Grant and Mary Elmhirst have been lifetime agricultural ambassadors as owners of Elmlodge Farms of Indian River, Ontario.  They were raised on family farms and continued this tradition with their son and his family.  

Elmlodge Polled Herefords are leaders in the Canadian Hereford industry, having won many awards at local fairs, provincial exhibitions, and national shows.  2000 was a record-setting year when they exhibited both the Supreme Champion Female and Bull of All Breeds at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. 

The Elmhirsts annually hosts the “Source for Success” Hereford Production Sale and a spring bull sale. Breeders across North America seek Elmlodge’s genetics. 

Grant and Mary have strongly supported 4-H as leaders and host club events.  Mary organized Farm Comes to Town events that educated school children about food production.  She was an Ontario Farm Vacation Association member, promoting farming life to many city visitors.

Grant has been a Peterborough County Cattlemen’s Association Director, the East Central Ontario Hereford Zone, and Canadian Hereford Association.  He was the 1992-93 President of the Ontario Hereford Association. Mary has been active locally and provincially with the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario. In 2016, she received the Women of Excellence in Agriculture Award. She has also been involved with local fairs as an organizer and judge.  In 2010, Mary received a lifetime member award honouring 60 years of involvement with Peterborough Agricultural Society.

Nominated by Diane and Robin Creeden, 2023.