Albert Stuart Neill
Albert Stuart Neill commenced farming as the third generation Neill, born and raised, on the Devon Holstein family farm in Fredericton, New Brunswick. 聽He is the second generation to be inducted into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.聽 His father Douglas was honoured in 1980.
Albert is known for his accomplishments in breeding great Holstein cattle and he and his brother Ronald received not one, but two Master Breeder Shields from Holstein Canada. Heavily involved in breed associations, he was president of the New Brunswick Holstein Association, president of the New Brunswick Livestock Council and Breeder Co-op and president of the Fredericton Exhibition and Livestock Show. Albert was also named Stockbreeder of the Year in 1989 by the Maritime Stockbreeders Association.
Albert was always keenly interested in promoting dairy products and their benefits to consumers He was a member of the Royal Commission studying the merits of forming a New Brunswick milk pool during the early 1970s. He became the Fredericton area representative on the New Brunswick Milk Marketing Board when it was established in 1973. As the longest serving member of the New Brunswick Milk Marketing Board, Albert took on many responsibilities during his 26 years of service. He was New Brunswick's representative on the Dairy Bureau of Canada from 1975 until 1985 and the representative for New Brunswick on the Dairy Farmers of Canada Promotions Committee from the mid-80s up until 1999, serving as 2nd vice-chairman from 鈥�95 to 鈥�97. Albert continued to serve the dairy industry as a director for Can Atlantic Dairy Co-operative Ltd. In 2002 he was inducted in the New Brunswick Diary Hall of Fame.
Albert has great respect for what the dairy industry has accomplished over the past 30 years. His first hand knowledge of how milk was marketed prior to the establishment of a New Brunswick milk pool gave him the insight of what was needed to improve the income and stability of dairy farmers. Albert considered that what we have today was established because of producers taking on the task of regulating their own industry. The most important aspect was the formation of the pool, followed by the rationalization of how milk was transported from the farm to the processors.
Albert regards the establishment of Dairytown Products Ltd. as one of the crucial steps that dairy producers took to improve their future. Albert was a staunch supporter of promotion activities and certainly supported the formation of Milk Maritime Inc. Provincial borders do not limit his perspective of the dairy industry and he supported expanding the pooling concept with other provinces.
Albert is known for his ability to listen to both sides of any discussion prior to recommending the most reasonable solution. He has defended the interests of big and small producers alike and always looks at options to bring new entrants into the industry.
Albert and his wife Eileen have three children - Sheila, Sharon and Gregory.
Nominated by the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick for his knowledge, skill and life long service and dedication to the New Brunswick dairy industry, Albert Stuart Neill is a worthy inductee into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.