The Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame Association (CAHFA) honours and celebrates Canadians for outstanding contributions to the agriculture and food industry. Five agricultural ambassadors have been selected as the 2021 inductees into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.
“Our newest inductees truly represent the vast diversity of Canadian agriculture – crop breeding, livestock industry, agricultural literacy, agricultural law, environmental stewardship, policy development and soil conservation. Our sector continues to support and foster leaders who can see the big picture that keeps driving our industry forward,” says Ted Menzies, President of the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.
The 2021 inductees are the following:
Dr. Don Buckingham (Ottawa, Ontario) – Agriculture law leader in Canada
Nominated by Dr. Wilf Keller, Dr. Buckingham has built a strong legal structure for the complex Canadian agri-food system and inspires the next generation of agricultural lawyers in Canada. He has taught agriculture law at three Canadian universities and continued his advocacy for strong agricultural policy as CEO of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute from 2017-2020. As a professor, researcher, advocator, and author, with 30+ years of professional career experience, Dr. Buckingham has earned “father of agricultural law in Canada”.
Gordon Bacon (Winnipeg, Manitoba) - Leader for Canada's pulse sector
Pulse Canada nominated Bacon after Canada became the world’s largest exporter of pulses under his leadership. In 1997, Bacon started as head of the new Pulse Canada organization and has led the successful merger of Pulse Canada with Canadian Special Crops Association, bringing farmers, processors, and exporters together to strengthen the pulse market. Bacon also played an influential role in the United Nations declaration of 2016, as International Year of Pulses and an annual World Pulses Day.
Johanne Ross (Minnedosa, Manitoba) – Passionate advocator for agricultural education
Johanne Ross dedicated her career to bringing agricultural education into classrooms across Canada. She has been an advocate for agriculture and youth, bringing her lifelong leadership role to ensure students and educators across Canada have access to relevant, credible, and engaging information on the diverse field of agriculture. The Executive Director of Agriculture in the Classroom Canada was nominated by Robynne Anderson, Laurel Hyde and Patti McKenzie. For more information about Johanne Ross, visit a recent article here.
Dr. Phil Williams (Nanaimo, British Columbia) – Pioneering cereal chemist
Dr. Ronald DePauw nominated Dr. Phil Williams as he revolutionized the Canadian cereal industry’s ability to accurately measure and compensate Canadian producers for wheat protein. As an internationally recognized pioneer and authority on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology, Dr. Williams worked for the Canadian Grain Commission, Grain Research Laboratory to produce “on-the-spit” testing for CWRS wheat protein at grain terminals.
Stan Eby (Kincardine, Ontario) – Trusted farmer and agriculture leader
Eby is an Ontario beef farmer, nominated by Beef Farmers of Ontario and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. He successfully led the beef industry in Ontario and across Canada through various traumatic events and unexpected situations with a rational approach and steadying, level-headed leadership. In 2000, Eby guided the industry through the Walkerton water crisis, as well as brought calm-in-chaos leadership to the BSE crisis in 2003.
The 2021 induction ceremony took place on November 21st at the Fairmont Winnipeg.
“It was so heartening to have a room full of so many Canadians who, through their incredible and long-lasting contributions, have helped shape our agri-food industry to be world leading,” says Menzies.
The 2020 inductees were also formally recognized at the 2021 ceremony as last year’s event was cancelled due to global pandemic, COVID-19. The 2020 inductees are Jay Bradshaw, James Halford, Dr. Bryan Harvey, and Dr. Douglas Hedley.
Portraits of the inductees are on display in the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Gallery located at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.