Award recipient says the future of agriculture is good

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Sue Dickens

Click to Enlarge
Bob Teal, left, is this year's winner of the Agricultural Service Diploma presented by the Campbellford Seymour Agricultural Society's Past President Elvin Petherick at the recent annual general meeting of the Fair Board.

Sue Dickens, Campbellford EMC

Bob Teal, left, is this year's winner of the Agricultural Service Diploma presented by the Campbellford Seymour Agricultural Society's Past President Elvin Petherick at the recent annual general meeting of the Fair Board.

EMC News -Campbellford - The future of agriculture is alive and well according to Bob Teal, this year's recipient of the Agricultural Service Diploma which was presented at the annual meeting of the Campbellford Seymour Agricultural Society.

"We just need to make sure we keep the fair board focused on making that next generation feel comfortable and give them the opportunity to drive it forward," said Teal.

He talked about his observation on the attendance of the "under 40" group of producers and agriculture business professionals at a recent agricultural conference.

"I think the most refreshing thing about it all was after spending two days of going through 13 or 14 classes, the average age in the class was probably under 40 and the grey hair wasn't the dominant colour in the room and that was really wonderful to see," he said.

Teal has been a director, an executive member, is a past president of the agricultural society, has represented District 3 of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies as an agricultural representative and has been involved with 4-H as a member and then as a 4-H leader.

He has been a Jersey exhibitor in the past at the fair and has provided leadership and assisted with the organization and smooth running of the Jersey show.

"Bob continues to be the chair of the property committee where his knowledge of the grounds and understanding of the society and fair operations have been invaluable for sound advice on decisions about the fairgrounds," said Elvin Petherick, past president of the fair board, before making the surprise presentation.

"Bob has his ear to the ground about agriculture, business and current issues with his job at Tri County (Agromart -a feed, grain storage facility, farm supply company near Trenton) which has been beneficial for our fair. For example, Bob was instrumental in the implementation and updating of the Emergency Preparedness procedures for our fair this past year," he said.

"Bob is there to help out at the gate each year. He is great at catching the fence jumpers. He can be counted on to help out each year with the chicken barbeque," said Petherick.

Teal told the more than 100 people gathered for the fair board meeting that as far as he is concerned the future of agriculture is good.

"We have a December 31, 1899, Farmers' Advocate of my great uncle's and it's all about the turn-of-the-century that's coming and the future of agriculture and they said the very same things in 1899 in the Farmer's Advocate that we say today," said Teal.

"I think we all proved them wrong. If those gentlemen and ladies from back then could be around to see agriculture now they just would be dumbfounded," he added.

"I think the future is just as good from here on in," he concluded.

The service diploma is donated by the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies to the individual(s) "who have rendered countless hours of unselfish service" to the Campbellford Seymour Agricultural Society.