Our Staff
Pam Charlton
General Manager
Pam has been part of the dairy industry for the past 22 years, operating Elm Bend Farms as a family operation involving her mother-in-law, husband and four daughters. They are a 100 per cent homebred herd located in Brant County, that actively participates in local dairy shows and 4-H events. Pam brings with her over 20 years of experience in program delivery, producer education and community involvement through her work with Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Holstein Canada, and Brant 4-H. Pam is also a graduate of University of Guelph, Hons BSc (Environmental Sciences). She feels strongly about the importance of supporting our youth and equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate their way to becoming producers and leaders for tomorrow.
Olivia Dunn
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
The team at Holstein Ontario is excited to welcome Olivia Dunn as the new Marketing and Communications Coordinator. Her love of agriculture began at a young age with stories from her grandparent’s dairy farm, Hughjosa Holsteins in Springvale. Formally educated at Conestoga College in Communications and Public Relations, she comes to us with a strong background in marketing, social media and communications. Olivia is eager to dive into her role at Holstein Ontario and deepen her understanding of the dairy industry. Putting together The Link has been one of her first tasks with the team and she is “thankful that I get to work with this talented and supportive team every day. I am excited to learn and grow within Holstein Ontario.” In her free time, Olivia enjoys spending every moment she can in nature, whether it’s cycling on a trail, or just exploring the beautiful Paris Ontario, where she lives with her partner Russell and her cat Max.
Martina Arth
Office Manager
Martina grew up on a Jersey farm in Jerseyville, ON. She is a graduate of the University of Guelph BSc. Agr. (Animal Science) program. She has maintained a connection to the dairy industry in numerous capacities both as a volunteer and throughout her career. She has been a 4-H leader for over 30 years, she is the Ancaster Fair Cattle Committee Chair, a long-time committee member of the Ontario Spring Discovery show and now she joins the staff at Holstein Ontario. Martina has volunteered on numerous committees and boards and has many years of bookkeeping and administrative experience.
Martina and her husband, Andy, have three grown children: Jakob, Rebecca and Michael. They enjoy country living on their small hobby farm in Jerseyville where they raise and show Haflinger Horses.
Shelley Barfoot O'Neill
Branch & Event Support Admin
Born and raised on Kenarbara Farms in Northern Grey County, Shelley was actively involved in working on her family’s purebred Holstein Farm along with her parents Ken and Barb Barfoot, who were very involved in Holstein activities, showing and the 4-H program in Grey County. After attending the University of Guelph Diploma program, she worked at the Holstein Journal and continuing her passion for the Holstein Breed. Shelley has been involved in the Not-for-Profit Sector for over 35 years, mostly in membership and program delivery. Shelley and her husband Brian reside near Kleinburg, where Brian has worked for Quality Holsteins for over 37 years. They have two sons, Adam, daughter in law Liz, and Shea, who are very involved in 4-H, showing and agriculture. They are proud grandparents to 7 grandsons. Shelley has been a 4-H leader for over 30 years, volunteering on many local and regional committees, including the TD Classic and RAWF Jr Sheep Show, Inter County Judging and The Grey County 4-H Showdown. Besides her passion for 4-H and dairy cattle, she enjoys spending time with her Jack Russell Kody and cheering on her favourite sports teams.
