Terry Daynard’s background in the corn industry is wide-ranging, as a corn producer, a corn researcher and educator at the University of Guelph, as Executive Vice-President of the Ontario Corn Producers’ Association (OCPA), as contributing editor of Ontario Corn Producer magazine and as President of the Ontario BioAuto Council. During the sixteen years he taught at the U of G, he influenced many students to make their careers in the grain industry and several of his PhD students have gone on to serve the grain and corn sector as researchers and educators. As a researcher, he has made important contributions to the corn industry in areas of corn physiology and hybrid development, grain development and photosynthesis, drought and stress resistance and primary tillage for maize production in Ontario. He built the OCPA into one of the most dynamic farm organizations in the province, while working to establish the Grain Financial Protection Fund. Through the Ontario Corn Producer magazine, he was instrumental in informing producers about such diverse topics as research innovation, bio-products, environmental practices and grain trade issues. One of Mr. Daynard’s key skills is his ability to create coalitions and partnerships to influence policy, innovation, growth and development in Ontario agriculture. Terry served as President of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association which led to the establishment of the fuel ethanol industry in Ontario. There are currently six ethanol plants in Ontario, producing 800 million liters of ethanol annually, using 80 million bushels of corn per year. He and others formed the first AGCare Board (Agricultural Groups concerned about Resources and the Environment) to deal with environmental issues affiliated with agriculture. One important development was the Grower Pesticide Safety Course, now mandatory for any farmer purchasing or using agricultural pesticides. Terry helped to establish and later served as Chair of Ontario Agri-Food Technologies, an association created to focus on the development of agriculture and food programs in Ontario, to ensure continuing innovation, business opportunities and new partnerships, and to develop new markets for grain beyond food and feed. He served as Chair of Ontario Agricultural Food Education which was formed to develop agricultural education resource materials so that Ontario school children have the opportunity to learn more about the province’s food chain. He was a chief author of “Our Farm Environment Agenda” which outlined the environmental principles and practices of Ontario producers and led to the development of the first Environmental Farm Plan initiative in Canada. Terry was successful in bringing the chemical, plastic, and agriculture and forest industries together to form the Ontario BioAuto Council in 2007 in order to create and commercialize biobased automobile technologies. He was also instrumental in creating the Agricultural Odyssey Group to develop strategic solutions, along with Ontario’s farm leaders, to economic and other issues confronting the agrifood sector. Those who work with Mr. Terry Daynard consistently describe him as a visionary, as extraordinarily productive, as an innovator, as a supporter of a sustainable agricultural environment and as a gifted communicator. Certainly, his numerous contributions to agriculture in Ontario and beyond have earned him a well-deserved place in the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Kenneth Lantz rose through the ranks from Assistant Agricultural Representative to the post of Deputy Minister of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF). He served as Director of Extension and supervised the 54 county and district offices of the Ministry. There he established the Farm Business Management Program as a vital dimension of the Agriculture Ministry’s service to commercial farmers. Ken’s dedication was acknowledged by the International Farm Business Management Association when Ontario was selected to host the 2nd World Congress with Ken as Chair of the Steering Committee. During the first six years when Crop Insurance was becoming established in Ontario, Ken Lantz served as Chair of the Commission to bring crop insurance to producers. Mr. Lantz established the Food Land Development Branch within OMAF leading to Food Land Guidelines which encouraged preservation of farmland. Ken Lantz contributed his expertise and influence to organizing the Ontario Agricultural Services Co-ordinating Committee and the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario which assist in guiding the effective funding of research programs. Mr. Lantz guided an expanding active province wide 4-H program and served on the directorate of the Canadian Council of 4-H Clubs. As vice-chair and later chair he significantly influenced the Agricultural Rehabilitation and Development Directorate extensive farm consolidation, rural infrastructure and community based new enterprise program. Ken Lantz served on every major committee of the Canadian National Exhibition ensuring that agriculture maintained a presence at the show. He also served as it’s President. He is an Honourary Life Member of the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association and the Canadian Society of Rural Extension. He was named a “Fellow” of the Agricultural Institute of Canada, its highest award for a Professional Agriculturist. Throughout his long and distinguished career, Ken Lantz committed his outstanding administrative skills to the advancement of Ontario agriculture.

Born and raised in Perth County, Peggy Knapp has dedicated her life to increasing the awareness of women’s issues at home, across Canada and around the world. A champion of agriculture and rural affairs, she has had a profound influence on the lives of many people. Peggy has been a dedicated member of Women’s Institutes since 1950, and has served with distinction and held many offices at the branch, district and area levels. She was Provincial President of Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario (FWIO), 1989-1991 and in 1992 was elected Canada Area President for the associated Country Women of the World (ACWW), an international organization active in 65 countries. Two ACWW projects, operating in consultation with the United Nations, are “Water for All” and “Women Feed the World”. These projects have had a dramatic impact on women and their families in many developing countries. In 1994 Peggy represented ACWW at the closing conference for the International Year of the Family in Montreal. Active in her local community, Peggy Knapp has served her Church, as President of her Home and School Association and as a Trustee of her local school board. She has served on the Advisory Boards of Ontario Agricultural College, Ontario Veterinary College, Ontario Agricultural Museum and on the Education Advisory Board for the Grand River Conservation Authority.

Peggy is currently President of the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame and a member of the Executive and Agriculture Administration Committees of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Her organization and communication skills have served her well as leader on tours to the United Kingdom, Europe, South Pacific, Australia and Russia. In 1997 Peggy chaired the highly successful “Convention ‘97”, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Women’s Institutes. Peggy Knapp’s influence will be felt in this country and abroad for many years to come.

A remarkable insight into the past and present of Ontario agriculture, combined with an articulate and literate bent, marked Robert William “Bob” Carbert’s life. Born and raised on a farm in Fullarton Township, Perth County, Bob received his education at a one-room school in Hibbert Township. He and his father raised, sold and exhibited Purebred Hereford cattle and as a young man, Bob was active in sports and music.

Following service in the Canadian army during World War II, Bob began a career in agricultural journalism with radio station CKNX in Wingham. For ten years, the last three in television and radio, Bob worked as Farm Director for the station. In 1958, he joined the Canadian Federation of Agriculture in Ottawa as Director of Information and Assistant Secretary and in 1962 moved on to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture as Secretary-Manager. A prolific freelance writer and journalist, Bob joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 1964 as the Host and Researcher of the program Country Calendar. During this time, Bob also helped found the Eastern Canadian Farm Writers’ Association and for three years served as the Canadian Director in the National Association of Radio and Television Farm Directors. In 1968, he joined the Ontario Department of Agriculture’s Information Branch becoming the Executive Assistant to the Hon. Wm. A. Stewart, Minister of Agriculture. In 1974 Bob was appointed as the first employee of the Ontario Agricultural Museum. For the next nine years as General Manager, Bob’s vision and leadership led to the construction and development of one of North America’s foremost agricultural history sites. In the early years of the Museum’s development, Bob Carbert conceived the idea of an Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame. Under his supervision the Hall of Fame Association was established and he served as its first Secretary-Treasurer. Following his retirement in 1984, Bob continued to pursue a freelance journalism career and take an active part in community life in Wingham. In 1984 Bob was granted an Ontario Bicentennial Certificate of Merit and in 1987 an “Honourary Life Membership” in the Ontario Institute of Agrologists.

Norman Garfield McCully, born near St. Mary’s, Ontario, epitomized all that is good in rural leadership. A breeder of good livestock, a pioneer in new field crops like grain corn, a teacher for rural short courses and leader for Junior Farmers and 4-H Clubs, his influence in his community was very great. He was a popular judge of both livestock and field crops. He served as school trustee and assessor. Deeply concerned about soil conservation, he planted trees, long before this was popular to prevent erosion. A major effort was the improvement of Suffolk sheep as his flock provided foundation stock to flocks in several countries as well as Canada. He was a pioneer in the artificial insemination (AI) of dairy cattle and the first AI calf born into any commercial herd in Ontario was in his Holstein-Friesians. His herd was one of the first in Record Of Performance testing. A graduate in the Diploma Course of the Ontario Agricultural College in 1923, he believed in bringing practical education to rural young people and devoted his life to teaching, coaching and working with young farm people.

Samuel Nelson Monteith, a Perth County graduate from London’s Commercial College in 1882 and the Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph in 1890, he served as Minister of Agriculture in Sir James Whitney’s cabinet from 1905 to 1908. During this time the first county Agricultural Representatives were appointed in Ontario. Nelson was instrumental in establishing the St. Williams tree Nursery in Norfolk County and the Monteith Farm for delinquent boys at the town of Monteith, a town that was named in his honour, in the Cochrane District of Northern Ontario. Under his jurisdiction, the grant program for reforestation and roadside tree plantings flourished. This was vitally important because many areas of the province had been denuded of trees to meet the insatiable demand for lumber used in building construction. In addition, cheese factory standards were improved, agricultural short courses were expanded, fruit farming was encouraged and the quality of livestock in the province was upgraded. Mr. Monteith became a member of the North Perth Agricultural Society in 1878 and served for many years in various leadership roles including President. His political career spanned the years from 1891 to 1908 where he served on Downie Township Council, as Warden of Perth County Council, Perth County Commissioner and in the Ontario Legislature as the member for Perth South. The Monteith name dominated municipal, provincial and federal politics in Perth County for over 50 years. For 41 years, Mr. Monteith served as Director of British Mortgage and Trust, the last 24 as President. In 1910, he and a partner established telephone service between the city of Stratford and the town of St. Mary’s. His leadership, vision and dedication were instrumental in encouraging agricultural societies, mortgage and trust organizations and telephone companies to improve their service to rural Ontario. Nelson Monteith’s 86 years were crowned with esteem and were an inspiration to family, friends and associates. He died where he loved to be, in his orchard on his beloved Sunnyside Farm south of Stratford.

Gordon Bell is unique in that he has made major contributions to two key agricultural sectors in Ontario: Holstein cattle and Standardbred horse breeding and racing. From 1956-1985, Gordon Bell worked for Holstein Canada where he provided the leadership and knowledge of pedigrees, type, and production to enhance the Holstein breeding programs in Canada and the United States. He served on the Sire Selection Committee to select the top bulls and developed, with Ross Butler, the first True Type Model Holstein cow and bull. He conducted judging schools throughout Ontario and beyond to train judges for local, provincial, national, and international shows. In 1968, he selected 400 bred Holstein heifers by eye for export to England. He promoted the international sale of Canadian Holstein bulls and semen for Semex, and he selected a show herd of Canadian Holsteins to be exhibited in France and another for Yugoslavia. All of these activities promoted international interest in Canadian Holsteins and led the way to a flourishing trade in Canadian dairy cattle. Mr. Bell also helped to organize the 4-H calf sale and the Shore’s Classic Sale. The subsequent availability of top 4-H calves helped to strengthen the 4-H dairy program across Ontario. Gordon was the first person to allow a Red and White Holstein to show at a championship show, thus paving the way for the growth of the Red and White Show at the Royal Winter Fair, and the subsequent sale of these cattle for several other countries. All the while. Gordon Bell was successfully breeding, training, and racing Standardbred horses. In 1972, he was one of the Founding Members of the Ontario Sires Stake Committee to promote the importation of good stallions from the United States and to initiate the Sire Stakes Racing Series. This all led to the improved quality of the racing stock, more competitive racing, increased winning purses, and the exponential growth of the racing industry in Ontario. Commercial breeding farms were established; more race tracks were built; many jobs were created and breeding stock from Ontario is highly sought after in Europe, Australia, and South America. The Ontario Sire Program is recognized by owners as the best in North America. Gordon Bell has been rightly praised as a man of vision, a man of integrity, and a man who gets things done.