Wellington County, Ont. – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has selected Wellington County as the recipient of a gold level 2026 Excellence Award for ‘Your Farm, Your Future; A practical guide for succession’. IEDC’s annual awards recognize organizations, government entities, and initiatives that revitalize communities and advance the practice of economic development. Wellington was recognized in the ‘Innovative Economic Development’ category.
“Farms are the backbone of Wellington County, and the decisions made in the next few years will shape our agricultural landscape for generations,” said Councillor Jeff Duncan, Economic Development Committee Chair. “A clear transition plan protects farmers’ legacy and strengthens the future of agriculture. I am proud IEDC has recognized the County’s innovative work to support farmers in succession planning.”
This year's awards take on special meaning, as IEDC celebrates its 100th anniversary.
“IEDC and its partners are celebrating successes and shining a spotlight on programs that inspire and prepare the field for the next century of economic development,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO. "Wellington County is leading the field of excellence in economic development with ‘Your Farm, Your Future’, and IEDC is honoured to present them with a gold award, celebrating excellence and innovation in the field.”
About Wellington County: agriculture is fundamental to Wellington County’s rural identity with more than 2,600 farms and a strong agri-food and rural economy. Over the coming decade, an estimated 1,000 Wellington County farms are predicted to change ownership or management; the 2021 Census of Agriculture indicated that only 276 of them had written transition plans. Wellington County is helping bridge that gap through resources like ‘Your Farm, Your Future; A practical guide for succession’, which provides structured questions, real-life scenarios, and specific advice for families with and without identified successors. Learn more at wellington.ca/transitionplanning.
About the International Economic Development Council (IEDC): representing the entire economic development profession, IEDC is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization based in Washington, D.C. Members include practitioners in economic development through local, state, provincial, and federal governments, non-profits, public-private partnerships, entrepreneurial support organizations, chambers of commerce, utilities, universities, and a variety of other organizations. IEDC is the world’s largest association for economic developers, providing professional development through courses and certifications, networking, conferences, research, policy advocacy, partnerships, and other valuable offerings driving the future of the field. For more information, please visit IEDC.org.
Media Contact:
Christina Mann, Manager of Economic Development, County of Wellington
519.837.2600 x 2615, christinam@wellington.ca