Canadian Ag Hall of Fame announces inductees for 2017

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The Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame has announced an all-female slate of inductees for 2017.

Robynne Anderson, Patty Jones and Jean Szkotnicki will be formally inducted at a ceremony in Calgary on November 30th, 2017.

Out of more than 210 individuals inducted since the Hall was formed in 1960, only five are women, notes Herb McClane, president of the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association.

“I am personally thrilled that more Canadian women are being recognized this year for their extraordinary accomplishments in the Canadian agriculture industry,” he says. “This year’s three inductees have contributed to the strength and health of our industry from very different perspectives – covering the animal health sector, publishing and consulting, and livestock photography.”

(McLane discusses this year’s induction class in the interview below.)

Inductee bios (courtesy the Canadian Ag Hall of Fame):

Robynne Anderson (supplied)

Robynne Anderson began her long and distinguished career in Canadian agriculture as a legislative assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, working on the new Plant Breeder’s Rights Act. Her knowledge of agriculture and experience in government set the course for creating Issues Ink – her consulting firm that worked closely with the Canadian Seed Trade Association. Robynne founded and published several agricultural magazines including Germination, Spud Smart and CAAR Communicator (for the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers). Robynne now operates Emerging Ag – an agricultural consulting firm. Robynne has worked throughout the value chain in the agriculture and food sector, in Canada and internationally. Robynne Anderson lives in Calgary, AB and was nominated by the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association, the Canadian Seed Trade Association, SeCan Association and Stokes Seeds.

Patty Jones (supplied)

Livestock photographer Patty Jones has built a world-renowned business with a seasoned skill for photographing dairy animals that has changed the way they are marketed in Canada and around the world. For more than 44 years, Patty has been expertly capturing a visual history for Canadian dairy breed improvement as one of the most respected and well-known livestock photographers in the world. Her library contains more than 70,000 animals from all breeds, and she’s trained many aspiring livestock photographers to carry on the craft. Her official photographer status extends to major shows, including 4-H and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Patty’s passion for the dairy industry includes her own Silvercap Holsteins farm where she buys, sells and breeds. Patty Jones lives in Puslinch, ON and was nominated by Semex.

Jean Szkotnicki (supplied)

For more than 25 years, Jean Szkotnicki has led the Canadian Animal Health Institute skillfully balancing the responsibility of advocating for Canadian veterinary pharmaceutical companies with livestock producers. A champion for antimicrobial stewardship, Jean has been instrumental in ensuring antimicrobials are used properly as part of a “one health” approach to human and animal antibiotic use in Canada. Jean laboured exhaustively to close the regulatory gap on Own Use Importation legislation. She’s passionate about building public trust in food and sits on numerous industry boards including the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity and as chair of the animal health product regulatory advisory committee to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Jean Szkotnicki lives in Moffat, ON and was nominated by the Canadian Animal Health Institute.

The Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association aims to honour and celebrate Canadians for outstanding contributions to the agriculture and food industry. Portraits of the inductees are on display in the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Gallery located at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.

Hosted by the International Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee of the Calgary Stampede, the 2017 induction ceremony will be the first held in Calgary.

CAHFA president Herb McLane joined Kelvin Heppner to discuss the 2017 inductees, how they were chosen, and the significance of having an all-female induction class:

Related: Canadian Ag Hall of Fame Names ’16 Inductees

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