Agricultural Hall of Fame Henry Harris Groff (2022)Henry Harris Groff was born in Simcoe in 1853. He displayed an interest in cross-breeding as a young man when he experimented with livestock, poultry, pigeons and rabbits. He turned his attention to flowers and cross-pollinated gladiolus plants in 1890. The results weren’t immediate but he persevered and, in 1895, published a catalogue with gladioli, cannas and clivia seeds.“For 10 years, Groff laboured quietly and without public notice,” reported Bruce Pearce in Maclean’s, “then came the reward.” In 1901, the Pan-American Exposition...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Ag-Awareness Program at the Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show (2022)The Ag-Awareness Program at the Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show (NCF) has provided generations of youth an opportunity to learn the importance of agriculture and how it impacts the world around them. Originally created in 1982 as a consumer awareness component of the fair by long-time volunteers Walter and Sharon Petheram, it evolved into a youth agricultural awareness program which officially launched in 1990 for the NCF’s 150th Anniversary.With upwards of 1,400 grade four students...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Raymond E. Anderson (2022)A pioneer in Norfolk County agriculture, Raymond E. Anderson spent most of his life championing innovation, policy and farmer rights. Born in Bealton on July 7, 1891, Raymond’s first agricultural endeavor started at age ten when he established a crop of 200 wild strawberry plants on the family farm. By the age of fifteen, after seeing first-hand the limitations of individual farmers peddling their own berries, he understood and recognized the importance of centralized marketing. This would become a key motivator, helping to formulate more...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Annie Zaluski (2020)Annie Zaluski (nee Steel) was born in 1929 on the family farm in Glasgow, Scotland. Her family immigrated to Canada in 1930, establishing a dairy, chicken and hog farm in Townsend Township. After graduating high school, Annie joined the Ontario Farm Service Force as part of the nation’s post-war Land Army. Following this service, she continued her studies at the University of Toronto and spent six years with Agriculture Canada as a seed analyst.Annie married Paul Zaluski in 1956, returning to Norfolk County and life on a farm. Not wanting...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Robert Laning (2020)Robert Laning was born on the family’s century farm near Villa Nova in 1927. The farm bred and milked 150 thoroughbred cows, including two Canadian champion females. Robert’s early involvement in the farms operation included taking on leadership roles with a number of breeding associations in the province. He became President of the Norfolk Holstein Club, the Oxford District Cattle Breeder’s Association (later merging into the Western Ontario Breeders Inc.), and the Ontario Association of Animal Breeders where he held a 16-year tenure with cattle...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Jim and Mary Field (2020)Jim and Mary Field both grew up on Lynn Valley Road farms – Jim’s family a mile west of the Cockshutt Road, and Mary’s a mile east. The couple met in elementary school, dated throughout high school and married in 1958.  Mary became a teacher and Jim a qualified Class A mechanic.The couple purchased their first farm on the 14th Concession of Townsend in 1969. The two entered into the dairy business but quickly realized the life of a dairy farmer wasn’t for them. In 1970, they turned their attention to purebred swine, focusing on Landrace...

Agricultural Hall of Fame David Reid (2019)David Reid was born and raised on a tobacco farm east of Lynedoch, Norfolk County. After earning his Fish and Wildlife Biology degree from the University of Guelph,  he embarked on a 36-year career with Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources as a biologist and stewardship coordinator. Throughout, Reid advocated for the natural environment and connected with farmers, advising them on soil conservation, good forestry practices, windbreaks and many other aspects related to stewardship.Dave became an integral part of the Land Stewardship Program...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Ken Porteous (2019)Ken Porteous was nominated by the Norfolk Federation of Agriculture. Porteous has been actively involved in local and provincial agriculture since the early 1970’s. He started his career on Lingwood Farms outside of Simcoe – a family partnership now involving his son, son-in-law and grandson. Porteous first started as an elite dairy breeder who sold bulls around the world. In 1973, the herd was put up for sale, bringing the highest average price per animal ever paid in Canada. This was a testament to the high standard and quality of Ken’s work.By...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association (2019)The Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association was nominated by the Norfolk Federation of Agriculture. The Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association (NFGA) was established by Mr. James E. Johnson in Simcoe on March 26, 1906. Together with 17 charter members, Johnson set out to organize Norfolk County’s numerous small-acreage farmers into a solid and knowledgeable force that could realize the benefits of pooling their product and employing a competent manager to market it.In the early years of the Association, growers packed their own...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Bauke Vogelzang (2018)Bauke Vogelzang was born in 1933 on a dairy farm in Schargouton, Holland.  He and his wife Nelly immigrated to Canada in 1960 where Bauke worked on local dairy farms.The Vogelzangs bought their first farm outside Waterford in 1964 and transformed it into a diverse operation of produce and livestock. Early on, Bauke gained a reputation as an innovative farmer and a good steward of the land. He was one of the first in Norfolk to adopt no till for planting corn and beans along with implementing changes to livestock barns in order to reduce...

Agricultural Hall of FameHellyer Ginseng (2018)Hellyer Ginseng began in the 1890s when Clarence and Albert Hellyer, two brothers from Townsend Centre, embarked on an agricultural experiment that would eventually result in a large-scale, commercial industry.The brothers cultivated seeds from wild root discovered right here in Norfolk County. The strain they developed is still in use in today’s ginseng fields.  Subsequent generations of the Hellyer family continued to grow ginseng and made significant strides in the cultivation, marketing and exporting of this important agricultural...

Agricultural Hall of Fame St. Williams Forestry Station (2018)Established in 1908, the St. Williams Forestry Station was the first reforestation project in Canada.  Its purpose was to convert blow sands of Norfolk County back into woodlots and to grow seedlings for distribution to other areas.  Its development and success was due in large part to three gentlemen, Lt Col. Arthur C. Pratt, Walter F. McCall, and Dr. Edmund J. Zavitz. They secured the land and convinced the Ontario Government that soil conservation was critical and could be achieved through reforestation. Throughout its history,...

Agricultural Hall of Fame David MacLaren (2017)David MacLaren was born August 27, 1927 in Windsor, Ontario. His family moved to a tobacco farm near St. Williams when David was only six months of age. This move set in motion a lifetime of involvement in the tobacco industry in Norfolk County.David graduated from Simcoe High School and started working in ta bank but soon moved back to the family tobacco farm as a share grower. He married Grace Durward and they had one daughter, Suzanne. In 1928, The MacLaren tobacco farm located in South Walsingham become one of the first farms to grow...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Ronald Judd (2017)Ronald Judd was born in 1928 in Simcoe, Ontario and is a lifelong resident of Norfolk County. Ron lives at Meadow Lynn Farm on the outskirts of Simcoe, a farm that was purchased by his father Fred Judd Sr., in 1946. The farm is now operated by Ron’s son Fred, daughter-in-law Sharon, and grandson Thomas and his wife Sarah making it a fourth generation farm.As busy as Ron was with his dairy and cash crop farming, he was a keen supporter of many agricultural organizations. As a youth, he was a member of 4-H, both the Potato Club and the Dairy Calf...

Agricultural Hall of FameAndy Zei (2016)Andrew (Andy) Zei was born in Szakadat, Hungary in 1925 and moved to Canada with his family at the age of three. Andy was involved in the tobacco industry in Norfolk County for more than six decades, taking over from his father who started growing tobacco in 1938.He planted his first crop in 1951 and by 1955, he was one of two tobacco growers who received the top price of 51 cents per pound. Andy’s tobacco crop was one of the finest in the County. Andy served on the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board for forty years. In his role...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Monroe Landon (2016)Monroe Landon was born in Norfolk County in 1887. Upon graduation from Simcoe High School, he attended the Ontario Agricultural College where he reportedly spent more time in the library than the classroom.Monroe was a farmer and successful breeder of purebred Jersey cattle which he regularly showed at the Canadian National Exhibition and Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. He spent his lifetime promoting the planting, preservation and promotion of woodlots including the establishment of windbreaks to restore the wind-blown sand plain of Norfolk...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Larry Chanda (2016)Larry Chanda was born in Simcoe, Ontario in 1941. After moving away for a short time, Larry returned in 1967 to work on the family tobacco farm. In 1970, he purchased the family farm making him the 4th generation to farm this land. Larry is not only a farmer but an ardent conservationist as well.Diversifying the family farm has been key to Larry’s farming success. While continuing to grow tobacco, his farm operation has expanded to include cash crops and cattle. He, also, operates a wholesale large caliper tree farm. In the 1970s, Larry served...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Harry B. Barrett (2016)Harry B. Barrett was born on May 29, 1922. He was raised on a farm located at Lot 12, Concession 3, in the former Township of Woodhouse. He attended both public and high school in Norfolk County. After high school, he joined the Ontario Experimental Union. Harry B. grew experimental plots – root crops as well as barley and oats to test their adaptability and compatibility to Norfolk County conditions.Upon returning to civilian life after serving in the Second World War, Harry joined his father in managing a 600 acre farm. They maintained...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Richard Walker (2015)Richard Walker was born in 1924 and raised on the family farm in Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County. According to Richard, it was a typical mixed farm operation. They milked cows, raised pigs, chickens, sheep and beef on 100 acres.Growing up on a farm in the 1920s developed a strong work ethic in Richard. Even as a youngster he loved to tinker with small engines and enjoyed carpentry work. He attended Simcoe High School and in 1941 was chosen to represent his school at the Canadian National Exhibition’s wood working display. Richard, along...

Agricultural Hall of Fame Arthur Loughton (2015)Arthur Loughton was born in 1931 and raised on the family farm near Cambridge, England. He attended the University of Nottingham where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Horticulture. Rhubarb was the subject of his Master’s research. It was at university that Arthur met Ruth Bullivant whom he later married. They had two sons Martin and Graham.The Loughtons moved to Canada in 1967 when Arthur accepted a position as a Research Scientist at the Vineland Research Station. Arthur became internationally renowned for...