Press Release – For Immediate Release

The Peterborough County Agricultural Wall of Fame Committee is pleased to announce they will host their 2023 induction ceremony on Sunday, August 20^th, at 2 p.m. in the Agricultural Heritage Building at Lang Pioneer Village and Museum, Keene. The purpose of the Wall of Fame is to recognize residents of Peterborough County who have made an outstanding contribution to the agricultural industry. This year’s inductees are Fred Crowe (posthumously), Robert & Laura Stockdale of Asphodel Township, Grant & Mary Elmhirst of Indian River, and Jim & Marg Glenn of Keene.

Fred M. Crowe (1899 – 1984)

Fred Crowe made many contributions to Peterborough County agriculture and Ontario’s pork industry. He was the first President of the Warsaw Junior Farmers Improvement Association and was active with local, county, and provincial cheese producers’ associations. His leadership during the tumultuous times in the hog industry resulted in the formation of the Ontario Hog Producer’s Co-operative Marketing Agency, which was responsible for the centralized selling all market hogs. This organization helped to create a unified producer voice for production promotion and research supporting the industry. Fred was elected to the Peterborough Suburban District School Board, which built Crestwood Secondary School at a time when city high schools could refuse to accept students from rural communities.

Robert and Laura (Moore) Stockdale

Robert and Laura Stockdale married in 1969 and started dairy farming in 1970. In 1986 they purchased Embrdale Farm from Robert’s parents. They were well-known for their many Milk Quality Certificates and top-producing herd awards. Embrdale was the first leucosis-free herd in Peterborough County and a two-time Master Breeder herd. They hosted international tours and exported breeding stock and embryos around the world. In 1996, they diversified by adding Ouse Valley Gardens, a local destination for top-quality strawberries. 

They have been active volunteers with farm organizations, including 4-H. Robert and Laura’s family were recognized as the 1993 and 2010 Peterborough County Farm Family of the Year and received the Peterborough County Agricultural Leadership Award. In 1997, they bred the first-place two-year-old Holstein cow at World Dairy Expo. They completed a farm succession plan with their sons in 2014.

Grant and Mary (Ruth) Elmhirst

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. 

Grant has been involved with many organizations, including the Peterborough County Cattlemen’s Association and local, provincial, and national Hereford associations. Mary has been active with the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario and received the 2016 Women of Excellence in Agriculture Award. 

Jim and Marg (McClure) Glenn

Jim and Marg Glenn created the multi-faceted Glen Isle Farms Ltd. in Keene, Ontario. They were a two-time Master Breeder Holstein herd before dispersing in 1988. Along with cash cropping, business diversification at Glen Isle includes custom work, trucking, snow plowing, exporting hay and straw, Pioneer Seed dealership, and wood shaving supplier. The Glenn family was named Peterborough County Farm Family of the Year in 2006. They have been involved with countless organizations and recognized for their volunteerism.  

In 1986, Jim and Marg won Ontario Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF). They were active in the Ontario and Canadian boards and received the Motherwell Award, recognizing their dedication to agriculture and OYF program.  

The Glenns hosted the 2006 International Plowing Match, which saw 85 000 attend the five-day event. In 2020, Jim was inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame.  

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For further information, please contact
Carolyn Doris
Chair – Peterborough County Agricultural Wall of Fame Committee
cpdoris@nexicom.net
(705) 295-2755