A former board leader of the Junior Farmers Association of Ontario will be bringing his expertise to the Wellington Federation of Agriculture.

Succeeding Janet Harrop, who filled the position for eight years, Barclay Nap was named the new president at a recent regional meeting.

Based in Puslinch, Nap has roots in dairy farming as a child. He now primarily produces farm-share boxes of fresh vegetables.

He says Harrop has been a great leader and spokesperson since taking the reigns to lead the federation, which works for farmers’ economic and environmental well-being, among other goals.

After a decade on the WFA board, Nap now gets his chance to be head of the the federation, and says he comes armed with fresh philosophies.

"I know we're a little low right now, or we'd like to have someone who would bring a perspective from the hog industry and the poultry industry," Nap stated.

"Some municipalities such as Minto, we'd love to have someone on the board, and get their perspective," Nap said.

He added that there's mutual respect between himself and Harrop, who thought he was ready for the role. He says his mindset is to give his own ideas, but welcome those of others, as well.

"I do have a different perspective than any of the previous leaders, but I do want to bring a lot of what they had and I want to keep going with what the board is working on," Nap explained.

"Not necessarily just my personality- I want to bring their personalities out, too," he added.

Harrop was contacted but did not present a statement at the time of this story's publication.

Nap, who says it's always been a mindset that every person get a chance to lead in life, in one capacity or another, now gets that chance in spearheading the local ag federation.

Listen to the CICW story below: