For more than three decades, retired OAC professors Tom and Jane Funk played an instrumental role in shaping the future of agricultural business education at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC). As dedicated educators, mentors, and innovators, their careers were defined by a shared passion for student success and a tireless commitment to bridging the gap between learning and real-world applications.
Now, with a generous gift of $50,000, Tom and Jane are continuing their legacy by establishing the Tom & Jane Funk Agri-Marketing Bursary to support OAC students in the Bachelor of Commerce (Food and Agricultural Business) program, awarded based on financial need.
A Lasting Impact on Teaching and Learning
Tom began his academic journey at OAC in 1971 as an assistant professor in Agricultural Economics and Business. Jane joined shortly thereafter, teaching sales and marketing in the Associate Diploma program. Their focus was to deliver practical, real-world learning experiences that would prepare students for the demands of the agri-food sector.
“My focus was always on creating a strong connection between university learning and the agricultural industry,” Tom recalls. “We believed that by bringing real-world case studies and industry interaction into the classroom we could make learning more engaging, relevant, and impactful.”
At the time, there were some initial concerns about a married couple working in the same department. The Funk’s professionalism quickly quieted those concerns.
Tom’s teaching focused on marketing management and utilized the case study method. This innovative approach gave students an opportunity to actively participate in discussion-based learning and tackle real marketing challenges in product management, pricing, distribution and promotion. Many of the cases used in the classroom came from Tom
and Jane’s work with industry as well as numerous graduate student projects.
Jane’s Professional Selling course became a must-take for both diploma and undergraduate students. Known for her innovative assignments like Ready-Set-Sell and Session with a Salesperson, Jane pushed students beyond the classroom in ways that often led to real-world job offers.
“It was all about training the next generation of agri-marketing professionals,” Jane says.
Tom was instrumental in the creation of the University’s MBA program in 1987, which later evolved into the world’s first online MBA in Agriculture in partnership with Athabasca University. As founding director of the program, Tom grew enrolment and reputation to new heights. Many agricultural industry leaders today are graduates of this program.
“We were offering a transformation and career-defining experience for professionals in Canada and the United States,” he says.
A Legacy Rooted in Student Success
Throughout his time at OAC, Tom served as faculty advisor for the CAMA Student Chapter and led teams to national competitions. In 1999, under his guidance, the University of Guelph team won top honours at the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) conference in Kansas City.
"Working with the CAMA student team was one of the most rewarding parts of my career," Tom says. "There’s nothing better than seeing students take classroom concepts and apply them in a real, competitive setting."
Tom and Jane’s commitment to excellence in teaching was recognized with numerous awards. Tom received the OAC Distinguished Extension Award in 1994, the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1999 and the prestigious John Bell Award in 2000. Jane became the first woman to receive the OAC Distinguished Teaching Award in 1996.
In 1980, Tom and Jane launched a three-day course, Marketing to Farm Businesses, which ran annually at the University of Guelph and Purdue
University for 35 years. In 1985, they introduced an advanced version, Strategic Agri-Marketing. Both courses became key components of many agri-food company’s training programs.
The Funk legacy continues with son Justin who now owns and operates Agri Studies, a company founded by Tom and Jane in 1980 that provides sales and marketing training and marketing research for agricultural organizations in Canada and the United States.
Tom and Jane are avid golfers in retirement, who spend much of their time at Cutten Fields, engaged in a friendly rivalry on the course. Jane currently holds the lead with a hole-in-one, while Tom is determinedly chasing his own to even the score.
Giving Back to the Next Generation
The Funk’s decision to provide initial funding for the Tom & Jane Funk Agri-Marketing Bursary reflects their lifelong passion for education and student growth.
“Scholarships can open doors for students,” says Tom. “We want this award to encourage students who are committed to excellence and are highly ambitious.”
“We’ve spent our lives helping students build careers in agriculture and food,” Jane says. “Now, we want to ensure that our support will have a big impact on those who need it most.”
Honour the Past Empower the Future
To honour the Funk's remarkable legacy and over 60 years of dedication to the University of Guelph, consider making a gift to the Tom & Jane Funk Agri-Marketing Bursary fund [1] to help continue their lasting impact. Join us in shaping the next generation of leaders.