The Foster family each welcomed attendees at their 19th annual Customer Appreciation Day. Ruth Ann Foster thanked everyone for their help in getting through the first harvest since the death of her husband, Dwight Foster, in January 2025. From left: Ronald Foster, Allison Foster, Ruth Ann Foster, Gregory Foster and Delores Seiter. Tinkess Photo
NORTH GOWER – On a bright, beautiful, sunny day, North Gower Grains held their 19th Customer Appreciation Day, and it was very well attended by friends, family, clients, suppliers and anyone connected with the agriculture community in Eastern Ontario.
The shop building, which is across the road from the grain handling facility, has hosted the event for the past three years, and it was polished and decked out with row upon row of tables, ready for the 1,000 or so guests who regularly attend the event.
After being shuttled from the parking area on the south side of Lockhead Road, guest signed in at the door and were greeted inside by an army of employees easily identified by their yellow North Gower Grains golf shirts. The bucket on a loader was filled with cold drinks, while Tim Horton’s coffee, donuts, and Timbits were available nearby.
The event serves multiple purposes: First and foremost, it is an opportunity for North Gower Grains and the Foster family to say thank you to the people who they live, work and do business with on a daily basis.
Second, it gives neighbours a chance to socialize and catchup with each other. Occurring as it does late in June each year, many farmers are entering into a quieter period, so they take advantage of the opportunity for a good meal, good information and good company.
Third, there are always several companies that service the agriculture community, and attendees can pick and choose the ones that interest them to determine if there is something that might be valuable to them.
Finally, it is also a good time to do some business, as special prices available only during the event. Order desks were scattered around the shop with staff members ready to answer questions and offer contracts. After all, it’s a great day to sell grain!
The event, which was M/C’d by Geoffrey Guy, Chief Grain Merchandiser, and the first people he invited to the stage (a flatbed trailer) were members of the Foster Family, Ruth Ann Foster, Delores Seiter, Ronald Foster, Gregory Foster, and Allison Foster. With the death of the company’s founder Dwight Foster in January 2025, his family had taken over the operation. Each in turn thanked those in attendance for taking the time out of their busy day to stop by. Ruth Ann, Dwight’s wife, thanked everyone who helped them get through their first harvest without him in the fall of 2025.
The Fosters were followed by a group discussion on how 2026 was proceeding. The group was led by Clare Kinlin of Kinlin Crop Advice and Harvex, and included Nicole Sharp (Syngenta), Mark Foster (Jockbrae Farms), and Paul Sullivan (Sullivan Agro.)
An online presentation by Moe Augustino of Farms.com followed, as well as a short presentation by Delores Seiter and Geoffrey Guy about how sometimes eliminating some doubt in the market by selling rather than waiting is often a good strategy.
Members of local 4-H clubs were also invited to the stage to be recognized and led the crowd in a rousing rendition of Oh Canada.
With a delicious catered lunch of ribs ready to be served, any remaining words were stored away till later, and the age-old practice of sharing a meal with your neighbours got underway, a reminder that those in the farm community are much more than just business partners.
