Ottawa Valley Seed Growers
Guest Column
Four Eastern Ontario ag community leaders of the past and the present all have something in common. Dwayne Acres of Osgoode, Vera Mitchell of Metcalfe, Jack James of Russell and William Schouten of Richmond are among an impressive list of contributors to Ontario agriculture nominated by their peers and inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame (OAHF).
A common thread among inductees is their support and leadership of community organizations and activities. In their accomplishments, you will find details of years of involvement in soil and crop associations, producer and livestock organizations, junior farmers and 4-H, community events, cooperatives, research institutes, agricultural extension and more.
The Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame Association was incorporated in 1979 as a charitable organization. It opened in June 1980 with the induction of nine pioneer agriculturists representing more than 100 years of combined efforts and initiatives in building a better agriculture for the province. To date 245 people, including 33 from Eastern Ontario, have been inducted into the hall of fame.
It is the mission of the hall of fame to acknowledge, record and preserve the contributions made by leaders to the growth and development of Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food industry.
The provincial hall of fame gallery is on the ground floor of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food building at 1 Stone Road West in Guelph, in the hallway leading to the conference rooms and cafeteria. The gallery wall showcases recent inductees and acknowledges hall of fame sponsors.
The Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association is a proud member of the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame and is honoured to feature all past Eastern Ontario inductees in a display developed together with the Kemptville College Foundation. This display is in the W.B. George Building at the Municipality of North Grenville’s Kemptville Campus. By featuring these four inductees we pay tribute to the outstanding local agricultural leaders who have played a significant role in advancing the agriculture/food industry and improving the quality of life in rural Eastern Ontario.
Watch for the unveiling of a travelling display, featuring all 33 hall of fame inductees from Eastern Ontario, when you visit the International Plowing Match September 20 to 24 at the former Kemptville College campus in North Grenville. Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association volunteers are working hard to build this display to share at agricultural events with fellow agriculturalists.
We look forward to featuring this display again when we return to the Ottawa Valley Farm Show at the EY Centre March 14-16, 2023.
Please join us and celebrate the lasting legacies of these outstanding men and women.
For more information visit oahf.on.ca and ottawawafarmshow.com
