major role in the Peterborough County Cattlemen Association, our secretary/treasurer, Pat Leahy.  She is our voice of reason, who counsels and provides words of wisdom to the numerous Presidents she has mentored.  She keeps impeccable minutes and knows our account balance down to the penny.  Pat sorts through what must be an endless string of emails, and forwards them on to the people who need to know.  She makes the job look easy, but we all know it is not.

Pat’s association with agriculture and cattle started as soon as she was born.  She was raised in a farming family and recalls driving the horses and working during the harvests. 

After meeting her husband, Larry, who proposed on Valentine’s Day, the 70’s initiated a lifetime around the production of beef cattle in Ontario, with a focus on purebred Charolais and raising quality bulls. This led to the Triangle Sales Management partnership developed with 2 other Charolais breeders. 

Together they raised 3 children, Keith, Derrick & Shannon.  All of whom were actively involved in the farm. Nothing is more important to Pat than her family.  She never misses an opportunity to visit her son Keith and his family in Florida for important life milestones.  She cherishes the time she is able to spend with her daughter Shannon, son Derrick and his family.

Larry served as a 4-H leader for many years and Pat was a constant presence at meetings and events, they generously supported the program and Pat was able to share her enthusiasm for teaching and mentorship.

Larry showed his cattle in breeding classes at local fairs with Pat was always by his side, supporting both the family and their farming operation.  The show focus eventually turned to the steer shows, where the family earned recognition with having quality cattle and a lifetime of learning.

Over the years, Larry & Pat frequently participated in the annual Cattlemen’s bus trips.  Pat continues to enjoy attending the bus trips, taking great interest in visiting and learning from other farming operations.

Pat enjoyed a long career as an elementary school teacher, a profession she embraced with dedication and passion.  She retired in 2008 and took on the role of Secretary for the Peterborough Cattlemen Association, not too long after.  Her first meeting was on April 27, 2009, at which time, Jack Holland was President. 

As if she doesn’t have enough to do as secretary of the Cattlemens, in Pat’s ‘free’ time, she continues to keep her connection to the school and children by volunteering for the school breakfast program in Douro. During the winter you can catch up with her hitting a few rocks at the Lakefield Curling Club, and in the warmer days she’ll be out enjoying a walk with friends.  She also continues to keep a small herd of Belgium Blue cattle.

On behalf of the Peterborough County Cattlemen’s Association, we are pleased to present the Longstanding Commitment to the Peterborough County Cattlemen to Pat Leahy, as a small token of our appreciation for everything she does.

We are extending an invitation to all businesses to become an associate member of the Peterborough County Cattlemen’s Association, for a nominal annual fee of $50.00. 

Some of the benefits of being an associate member include: 

• The use of the Peterborough County Cattlemen’s Association logo for advertising
• provide advertising or booth opportunities at local cattlemen’s events specifically the annual general meeting, farm show, barbecue and at producer meetings.
• follow Peterborough County Cattlemen on Facebook at Peterborough County Cattlemen’s Association
• be included in the emails of Peterborough County Cattlemen at peterboroughcountycattlemen@gmail.com
• associate members’ businesses are advertised on a poster that is on display at cattlemen events

In 2026 the events which we hope to have a presence at, are:

• East Central Farm Show – Lindsay, On
• Annual Barbecue - we are in the planning stages of our annual barbecue this summer.  This year, it will be held at the farm of Jason McIntosh Auctions 1576 Matchett Line,  on Sunday, August 1st, 2026
• Norwood Fair Booth – October 7th – 9th
• Other events we are invited to attend throughout the year

If you know of any other business that might wish to join as an associate member, please forward their contact information to Pat Leahy, so she may contact them directly.

Please make cheques payable to Peterborough Cattlemen and mail to Pat Leahy, 697 Douro 5th Line, Douro-Dummer  K0L 2H0.

Once your associate membership fee is paid, you will receive a framed certificate and a sticker, each year, which can be affixed to the outside of the frame. 

If you would like to receive the latest news and upcoming events from the Peterborough County Cattlemen, please send us an email at peterboroughcountycattlemen@gmail.com along with your name, so we can up date our records.  Your email will NOT be shared with any other organizations or groups, it will be used only to share information from the Peterborough County Cattlemen.  

Between January and March 2026, the Alto team is meeting with communities in several municipalities across the proposed corridor between Toronto and Quebec City. For information on their proposed routes, please view the map on the Alto Website: https://en.consultation.altotrain.ca/shaping-the-canada-of-tomorrow-with-high-speed-rail/places/interact-map

The following open houses are happening locally in person:

February 26: Peterborough (McDonnel Street Community Centre) 11:00am to 3:00pm and 5:00pm to 9:00pm 

March 5: Madoc (Madoc Township Recreation Centre) 11:00am to 3:00pm and 5:00pm to 9:00pm 

March 25: Sterling (Sterling and District Lions Club) 11:00am to 3:00pm and 5:00pm to 9:00pm 

no registration required, free to attend

There are also some virtual sessions. Please check out their calendar for more info: https://www.altotrain.ca/en/public-consultation/open-house

Can't make it to a session? They are also collecting feedback through an online survey: https://en.consultation.altotrain.ca/shaping-the-canada-of-tomorrow-with-high-speed-rail