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Three alumni of the Faculty of Agriculture were inducted in the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame last Thursday, October 19^th during its annual ceremony on Dalhousie’s Agricultural Campus.

Established in 1968, the Hall of Fame celebrates the contributions of four individuals to the agriculture industry in Atlantic Canada – one from each province.  Producers, innovators, volunteers, scientists and business professionals are honoured for their role in shaping and influencing agriculture, with the impact of their contributions being felt locally, nationally and internationally.

“Each year, our inductees continue to be industry pioneers, leading by example throughout their respective careers,” said Dean and Campus Principal Dr. David Gray.  “They continue to be such a positive influence and reminder to the future generation of all that can be accomplished with determination and vision.  This year is extra special for us as a Faculty as three of our four inductees are also alumni, having graduated from the former Nova Scotia Agricultural College.  This is a first for us and we couldn’t be more proud,”   

Joseph Brennan (Class of ’74)

Throughout his career, Joe Brennan has been a skilled advocate for agriculture, helping to advance the potato industry within New Brunswick and across Canada. His collaborative spirit and dedication have made an indelible impact on the industry and his fellow producers.

During his tenure with Potatoes NB, Joe acted in many capacities as a voice for producers and demonstrated a commitment to the growth and long-term sustainability of the potato industry. As Chair of Potatoes NB he lobbied for programs and initiatives that remain crucial to the economic stability of the industry. Joe is a passionate advocate for risk management programs and his wide ranging involvement on provincial and federal committees reflects his commitment to improving programs that support farmers in economic crisis.

Joe is currently an active member of the Agriculture Campaign Cabinet and various other community organization.

Complete citation  

David Dickinson (Class of ’63)

David Dickinson has provided outstanding commitment to Nova Scotia’s blueberry industry, as both a farmer and advocate. He is well sought after by his fellow producers, who hold in high regard his wealth of experience, opinions and advice.

Wild blueberries have always been a mainstay of the family farm. Following in the footsteps of his pioneering family members, David began contributing in his own way to the growing industry. Working with the Department of Agriculture, he provided test plots, studied results to improve berry quality and yield and engaged with industry experts. To improve his harvest, David cleared increasing areas of land, and implemented a double-cropping system. This two-year harvest cycle eliminated the production costs of weed control, making it cost-effective and highly productive.

Complete citation

Dick Oram (Class of ’78)

Richard (Dick) Oram’s innovative spirit and commitment to his fellow producers will leave a lasting impact on agriculture in Newfoundland and Labrador having spent a 33-year career with the Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial agriculture department.

Under Dick’s leadership, the cranberry initiative began in 1996 as a modest attempt to evaluate varieties of cranberry, but would soon transform the berry industry in the province. In order to provide adequate stock to farmers for large scale production in the spring, vast quantities of cranberry plugs were housed in the cooling facilities of his Wooddale tree nursery through the winter. This innovative approach to cranberry production was a global first and was integrated into commercial research sites across the province, including Deadman’s Bay, the province’s flagship cranberry site and the location Dick was directly managing.

Dick’s forward thinking approach and the instrumental partnerships he forged with industry, government, and researchers contributed to one of the most successful initiatives in the small fruit industry.

Complete citation