The Rural Voice, 1990-04, Page 51long-time friend, is just as compli-
mentary: "It will be a real loss to the
ministry. He was one of the best ag
reps we had in the province. He was
very helpful to me when I was assis-
tant ag rep in Essex County back in
the mid -sixties and was trying to set
up a 4-H program where there had
been none. I relied on Don a fair bit.
He always retained an interest in
youth work and was very concerned
about the changes in 4-1-1."
"If I were going to define the
term ag rep, I would say 'Don
Pullen'," says Howard Nodwell,
a colleague of 32 years and Don's
immediate supervisor at OMAF.
Even after Riddell became minister
in 1985, he would make regular con-
tact with Don, much to the consterna-
tion of a couple of the senior OMAF
bureaucrats.
"When I wanted to know what
was going on in the countryside, Don
was a reliable source," says Riddell,
who along with his late father, J. K.
Riddell (himself a 42 -year ag rep vet-
eran), knew the Pullen family when
they farmed near Whalen Corners, on
the Perth -Huron -Middlesex border. In
fact, when Huron OMAF employees
had a surprise party in 1988 to mark
Don's 25th year of service, Riddell
made a special trip to join them.
Don credits his success to family
support throughout his life, from the
encouragement he received from his
parents, Milne and Hazel, growing up
on Lot 3, Concession 11, Blanshard
Township, to the help from Florence,
his high-school sweetheart to whom
he has been married for almost 30
years. A respected sheep breeder and
part-time teacher, Florence also kept
the home fires burning when Don was
so frequently away.
Don expresses appreciation for the
strong foundation in agriculture he got
from the 4-H and Junior Farmer pro-
grams as well — in 1956, at 19, he
won the prestigious Queen's Guineas
at the Royal Winter Fair.
In 1958, fresh out of the University
of Guelph's diploma program, Don
returned home, intending to farm with
his father. But he was lured back into
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For quotations on FARM and HOME Insurance
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James G. Mair
Eric R. Thacker R. R. 4,
Ackert Insurance Brokers
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Kincardine 396-7082
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