Wall of Distinction

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Wall of Distinction

Saturday, 3 May 2014 12:10

Oxford Centre is already planning for Canada Day Festivities this summer by honouring some of Oxford's agricultural greats.

WOODSTOCK -- Four men from former East Oxford Township who made a lasting impression on agriculture nationwide will be honoured later this summer by the community of Oxford Centre.

It's Canada Day committee will recognize Charles Gracey and Donald Lazenby, along with the late Ross Butler and Erle Kitchen for their contribution by unveiling them on their newly created "Wall of Distinction."

Canada Day Committee member Bill Hampson says their local recognition is long overdue.

"I thought this was a good opportunity, and I think with such famous people and such distinguished Canadians that have done so much for agriculture, the Canada Day committee was the proper group to do it."

All of those included on the wall this year are already members in either the provincial or federal Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Hampson says the "Wall of Distinction" is just part of what the committee is planning for the annual holiday weekend.

"This is just one of the events on Canada Day, along with the parade and other demonstrations, so it will be a enjoyable day and there's no admission as well."

One of this year's honouree's, Charles Gracey hosted lunch this week for the Canada Day sub-committee who are developing the project. In attendance was Donald Lazenby alongside Glen Kitchen, who represented his late father, Erle Kitchen and David Butler who joined on behalf of his late father, Ross Butler.

Gracey helped create was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2001, but began his career at Kemptville Agricultural School, then at Eastern Breeders Inc., before moving to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and other provincial and national organizations.

Gracey served as Secretary-Manager of the Ontario Beef Improvement Association, promoting performance testing for beef cattle and lobbied hard for legislation to provide a check-off on cattle marketing in Ontario. This provided a model for similar check-offs in other provinces, which in turn created adequate funding for a national cattlemen's association.

Inducted in the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2004, Donald Lazenby, has made several contributions to dairy herd management and with guiding innovation and systems development for the dairy industry in both Ontario and Canada.

Some of his innovative programs allowed producers to customize services to meet their individual needs. Lazenby is also credited with organizing a Grade 5 educational program to help expose young Oxford County students to the dairy industry.

Ross Butler, who passed away in 1995 was born in Norwich Township and went on to produce agricultural art which is now treasured worldwide.

Butler honed his talent arising from a childhood hobby. Although he is recognized as Canada's authority on farm animal portraits, he also later developed a theory of proportions in the anatomy of farm livestock. His posthumous induction into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame came in 1997.

Holstein breeder Erle Kitchen was also a posthumous induction to the Hall of Fame in 1973, more than eight years after his death.

Kitchen authored of many of the policies developed and used under the aegis of Canada's dairy organizations and was known throughout Canada for exerting considerable influence in the establishment of government policies.

All four will be placed on the "Wall of Distinction" to be unveiled on Canada Day in Oxford Centre.