Now's the time to nominate co-workers, neighbours, and industry members for the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Alberta's Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Oneil Carlier, says the Hall of Fame is a very exclusive club.

"Since 1951, there's only 132 inductees. It happens every two years, not a yearly thing, and nominees are then selected and then three individuals are then selected to become part of the Hall of Fame."

Carlier says, the Hall of Fame is for high caliber individuals, but he knows there's lots of these people in Alberta.

"These individuals will have a life long commitment to agriculture, any aspect of agriculture. Perhaps they came up with an innovative new way of farming a certain commodity, or they're involved in food processing or other aspects of agriculture and involved in their rural community."

He says, he's looking forward to seeing who will be nominated this year.

Bob Prestage from Camrose was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016 for contributing to beef cattle breeding and genetic programs in Alberta for over 50 years.

In Prestage's career, he founded Wicklow Angus, and selected, processed and exported thousands of cattle to more than 20 countries, including marketing the first cattle to Russia to support the Alberta cattle industry’s recovery from BSE.

Prestage says, he couldn't believe it when he heard the news he would be inducted.

"You know so many people, and you have some much respect for so many people, that you don't think you've done anything compared to what they have, so it's wonderful, just absolutely wonderful."

He says, it's important to have have the Hall of Fame, so contributions made to the industry by outstanding individuals are not forgotten.

"There's some very, very high contributors in that list, and you can't believe that your part of it."

The other two 2016 Agriculture Hall of Fame Inductees were Cor Van Raay of Iron Springs and Dr. John Kennelly of Edmonton.

The deadline for nominations for 2018 is April 30th.

For nomination forms and rules, visit Alberta Agriculture and Forestry's website.

 

 

Send your news tips, story ideas and comments to jgiles@goldenwestradio.com