The following nominees have been approved and on Tuesday, November 22 another select group of Chatham-Kent’s most accomplished individuals – both past and present – will be recognized by the agricultural community with their induction into the Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame.
The annual ceremony will take place at the Hidden Hills Golf and Country Club on Hwy 40 north of Chatham beginning with a “Meet and Greet” reception at 11:30 a.m.
Tickets are $35 per person and are available by contacting Kathy Vanek at 519-683-2929.
The induction ceremony is open to anyone with agricultural or rural interests.
The mission of the Hall of Fame is to recognize a person or persons that have demonstrated unselfish achievement within the realm of agriculture and/or service to the rural community of Chatham-Kent and/or beyond.
This year’s inductees reflect the diverse industry that agriculture is and the many ways that the rural community can be served.
The inductees include:
Kim Cooper of Wheatley has provided history in the local agricultural industry which includes field and foreign diplomacy affairs, and is known as an excellent ambassador. Known as the “AgGuy”, he has produced a wealth of agricultural information and guidance for many groups, organizations and committees, and has assisted local businesses grow and expand into the global marketplace. He has also educated and informed the public through columns in newspapers, farm magazines and radio programs.
George Denys of the former Township of Raleigh was selfless in his efforts to support both local and Canadian agriculture through his efforts to create crop insurance, to promote farming education events, to find farm labour, for researching innovations for farming and for being a strong advocate for all residents while on Raleigh Township Council. He is recognized as an educated and well informed leader.
Dennis Jackson of the former Township of Chatham has been a champion of high quality Ontario food grade soybeans and worked to capture premium markets for local growers. He recognized the extra value for growers from the newest genetics and benefits to quality, yield, and research that certified seed offered. Dennis is also committed to sponsorship and community involvement and support of community infrastructure projects.
The late Dr. Ron Pitblado of Ridgetown researched vegetable pest management and taught thousands of students at Ridgetown Campus sharing his excitement for the development of insect and disease strategies for horticultural crops. He developed BeetCast to assist sugar beet production, TomCast for tomato production, and helped develop the Ontario Weather Network. He had an unstoppable passion to investigate new possibilities for Ontario’s fruit and vegetable industry.
Since its inception in 1989, the Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame has inducted 197 members and has supported another 17 Chatham-Kent agriculturalists into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame.
The list of inductees can be viewed in the lobby of the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre, 315 King Street West in Chatham.
The Hall of Fame Board of Directors encourages nominations from the public of individuals, living or deceased, whom they feel have had a long term commitment and contribution to agriculture and/or rural living in Chatham-Kent, and are worthy of consideration for the Hall of Fame.
