The Rural Voice, 1993-04, Page 78Honoured farm
leader dies
George Anderson Gee McCague, one of
Ontario's foremost farm leaders over a 50
year period and a pioneer in the formation of
marketing boards in the province, died
February 14, 1993 at age 88.
McCague received an Ontario Agricultur-
al College (OAC) Centennial Medal in 1974
to mark his contributions to the evolution of
marketing systems for Ontario farm commo-
dities, having successfully played the roles
of catalyst, diplomat, negotiator and critic,
and for his contributions to the teaching and
extension programs of the college.
Born in Victoria Square, Ontario on July
5, 1905, he later attended OAC, graduating
with a B.S.A. degree. He became Ag Rep for
Huron County until he Left in 1930 to
become manager of Canada Packers Limited
in Harriston, a post he held until 1935.
During the Depression he sold insurance for
Imperial Life Insurance Company. In 1940
he bought a farm near Harriston and over the
next 20 years accumulated more than 1600
acres of land, milked 100 cows and built up
an extensive beef cattle operation.
During these years he served as a member
of the executive of the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture and of the Ontario Beef Produ-
cers' Association. He was a director of The
Co-operators Insurance Association, a
director and vice-president of United Co-
operatives of Ontario and the first president
of United Dairy and Poultry Co-operatives,
today Gay Lea Foods.
In 1959 he rejoined the Ontario Department
of Agriculture and became chairman of the
Ontario Farm products Marketing Board
where he helped develop marketing boards in
the province. He was also a member of the
Ontario Stockyards Board, serving as chair-
man from 1969 until his retirement in 1973.
He was appointed chairman of the newly -
created Milk Commission of Ontario in 1965
after the passing of the Milk Act. He served
as chairman until 1969, then served as a
member until 1973.
After he retired from the civil service he
operated a becf cow/calf operation at his
River Range ".irm on the Saugeen River
near Port Elgin. In 1975, at the age of 70, he
was namcd a member of the Royal
Commission on Electrical Power Planning.
His funeral was at Harriston United
Church.0
People
Elmer Buchanan, Ontario minister of agriculture and food, presents
gold medal retailer awards to Rob Lanoue and Mark Beecroft of
Zehrs, St. Clair Beach (left) and Lynn and Doug McCullough of
McCullough' s Knechtel Food Market, Paisley.
Retailers honoured for food promotion
Several western Ontario food retailers were honoured by Ontario
Minister of Agriculture and Food Elmer Buchanan with Foodland
Ontario Retailer Awards for excellence in year-round promotion of
Ontario -grown and produced foods.
Lynn and Doug McCullough of McCullough's Knechtel food
market in Paisley were the province -wide gold medal winners in the
independent store category. The store held several outdoor "Tribute
to Taste" displays to promote Ontario's fall harvest.
Territorial winners included Seip's Valu -Mart, Exeter in the
London area; Zehrs Stratford and Smith's Valu -Mart, Listowel in the
Stratford area; and L&M Food Mart, Fergus in the
Kitchener/Waterloo area.0
Centralia announces new staff
Melodie Wynne of Stratford
has been named co-ordinator of
the Food Service Management
program in one of several
appointments made at Centralia
College of Agricultural
Technology.
Before joining the Centralia
staff, she was a lecturer and
research co-ordinator at
Kemptville College. She is a
home economics graduate of
Mount Saint Vincent University,
Halifax and holds a Masters of
Science degree in Food Science
from the University of Guelph.
She succeeds Dr. Vi Currie who
recently retired. Ms Wynne lives
in Stratford with her husband
Dan Larsen and her 13 -year-old
daughter Dana.
Rob Black was recently hired
to promote the college as a
conference and convention centre.
He previously worked for the
Rural Organizations and Services
Branch of OMAF.
Chris Gillard was appointed
Agronomy Lecturer, replacing
Robert Forrest who was
promoted to Co-ordinator of the
Agricultural Business Manage-
ment Program. He and his wife
Jacqueline have moved to the
Centralia area. He recently
received his Masters of Science
degree from the University of
Guelph.0