Classification: Protected A

Classification: Protected A Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Government of Alberta Date of publication January 2021 Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame Inductees ISBN 978-1-4601-4969-0 [email protected] 2 Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame| Inductees Classification: Public Year Name Community Biography Portrait 2020 Walter Paszkowski Sexmith Walter Paszkowski was born and raised in Sexsmith Alberta. He was the youngest of three children, born to hard-working pioneer parents from Poland who had chosen Canada to pursue their dreams of freedom, safety and opportunity. Walter’s deep roots in agriculture would shape the course of his future. In 1952, he graduated with honours from the Agricultural Studies Program at Fairview College.Walter was instrumental in laying the foundation for the modern canola industry in western Canada. His championing of canola as a viable crop for Alberta farmers was instrumental in its rise in significance and importance as one of the economic drivers of agriculture today.He has participated in many trade missions around the world, continually promoting agriculture in Alberta on the international stage; and has been a promoter of value- added opportunities within the province.In addition to his contributions to the canola industry and economic development in the Peace region, Walter devoted many years to political life both at the municipal and provincial levels.His humble manner has made him an effective and trusted leader, colleague and friend. Walter is an ardent community supporter and has always given generously of his time. Throughout his life, Walter has been a positive role model, an influential Albertan and most importantly an individual committed to making a difference. Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame| Inductees 3 Classification: Protected A 2020 David Price Acme Mr. David Price has been an innovator and visionary in swine genetics, production, processing, and marketing for over 50 years. As founder, past president, and director of the Sunterra Group of Companies, his leadership was integral to building a fully integrated family-run food company with top-quality pork and a true farm-to- fork business model. Price led the establishment and growth of Pig Improvement Canada, importing the first “modern” swine genetics from England in the 1970s, built a national swine breeding company with his family, and pivoted to an innovative swine production company with exceptional health and quality. Mr. Price worked with genetic multipliers, producers, and invested in those relationships. His family’s efforts would later yield the Sunterra Group of Companies, comprised of pig production in Canada and the US; crop and greenhouse production; two meat- processing plants; and nine retail markets in Alberta. His ability to see future trends and opportunities, but not compromise on quality or service, was a critical pillar to the company’s success. Price’s contribution to the advancement and expansion of pig breeding and marketing in Alberta and across Canada is significant, and laid the groundwork for future producers’ success that continues to this day. 4 Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame| Inductees Classification: Protected A 2020 George Visser Barrhead With a strong commitment to the farming community and a keen interest in modern, up-to-date farming practices, Mr. Visser has been a leader in the agricultural community since the 1970s. Mr. Visser could see that specializing in commodities would be important and led the way by setting up a 130-sow farrow- to-finish operation and a 5,000 hen laying operation on his farm. Others followed suit and during the 1980s, the Neerlandia region became one of the most concentrated hog production areas in Alberta. He was instrumental in giving producers in Alberta a unified voice during his tenure on the Alberta Agriculture Products Marketing Council. His foresight and ability to work with the team around him led to the development of two large investor-lead hog production units of Twin Peak's Feeders Inc. and BarrWest Pork Ltd. In addition, George chaired a committee and worked with local and international investors to develop a hog-packing plan in Barrhead. Though the venture was eventually discontinued, the result was the formation of Northplex; a home building plant that provided many jobs in the Barrhead area. As a County of Barrhead councillor and later reeve, he quickly realized the importance of value-added agriculture and of regional economic development. He was influential within the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) organization; advocating for rural Alberta on numerous issues, and providing guidance in the formation of the Municipal Assistance Grant. In addition, he recognized the wisdom of the effective delivery of municipal services within a Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame| Inductees 5 Classification: Protected A regional governance model. Mr. Visser has been a man of vision, an innovator, leader and advocate for agriculture and rural Alberta throughout his life. He is a man of conviction and a man that understands the value of working together and of collaboration. 6 Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame| Inductees Classification: Protected A 2018 Garnet Altwasser Brooks Mr. Garnet Altwasser, became a leader in Canadian agribusiness during his 30-year term as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lakeside Farm Industrees. Seeing the potential of Alberta's climate and agronomy to add value to the province's large ranching base, he co-founded and grew Lakeside Farm Industries into one the largest single- site feeding operations in Canada. With the establishment of a beef packing plant in Brooks, Altwasser also began the process of modernizing and growing Canada's beef processing industry. Altwasser was one of the first commercial adopters of Temple Grandin's cattle handling designs, and was a founding director of the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association. Altwasser is insatiably curious and inquisitive about what works and what succeeds in industry, and he has quietly helped and mentored young people to enter and grow in the industry. Today, Alberta's cattle feeding and beef processing industry is large-sclae and globally competitive, thanks in large part to Altwasser's long-range vision and leadership. Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame| Inductees 7 Classification: Protected A 2018 Dr. Ron Howard Brooks Dr. Ronald (Ron) Howard has spent more than four decades supporting the growth and development of high- value crop industries in Alberta, working with more than 50 different types of crops and plant species as a research, extension and diagnostic plant pathologist. He has developed many ground-breaking protocols, screened hundreds of horticulture, specialty and field crop varieties and breeding lines for disease resistance, and evaluated more than 200 chemical and biological control products for efficacy against pathogens in these crops. Howard was integral to the expansion and development of the research facilities at Alberta Agriculture and Forestry's Crop Diversification Centre South, including the design and construction of the current state-of-the-art greenhouse research complex. Howard's greatest impact has been in his training of and influence on generations of farmers, agronomists, students and professionals. Through his willingness and eagerness to share his vast knowledge, Howard has prepared and delivered more than a thousand articles, presentations, and scientific publications over his career, including editing and contributing to the landmark resource book, Diseases and Pests of Vegetable Crops in Canada. A meticulous and ethical researcher, a skilled leader, and a true ambassador for Alberta producers, his approachability and humility have made him a "go-to" person for help when it comes to plant disease diagnosis and management. 8 Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame| Inductees Classification: Protected A 2018 Dietrich (Dieter) Edmonton Mr. Dietrich (Dieter) Kuhlmann has Kuhlmann been a leader in growing Alberta's horticulture industry for more than 50 years. Three generations of family are now actively involved in running Kuhlmann's - the greenhouse, garden, and market, originally founded by Kuhlmann and his wife Elizabeth in 1962. To this day, they have maintained their focus on outstanding relationships and selling direct to the customer. He has been an ongoing champion for the horticulture industry and the success of other growers, demonstrating that they can all benefit by learning and working together. Kuhlmann is Past President and founding member of the Alberta Greenhouse Growers association , an organization set up to identify and collectively act on issues of critical importance to growers. Recognizing the opportunity for Alberta growers to market cooperatively, he also worked to establish Sunfresh Farms, a grower-owned packing and distribution facility, bringing better revenues to member farms. A former Director of the Alberta Crop Industry Development fund, Kuhlmann continues to promote local horticulture projects, believing that research and development is essential to the continued growth of the horticultural industry in Alberta. Treating everyone in the industry like family, he has a special gift for meeting and greeting the people that cross his path. Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame| Inductees 9 Classification: Protected A 2016 Dr. John Kennelly Edmonton Dr. John Kennelly, dairy researcher, professor, and Dean, is one of Alberta’s great industry builders. Dr. Kennelly was Chair of the University of Alberta’s Department

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