In July 2026, Uniag Coopérative held three VIP Next-Gen Dinners that brought together about twenty young member farmers. The goal? To create an authentic space for dialogue between management and the next generation of agricultural producers.
These informal gatherings, hosted by President Hugo Landry and General Manager Sylvain Boyer, took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere:
- July 17 at Casselview Golf Restaurant in Casselman (Ontario)
- July 22 at Stephanie’s Restaurant in Hawkesbury (Ontario)
- July 23 at Domaine de la Templerie in Godmanchester (Quebec)
Open and Inspiring Conversations
Over a good meal, discussions focused on topics that truly matter to the next generation: young producers’ relationship with their cooperative, the challenges of farm succession, Uniag’s strategic investments, cooperative governance, and the concrete realities of running their operations.
Participants were able to freely share their concerns, ambitions, and ideas for the future. One of them summed up the experience this way:
“The feeling of being part of a team and the authenticity of management toward us is what struck me the most.”
A Warmly Received Initiative
The feedback survey completed after the dinners confirms the success of the format. Every respondent would recommend the experience to another young producer.
Participants particularly appreciated the small-group setting, which encouraged genuine conversations and peer networking. Several noted that they felt fully recognized as equal members of their cooperative.
Thank You to Co-operators
These VIP Next-Gen Dinners were made possible thanks to the financial support of Co-operators, as part of its cooperative development program. Uniag sincerely thanks Co-operators for this contribution, which allowed this new initiative to take shape.
An Ongoing Commitment
“These gatherings confirmed that the next generation of farmers is committed, clear-eyed, and deeply attached to the cooperative model,” said Hugo Landry, President of Uniag Cooperative. “We leave with concrete ideas and a strong commitment to continue meeting them where they are.”
At Uniag, we firmly believe in the importance of listening to and supporting the next generation. These dinners were only the beginning. We look forward to continuing the conversation and building the future of our cooperative together.
