The Rural Voice, 1997-08, Page 70People
Art Bolton wins highest honour
seed growers can bestow
Well-known Seaforth-area
farmer and seed grower Art
Bolton has received the highest
honour awarded by the Canadian
Seed Growers' Association
(CSGA).
The Robertson Associate
Award is named after James W.
Robertson, the first president of
the association, and is presented
to individuals who have had 15
years or more of outstanding
pedigreed seed production .. ,
(and) have demonstrated
outstanding leadership in the
interests of better farming and
itnpmved agriculture."
In a press release, incoming
CSGA president Lorne Johnston
said "Art has done so much work
in the industry both on a personal
and political level that 1 can't
think of a more worthy person for
the honour."
After graduating with his BSA
from the. Ontario Agricultural
College, Bolton began working
for the extension branch of the
Ontario Department of
Agriculture, forerunner of
OMAFRA, serving as assistant
Ag Rep in his home county of
Huron for four years. His brother
"Mac" Bolton followed him into
the service and served as Ag Rep
in Bruce County for many years.
In 1959 Art returned to the
family farm (his father Russell ,k
won the world Hay Championship `<
for 10 straight years from 1971 to
1982 at the Royal Winter Fair.
With his wife Marie he operated a
mixed farm and developed a
flourishing seed business.
Over the years he has been on
many different boards and
associations, including serving; as
president of the Ontario Seed
Growers' Association, and as
president of the Seaford'
Agriculture Society. He has also
served with the Huron Beef
Producers' Association. He is
currently a national director of
CSGA and is returning officer for
the federal electoral district of
Huron -Bruce. In his spare time he
enjoys flying and sailing.0
Betty Small heads Canadian
Swine Breeders Association
Betty Small of Dora Lee Genetics
in Harriston has been elected president
of the Canadian Swine Breeders
Association (CSBA).
Small has served in various
capacities in the swine industry over
the last number of years, both on the
Ontario scene and at the national level.
She is a former president of Ontario
Swine Improvement Inc. She also
serves as CSBA representative on the
board of directors of the Canadian
Livestock Records Corporation.
She and her husband Ross farm in
Wellington County near Harriston.
They are well known, both locally and
on the international level, for their
purebred Duroc and Landrace breeding
stock.
Other members of the executive of
CSBA include: Andre Auger, first
vice-president, from Trois Riviere,
Quebec; Charles Soucy, second vice-
president, from Quebec, and Len
Zimmer, executive director from
Spalding, Saskatchewan.
Local students win
scholarships
Two western Ontario students are
among four 1997 Ontario Dairy Youth
Scholarship Winners.
The Scholarships, worth $500 each,
were awarded to Julie Hawthorne, of
Shelburne, entering her second year at
University of Guelph and Collin
Walker of Stayner, entering first year
at the University of Guelph.0
Book continues
Donnelly legend's
fascination
After 117 years, the legend of the
Donnelly family and their tragic
death continues to fascinate and a
new book takes a different look at the
story.
Robert Salts, who lives on the
Lucan-area homestead where the
family was murdered in an act of
vigilante justice, has written a book
called You Are Never Alone — Our
Life on the Donnelly Homestead.
Salts has lived on the farm with his
wife Linda and son Charles since
1988. The book is an account of their
life there but also recounts, through
stories and photos, the lives of the
Donnelly family members. It's a
positive view of the family, he says.
Salts is perhaps closer to the
family than other researchers. A self -
described professional trance
clairvoyant, he is sure the house is
haunted. "I have seen Johanna
(Donnelly) in the house from time to
time," he says matter of factly. Other
visits from the spirit world are also
common occurrences, he says. In fact
he feels that living on the Donnelly
farm has increased his psychic
energy.0
Field Services
Manager retires
Mel Chamberlain, who has
served as OMAFRA Field Services
Manager for Grey, Bruce and
Dufferin, has retired after 33 years of
distinguished service with
OMAFRA.
Chamberlain had earlier served as
Ag Rep for the District of Thunder
Bay and for Wellington County.
Later he was Regional Manager for
Western Ontario.
As well as his local service,
Chamberlain participated in a one-
year exchange with New Zealand
Agricultural Extension Workers,
where he helped to design an
extension program.0