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Every October the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame celebrates the contributions made by four individuals to the agriculture industry in Atlantic Canada. Producers, innovators, volunteers, scientists, and business professionals are lauded for their role in shaping and influencing agriculture, the impact of their contributions being felt regionally, nationally and internationally.

鈥淭he Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame celebrates agriculture in Atlantic Canada and is committed to recognizing the exceptional work being done in this part of the country,鈥� said dean and campus principal Dr. Heather Bruce.聽 鈥淔rom leadership in agricultural organizations and businesses, volunteer work at home and abroad, introduction of innovative and sustainable technologies, and capturing the stories of agriculture for generations to come, this years鈥� inductees have improved the industry for our communities at home and across the globe.鈥�

Two of the four honourees were also NSAC alumni - Glenn Ells, Class of 1953, and Kenneth Mellish, Class of 1965.

Glenn S. Ells 鈥� Nova Scotia

Farmer, advocate, politician, and author, Glenn has supported agriculture in myriad ways. 聽He was known as a steadfast advocate for agriculture and provided leadership to a wide range of industry organizations, including Sheep Producers of Nova Scotia, NS 4H Council, national and provincial Cattleman鈥檚 Associations, Potato Growers Association, and Nova Scotia and Kings County Federations of Agriculture.

Glenn also represented his community鈥檚 interests in the political sphere. From 1974 to 1978 he was the MLA for Kings North and Chair of the Agriculture Committee. In 1978 he served as Minister of Environment and Status of Women, with the Human Rights and Emergency Measures portfolios as well.

Agriculture in the Annapolis Valley has been well chronicled by Glenn. For 29 years, he recounted stories from his own land and community through his newspaper column, On the Farm. Glenn has also shared stories of his ancestors and the history of Nova Scotia in two published novels, and was a regular contributor to the community paper, The Millstone.

Kenneth Mellish 鈥� Prince Edward Island

Nominated for his agricultural leadership at home and abroad, Ken鈥檚 passion for dairy production and community has led him to provincial and national organizations and volunteer commitments across the globe.

Ken has given generously of his time and talent to many organizations, including Dairy Bureau of Canada, PEI Veterinarian Licensing Board, PEI Marketing Council, and Dressage PEI. After Ken鈥檚 retirement in 2002, the farm was redefined as a world-class horse breeding program. Quality sport horses are being imported from Europe to form a breeding operation, with horses in demand across the country and the US.

In 1980, Farmers Helping Farmers was established by a passionate group of Island farmers, including Ken and his wife Teresa. Formed to help East African communities increase food security and agricultural sustainability, the group has secured over $10 million in funding for hundreds of development projects and supported more than 100,000 Kenyan farm families. Ken began serving as Chair in 2002 and continues this significant volunteer work today.

Jacques M. Laforge 鈥� New Brunswick

Jacques Laforge was nominated by Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick for his tireless advocacy for the dairy industry and its producers. His passion for dairy would take him from his family farm in Saint-Andre to leadership at the national level.

He has been a driving force in the industry on provincial, regional, and national levels, representing the interests of producers and passionately advocating for the industry. From 1985 to 2011, he served as a Director of Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick, including terms as Chair and Vice Chair. During this period, he also served nationally as a Director of Dairy Farmers of Canada, including as President from 2004 to 2011. Jacques worked collaboratively with Canadian dairy farmers to address challenges facing the industry. His knowledge, commitment, and skills were instrumental in moving initiatives forward and establishing himself as a driving force for the interests of farmers.

In 2011, Jacques was recognized with the Order of New Brunswick for his work in agriculture and his commitment to ensuring a bright future for Canadian farmers. The following year, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Dairy Commission, a position he held until 2018.

Stewart King 鈥� Newfoundland and Labrador

For Stewart King, farming was a family affair. There was no doubt he would be the 7^th generation to work the land.

Success in agriculture can often be a balance between tradition and innovation. Stewart maintained the long history of farming on his ancestral land, while also expanding the operation and developing specialized enterprises. Stoney Ridge Farm was honoured with the Century Farm Award, recognizing a farm family that has continuously worked the same land for one hundred years or more. Stewart said he never worked a day in his life because he loved farming that much. It was everything he knew and his greatest passion. Stewart passed in early 2024.

Stewart鈥檚 passion for agriculture extended to industry organizations, and his experience made him a leader in a variety of sectors. He played an active role in the Hog Producer鈥檚 Association and served as a Director for the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture. He was a Director with the NL Livestock Council, representing pork. He also served as a Director for the Canadian Agriculture Adaptation Council, whose mandate was to administer federal grant money to producers.