Some of the brightest minds in Chatham-Kent agriculture industry are being honoured this week
The Kent Agriculture Hall of Fame welcomes its Class of 2024 Tuesday morning with a ceremony at Hidden Hills Golf and Country Club. The Hall of Fame’s mission is to recognize a person or persons that have demonstrated unselfish achievement within the realm of agriculture and/or service to the rural community of Chatham-Kent and/or beyond. Officials say this year’s inductees reflect the diverse industry that agriculture is and the many ways that the rural community can be served.
The Class of 2024 incudes Stephen Denys of the former Chatham Township who has been deeply involved with the farm community in crop production, protection, marketing, and seed development for over 35 years.
The late Harry Lawson worked to change by-laws and regulations to benefit the agricultural community including working towards fair settlements for gas and hydro corridors across agricultural land to avoid expropriation if possible.
The late Keith McLean rounds out the list of inductees. The former Morpeth resident was an active learner of sustainable farming techniques. He stressed the importance of balancing agricultural land and natural cover, using windbreaks and cover crops to reduce wind erosion.
Since its inception in 1989, the Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame has inducted 208 members and has supported another 17 Chatham-Kent agriculturalists into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame.
