2020 and 2021 honourees inducted in Canadian hall of fame

Nine outstanding Canadians were officially inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Nov. 21 at a ceremony in Winnipeg to showcase 2020 and 2021 recipients. The 2020 inductees are Jay Bradshaw, James Halford, Dr. Bryan Harvey and Dr. Douglas Hedley. The 2021 inductees are Gordon Bacon, Dr. Don Buckingham, Stan Eby, Johanne Ross and Dr. Phil Williams. 

2020 Inductees

Jay Bradshaw is a respected agribusiness leader, and lifelong advocate for advancing modern agricultural technology. He lives in Guelph, Ont. and was nominated by Syngenta Canada Inc. and CropLife Canada.

James Halford is a soil conservation champion who pioneered zero tillage farming in Saskatchewan and across the Prairies and invented the ConservaPak® seeder. He lives in Indian Head, Sask. and was nominated by Léona Watson.

Dr. Bryan Harvey developed more than 60 varieties of barley throughout his prolific 50-year research career, delivering tremendous returns to the malting industry. He lives in Saskatoon, Sask. and was nominated by the Canadian Seed Growers Association.

Dr. Douglas Hedley led a distinguished career with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and is a foremost expert on Canadian agricultural policy. He lives in Nepean, Ont. and was nominated by the Deans Council – Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Medicine.  

2021 Inductees

Gordon Bacon has driven transformational change in Canadian agriculture, most notably in Canada’s pulse industry. Under his leadership, Canada became the world’s largest exporter of pulses. He lives in Winnipeg, Man. and was nominated by Pulse Canada.

Dr. Don Buckingham, the father of agricultural law in Canada, has built a strong legal structure for the complex Canadian agri-food system and inspired the next generation of agricultural lawyers in Canada. He lives in Ottawa, Ont. and was nominated by Dr. Wilf Keller. 

Stan Eby, an Ontario beef farmer, successfully led the beef industry in Ontario and across Canada through traumatic and divisive events with a rational approach and steadying, calm leadership. He farms near Kincardine, Ont., and was nominated by Beef Farmers of Ontario and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

Johanne Ross has dedicated her career to bringing agricultural education into classrooms across Canada as executive director of Agriculture in the Classroom – Canada. She lives on her family farm near Minnedosa, Man., and was nominated by Robynne Anderson, Laurel Hyde and Patti McKenzie.

Dr. Phil Williams is an internationally recognized pioneer and authority on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology that revolutionized the Canadian cereal industry’s ability to accurately measure and compensate Canadian producers for wheat protein. He lives in Nanaimo, B.C., and was nominated by Dr. Ronald DePauw, SeCan.