Lambton Agricultural Hall of Fame grows with 2024 inductees

Lambton’s Agricultural Hall of Fame has announced its 2024 inductees.

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James Goodhand of Alvinston, Jim Duffy of Sombra and Munro Honey’s David and Mary Bryans and John and Chris Bryans were selected as this year’s inductees by the volunteer group that began honoring Lambton County residents in 2010 for their contributions to agriculture.

Joanne Sanderson, chairperson of the hall of fame committee, said she spent a lot of time over the years watching her children play hockey in arenas that had sports halls of fame and often thought, “why don’t we have an agricultural hall of fame ?”

“Agriculture is our culture,” she said. “You go anywhere in the world and want to understand their culture, it’s what they eat. And what they eat is what is farmed.”

Sanderson said she believes it’s important to acknowledge contributions farm leaders have made for farm sectors in Lambton and beyond.

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“They’ve made a difference for the next generation,” she said.

Past inductions include late Ontario cabinet minister and Enniskillen Township farmer Lorne Henderson; late federal agriculture minister and Brooke-Alvinston farmer Ralph Ferguson; and historic farm equipment manufacturer John Goodison.

Goodhand grew up in London but spent summers working on the farms of family friends and eventually went on to study at Ridgetown College.

He began farming after graduating and became involved in the Lambton Pork Producers organization, the Ontario Pork Board and for three years as an Ontario representative on the Canadian Pork Council where he was part of a committee studying how to make genetic improvements in sows (adult female swine.)

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Goodhand also served for several years on Lambton’s soybean and corn growers’ organizations.

Duffy grew up on a farm in Watford area and served as president of the Brooke Township Junior Farmers and also attended college in Ridgetown.

After graduation, he worked for province for two years in Perth County consulting with farmers and managing 4-H programs before purchasing a farm in the former Sombra Township with his wife, Anne.

He served on the boards of the Wilkesport Community Center and Lambton Mutual Insurance for several years.

Duffy was also president and vice-president of the Lambton Federal of Agriculture, a director and chairperson of the Lambton Soil and Crop Association, and as a director with soybean and wheat producers’ organizations. He was active with the pork producers and served as a municipal councilor in the early 1980s.

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Davis and John Bryans grew up in the bee business and purchased Munro Honey in Alvinston from their parents in 1989.

They provide pollination services for many types of crops and, along with an on-site store and gift shop, they distribute Monro honey widely to retailers.

In the mid-1990s, they began experimenting with making mead and were later granted one of the first manufacturing licenses for mead in Ontario.

They supply bee equipment for hobby and commercial honey producers, host bus tours at their Alvinston facility and have hosted beekeeping courses for beginners.

Both brothers were active in the Ontario Beekeepers Association and Davis was on the board and executive for more than 15 years, serving as president from 1992 to 1994.

A reception for the inductees is planned for July 13, 1:30 to 3:30 pm, at the Brooke-Alvinston Community Center.

Information about the hall and its inductees can be found at an interactive display at the Lambton Heritage Museum, and online at www.lambtonmuseums.ca.

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