Board of Directors

Kristy Nudds

President

Kristy Nudds is the editorial specialist with Grain Farmers of Ontario and managing editor of its magazine, Ontario Grain Farmer.

An experienced editor with a long career in agricultural publishing, Kristy has led and shaped editorial content for a range of industry publications, including Farmtario, Canadian Poultry, and Food in Canada. She is the current president of the Eastern Canadian Farm Writers’ Association, a longtime member of the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation, and a Class 21 participant in the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program, administered by the Rural Ontario Institute.

Clare Wooding

Secretary treasurer

Clare Wooding has worked in the agricultural communications field for 20 years, with roles spanning corporate affairs, public relations, internal communications, and marketing.

She is a past president of ECFWA, having previously served the provincial organization and Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation for more than a decade. Clare holds a BSc. in Agriculture and Food Sciences from the University of Guelph and a Master of Communications Management from McMaster University.

Brianne Curtis

Vice President

Brianne Curtis has worked in agriculture communications for the past ten years, dedicated to educating consumers about the origins of their food.

When not fostering connections between people and their food stories, she works alongside her family on their grain and beef farm as a fourth generation farmer. Brianne holds a BASc in Agriculture Business from Olds College.

Tabitha Caswell

Vice President

Tabitha Caswell is a freelance writer, editor, and marketing-communications professional.

Covering traditional farming methods to high-tech agri-food innovations, with a commitment to food security and sustainability, her work balances a competitive spirit with a passion for positive environmental and social change.

Matt McIntosh

past president

Matt McIntosh is an award-winning journalist and farmer based in Southern Ontario. Operating under his brand, The Rural PhilosoFer, he maintains a particular focus on environmental, production, political, and wider societal issues pertaining to the agriculture sector.

Context and critical thinking are central to his work.

Matt contributes to both domestic and international publications and holds a B.A. in Political Science (with a focus on agriculture issues) from the University of Guelph. He also sits as past president on the Eastern Canada Farm Writers’ Association board and is a 2024 Contemporary Nuffield Scholar. Music and the outdoors take up most of his spare time.

Sarah McGoldrick

director

Sarah McGoldrick is a reporter with Glacier FarmMedia focusing on current events and agronomy.

Christa Ormiston

Director

Christa Ormiston brings a lifelong passion for agriculture and has spent her career focused on agricultural communications and marketing.

Using her journalism background, she cultivates an appreciation for food and farming by connecting farm gates to dinner plates. Christa focuses on giving farmers the skills and confidence they need to tell the public their stories about farming and their farm families. Christa was raised on a mixed farm and market garden in Bobcaygeon, Ontario.

Kim Sheppard

Director

Kim Sheppard is a writer, editor, and science communicator with over 20 years of experience translating complex agricultural and animal welfare topics into engaging, accessible stories.

She holds an MSc in Animal Science (Animal Behaviour and Welfare) from the University of Guelph and an MSc in Science Communication and Public Engagement from the University of Edinburgh, where her research focused on using narrative and creative nonfiction to communicate science in engaging and memorable ways.

Kim is the owner of Kimberly Sheppard Communications Studio and spent over six years as an editor for AgriSuccess magazine with Farm Credit Canada. She currently works as a writer, editor, and grant writer across the agri-food, environmental, and nonprofit sectors, producing journalistic, research-based, and strategic content with a focus on knowledge mobilization and connecting research with policymakers, industry stakeholders, funders, and the public.

She previously spent over 15 years with the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare at the University of Guelph, leading communications and outreach initiatives that connected research with industry, policymakers, and the public. Her broader experience includes roles in research, journalism, and stakeholder engagement across academia, government, and the agri-food sector, working with diverse partners to translate complex issues into practical, accessible insights.

As a Director with the Eastern Canada Farm Writers Association, Kim is passionate about supporting strong storytelling, elevating diverse voices in agriculture, and fostering meaningful connections between writers and the communities they serve.