About 20 eager attendees arrived ahead of the main group for Thursday’s pre-tour of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show. You might think a 100-acre site would take a while to reveal its highlights, but within just a few feet, the group had already found its first culinary temptation: Vodkow, a vodka made from milk. It wasn’t even properly mid-morning yet, but no one seemed particularly concerned about the timing. When someone offers you a sample, after all, it’s probably best to be polite.

There was plenty to see beyond the food and drink. New tractors lined the grounds, crop varieties were planted in neat plots, and just about every kind of modern technology considered essential to today’s farm was on display. But for those paying attention, it quickly became clear that the show had just as much to offer in the food department. Popcorn, donuts, chips, corn on the cob and even space ice cream kept everyone fueled up and ensured that no travel-weary writer had to face the afternoon on an empty stomach.

When the day’s exploring started to catch up with everyone, guests made their way to the COFS pond, where a glass of wine and some sunshine provided a well-earned break. Despite forecasts calling for overcast skies, the sun stuck around for much of the day—an unexpected bonus for anyone who had checked the weather before leaving home.

Eventually, the rain did arrive in the late afternoon, signalling that it was probably time to call it a day. The group headed back to the hotel, with thanks to Glacier Farm Media for making sure everyone—and their full stomachs—got there safely.

The conference officially got underway Thursday evening with the opening reception, where old acquaintances were happily reunited and plenty of new connections were made. For many farm writers, London was their first CFWF conference, and they were welcomed into the group with plenty of warmth. As the evening carried on, guests eventually made their way to the hospitality suite to swap stories and recap the day’s adventures—a tradition that, this author is reliably informed, continued each night of the conference. With Pioneer serving as host, there was little reason to call it an early night, especially with good spirits and even better company on hand.

With London and the surrounding counties offering no shortage of agricultural attractions, conference organizers put together four bus tours in an ambitious attempt to showcase just how much agriculture can be found within a day’s drive. This was no small task, particularly when Ontario produces more than 200 agricultural commodities. Tour itineraries took guests through grain fields and orchards, ginseng and berry farms, and even a Brussels sprouts farm—a first for a CFWF tour. Farm writers met dairy cows, sheep and llamas, while more than a few discovered an unexpected appreciation for goats. And then there was the group that was quite literally blown away during a visit to a research facility where scientists test the wind resistance of buildings and cargo ships.

Saturday’s professional development sessions turned the focus toward some of the issues facing Ontario farmers, including land development, trade concerns and the ever-increasing cost of production. From there, the conversation looked ahead to the future, with sessions on emerging technologies and the challenge—and opportunity—of engaging the next generation of farmers.

The afternoon workshops offered plenty for writers to take back to their desks. Attendees explored how to protect and strengthen their craft in the age of AI, photographers worked on developing a more discerning eye, and those with an appetite for digging deeper learned how to uncover the statistical truths that can provide important context for a story.

Of course, no conference would be complete without a proper finale. Saturday evening’s banquet, made possible through the generous support of BASF, brought everyone together one last time, with entertainment from the GMOs providing the soundtrack for the evening. The drinks flowed, glasses were raised, and the crowd celebrated the conference’s well-deserving award recipients.

Leaving such good company is never easy, but there is at least one consolation: the next invitation is already on the calendar. Next September, CFWF will head west to Kelowna, where the British Columbia Farm Writers’ Association will have the honour of welcoming the group. If this year was any indication, there will be no shortage of good stories, good company and, presumably, a few late nights along the way. And, as promised from the BCFWA attendees – a lot of good tasting wine!

Check out these great images from CFWF 2026! Got a few images of your own to share, or want to see more? Upload your images and check out everyone else’s on CFWF 2026 Google Photos.